Musings on Past Inaugural Fashions

I've had fun looking at the retrospectives of fashion worn to past inaugural balls and swearing in ceremonies. Huffington Post has a nice photo gallery here and I have to concur with most of the comments about Jackie having the most perfect sense of what styles worked best for her and best suited the occasion. I also agree on the comments about Lynne Cheney - yikes.

Someone whose sartorial preferences I actually admired was Marilyn Quayle. Not her politics to be sure, and not her choices in hairstyles or hats, but consider the rest of the outfit she wore on Inauguration Day 1989, the color and its shape:



She didn't make the mistake of wearing pastel and opted for one of the best colors a brunette could choose - cobalt blue.  The white turtleneck is flattering to her coloring and her figure while being functional.  Trust me, I was down on the parade route that day and it was coooold.

Here she is again in royal purple in a photo from the Marquette University's archives of Governor Tommy Thompson:



Her hair is pulled back and looks almost severe.  But this particular hairstyle works on her by playing up her thin frame and dramatic coloring and is a departure from the DC "helmet" hair. The dress is a bold royal hue that's anything but bland.

And Mrs. Quayle in red, what appeared to be a favorite:



A common choice for inaugural festivities and for women in politics generally but on brunettes again, an excellent choice.

I remember hearing way back she was an admirer of Jeanne Marc designs like this even having a vague memory of her wearing a black and white Jeanne Marc dress with a very abstract look to it, big shoulders, piping and a very inverted triangle shape. Not the usual style of clothing for a political wife or female officeholder but again, this look suited her.

I believe it or not, see similarity in Michelle Obama's choices of clothing - she likes prints and bold color and isn't shy about wearing less mainstream designers like Reem Acra or Thakoon.   She is also tall and like Mrs. Quayle, likes to exercise and work out.   I'm looking forward to seeing what she wears at the Inauguration and beyond.