Jill Biden’s Inaugural Attire Added to Smithsonian First Ladies Collection
By • January 26, 2023 0 1754
A century-old tradition, the most popular The First Ladies Collection at the Smithsonian Museum of American History has a new addition. In a Jan. 25 ceremony, first lady, Dr. Jill Biden presented her inaugural attire to the museum for display.
Biden’s ocean blue wool tapered tweed dress — hand embellished with pearls and crystals in a delicate floral pattern — with its matching overcoat accented by a dark blue velvet collar and cuffs was designed by Alexandra O’Neill, founder and designer of Markarian. Biden wore the outfit to the presidential swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021.
Unlike any other first lady in the Smithsonian’s exhibits, Jill Biden included her matching Covid-19 masks. FLOTUS Twitter.
Her evening inaugural attire, designed by Gabriela Hearst, founder and creative director of Gabriela Hearst, included an ivory silk wool cady dress and an ivory double-breasted cashmere coat, with embroidery reflecting the federal flowers from every state and territory of the U.S. as a symbol of unity.
While these outfits join others of famous first ladies, there is one thing unique added to Dr. Biden’s. Her outfits specifically speak to the historic events surrounding the inaugural day — that is matching face masks on the occasion of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The collection has evolved over the years to address the role of the first lady as not just “what she wore but what she did.” Dr. Biden added a final note at the end of her presentation as to the changing role of women — that one day perhaps, a man’s outfit will join the collection.
