What 16 first ladies wore at their husbands' presidential inaugurations

Kirsten Acuna,Talia LakritzJan 20, 2021, 04:26 IST

Donald and Melania Trump.Kevin Dietsch - Pool/Getty Images

President-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated on January 20, 2021.
First ladies have worn tailored suits and glamorous designer dresses to inaugural festivities.
Many first ladies' inaugural gowns are displayed at the National Museum of American History.

President Donald Trump is leaving office on January 20, and Joe Biden will be inaugurated as the next president.

While the inauguration is really about swearing in the next president, first ladies throughout history have stolen the show with their tailored suits and glamorous designer dresses.

In honor of the upcoming inauguration, we took a look back to see the stylish ensembles that first ladies wore on Inauguration Day.

March 4, 1925: Grace Coolidge was all smiles in a gray dress and top hat to match Calvin Coolidge's during his second inauguration.

Grace Coolidge in 1925. AP Photo

March 4, 1929: Lou Henry Hoover wore a velvet dress with a zig-zag pattern to Herbert Hoover's inauguration.

Lou Henry Hoover in 1929. AP Photo

March 4, 1933: Press described Eleanor Roosevelt's inaugural gown as a shade called "Eleanor Blue."

Eleanor Roosevelt in 1933. AP Photo

April 12, 1945: Bess Truman wore a formal look when Harry S. Truman was sworn into office shortly after President Franklin D. Roosevelt's death.

Bess Truman in 1945. AP Photo

January 20, 1949: Mrs. Truman was accompanied by the couple's daughter, Margaret, as well as Vice President Alben Barkley, President Truman, and Barkley's daughter Max Truitt during the president's second inauguration.

Bess Truman in 1949. AP Photo/stf

January 20, 1949: Mrs. Truman was accompanied by the couple's daughter, Margaret, as well as Vice President Alben Barkley, President Truman, and Barkley's daughter Max Truitt during the president's second inauguration.

January 20, 1953: First lady Mamie Eisenhower wore a pale pink de soie gown which was embroidered with over 2,000 rhinestones.

Mamie Eisenhower in 1953. AP Photo

January 20, 1961: Jacqueline Kennedy was a vision at the inaugural balls wearing a sleeveless off-white silk chiffon gown.

Mrs. and Mr. Kennedy at one of five inaugural balls. AP Photo

January 20, 1965: Lady Bird Johnson wore a bright yellow gown ordered from Neiman Marcus.

Lady Bird Johnson in 1965. White House Photo/LBJ Library

January 20, 1969: Pat Nixon wore a mimosa silk satin gown embroidered in gold and silver. You can't see it under her pink overcoat here.

Pat Nixon in 1969. AP Photo via The National Museum of American History

August 8, 1974: President Gerald Ford took this photo with his family and wife, Betty Ford, after he was sworn into office as the 38th president.

Betty Ford in 1974. AP Photo

January 20, 1977: Rosalynn Carter walked from the Capitol to the White House in a brilliant turquoise coat.

Rosalynn Carter in 1977. AP Photo

That evening, Carter danced with her husband in a blue chiffon gown paired with a gold-embroidered sleeveless coat.

Rosalynn Carter in 1977. Jimmy Carter Library

January 20, 1981: Nancy Reagan wore a gorgeous one-shouldered lace gown over silk satin to the inaugural balls.

Nancy Reagan in 1981. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

January 20, 1985: Reagan wore another James Galanos gown for her husband's second inauguration.

Nancy Reagan in 1985. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

January 21, 1989: Barbara Bush wore a royal-blue gown with a velvet bodice to the inaugural balls.

Barbara Bush in 1989. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

January 20, 1993: Hillary Clinton wore a violet beaded lace sheath gown with a blue velvet silk overskirt to the inaugural balls.

Hillary Clinton in 1993. REUTERS/Jim Bourg

January 20, 2001: Laura Bush attended the Texas inaugural ball in a red gown by Texas designer Michael Faircloth.

Laura Bush in 2001. REUTERSWin McNamee

January 20, 2005: Laura Bush wore all white to her husband's second inauguration.

Laura Bush in 2005. REUTERS/Files

Later that evening, she wore a silver Oscar de la Renta gown to the second inaugural ball.

Laura Bush in 2005. REUTERS/Jason Reed

January 20, 2009: Michelle Obama shined next to President Obama in a sparkly yellow dress and overcoat at the 44th president's first inauguration.

Michelle Obama in 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

January 21, 2009: She wore a custom-made white gown by Jason Wu at the Southern Regional Inaugural Ball.

Michelle Obama in 2009. REUTERS/Jim Young

January 21, 2013: Michelle Obama wore a collarless blue-checkered coat with J. Crew shoes to President Obama's second inauguration.

Michelle Obama in 2013. REUTERS/Doug Mills/Pool

January 22, 2013: She stunned at the inaugural ball wearing a red Jason Wu gown and Jimmy Choo shoes.

Michelle Obama in 2013. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

January 20, 2017: Melania Trump greeted the Obamas at the White House on Inauguration Day with the president-elect in a powder blue mock-turtleneck suit.

The Obamas and the Trumps in 2017. Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images

She later wore an off-the-shoulder white gown with slit accompanied with a thin burgundy ribbon to the inaugural balls.

Melania Trump in 2017. Kevin Dietsch - Pool/Getty Images

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What 16 first ladies wore at their husbands' presidential inaugurations

March 4, 1925: Grace Coolidge was all smiles in a gray dress and top hat to match Calvin Coolidge's during his second inauguration.

March 4, 1929: Lou Henry Hoover wore a velvet dress with a zig-zag pattern to Herbert Hoover's inauguration.

March 4, 1933: Press described Eleanor Roosevelt's inaugural gown as a shade called "Eleanor Blue."

April 12, 1945: Bess Truman wore a formal look when Harry S. Truman was sworn into office shortly after President Franklin D. Roosevelt's death.

January 20, 1949: Mrs. Truman was accompanied by the couple's daughter, Margaret, as well as Vice President Alben Barkley, President Truman, and Barkley's daughter Max Truitt during the president's second inauguration.

January 20, 1953: First lady Mamie Eisenhower wore a pale pink de soie gown which was embroidered with over 2,000 rhinestones.

January 20, 1961: Jacqueline Kennedy was a vision at the inaugural balls wearing a sleeveless off-white silk chiffon gown.

January 20, 1965: Lady Bird Johnson wore a bright yellow gown ordered from Neiman Marcus.

January 20, 1969: Pat Nixon wore a mimosa silk satin gown embroidered in gold and silver. You can't see it under her pink overcoat here.

August 8, 1974: President Gerald Ford took this photo with his family and wife, Betty Ford, after he was sworn into office as the 38th president.

January 20, 1977: Rosalynn Carter walked from the Capitol to the White House in a brilliant turquoise coat.

That evening, Carter danced with her husband in a blue chiffon gown paired with a gold-embroidered sleeveless coat.

January 20, 1981: Nancy Reagan wore a gorgeous one-shouldered lace gown over silk satin to the inaugural balls.

January 20, 1985: Reagan wore another James Galanos gown for her husband's second inauguration.

January 21, 1989: Barbara Bush wore a royal-blue gown with a velvet bodice to the inaugural balls.

January 20, 1993: Hillary Clinton wore a violet beaded lace sheath gown with a blue velvet silk overskirt to the inaugural balls.

January 20, 2001: Laura Bush attended the Texas inaugural ball in a red gown by Texas designer Michael Faircloth.

January 20, 2005: Laura Bush wore all white to her husband's second inauguration.

Later that evening, she wore a silver Oscar de la Renta gown to the second inaugural ball.

January 20, 2009: Michelle Obama shined next to President Obama in a sparkly yellow dress and overcoat at the 44th president's first inauguration.

January 21, 2009: She wore a custom-made white gown by Jason Wu at the Southern Regional Inaugural Ball.

January 21, 2013: Michelle Obama wore a collarless blue-checkered coat with J. Crew shoes to President Obama's second inauguration.

January 22, 2013: She stunned at the inaugural ball wearing a red Jason Wu gown and Jimmy Choo shoes.

January 20, 2017: Melania Trump greeted the Obamas at the White House on Inauguration Day with the president-elect in a powder blue mock-turtleneck suit.

She later wore an off-the-shoulder white gown with slit accompanied with a thin burgundy ribbon to the inaugural balls.