Good morning, good morning! Welcome to the first post in the First Lady fashion series. I have always adored the classic, timeless styles of our first ladies past and present. As a self-proclaimed American fashion expert, I have analyzed the fashion styles of our more modern first ladies and categorized them for you all. Certainly, some of these first ladies dabbled in different trends and styles from time to time, but they all had a signature look that has enshrined their persona in American history. I would like you to note, that I will talk about first ladies as recently as Michelle Obama and Melania Trump. We are analyzing style and fashion ONLY and not diving into any politics. Fashion is not confined to one political party. This post is meant to HONOR our first ladies for the role their fashion has played in American culture.
Without further ado, keep on scrolling so that you can determine which first lady look (or looks) best fits your personal style 🙂
The Classy Jackie
Of all our First Ladies, we have Jackie Kennedy to thank for making First Lady fashion absolutely iconic. Jackie was the fashion refresh America needed. She wore the cutest satin dresses, tailored, tweed suits, berets, hair scarves, and of course her signature pair of oversized sunglasses. She was classic, yet fashion-forward. When her husband became President, she was stepping into a position that was filled by women much older than herself. Naturally, their tastes were a little more behind the times. With Jackie Kennedy shaking up the fashion scene, America showed the world that we are a country of tradition and progress.
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YOU KNOW you are a Classy Jackie if you have some of these in your wardrobe. Stores with styles like Zara, J.Crew, and Sister Jane might be some of your favorite shopping destinations.
- Matching clothing sets (so many good tweed ones on Zara)
- Statement sunglasses
- Knee-length skirts
- Kitten heels or flats
- A string of pearls or pearl earrings
- A tan/beige trench coat
- A staple black purse
Here are some other first ladies rocking the Classy Jackie Look 🙂
The Pink Mamie
Mamie Eisenhower was famous for being obsessed with the color pink. In fact, the bedroom in her Gettysburg home is entirely decorated in pink and light green furnishings (with a pink side bathroom attached). To say she was obsessed with the color would be putting it mildly. Now, she didn’t wear pink 24/7, but many of her biggest fashion moments include a pink gown or ensemble. Mamie was a girly girl through and through. She loved sparkles, satin, silk, pearl necklaces, and big florals. If Elle Woods became a cool grandma, Mamie Eisenhower would be her style icon. Mamie was the first lady during the hopeful economic years of the 1950s, and her looks gave confidence that America would continue to be a prosperous nation for years to come.
YOU KNOW you are a Pink Mamie if you have some of these in your wardrobe. Brands with style like Sister Jane, Zimmerman, and Rachel Parcell might be some of your favorite shopping destinations.
- A sparkly party dress
- A pink gingham top
- Lots of fun shoes 😉
- Midi to Maxi length skirts
- A signature pink dress
- A pearl embellished handbag
- A sparkly pair of earrings
- Floral spring dresses
- A pair of sparkly or pink satin heels
Here are some more lovely Pink Mamie looks 🙂
The Modern Micelle
Michelle Obama, like Jackie Kennedy, ushered in a new era of First Lady style. She was a gal that followed the trends and fashions of the day. Michelle often wore bright jewel tones, fun dress silhouettes, and fun patterns and laces. Though not as classic as Jackie’s style, Michelle’s fashion was JOYFUL and CREATIVE. She loved mixing up colored dresses with fun colored flats, and wearing hounds tooth print and metallic shoes. It was the perfect style for a first lady leading a nation through severe economic distress.
YOU KNOW you are a modern Michelle if you have some of these in your closet. Brands like Target, Calvin Klein, J.Crew, and J.C. Penny might be some of your favorite shopping destinations.
- A bright yellow dress
- Bold patterned blouses
- A color-blocked sheath dress
- A pair of blue flats
- A jewel-toned dress
- A white cardigan
- A jewel toned pantsuit
The Pat Pantsuit
Many people attribute the pantsuit to First Lady Hillary Clinton, but it was actually Pat Nixon who was the first lady to wear a pantsuit in a public forum. First ladies before her had worn pants, but Pat Nixon took it the extra mile when she modeled pantsuits in a publication for an American Designer. With more women entering the workforce more than ever, she showed the nation that women could make a traditionally masculine piece of clothing feel feminine and fun.
YOU KNOW you are a Pat Pantsuit if you have some of these in your wardrobe. Stores like White House Black Market, J.Crew, and Zara, might be some of your favorite shopping destinations.
- Jumpsuits for a more casual look
- A classic black pantsuit
- A pinstriped blazer and slacks
- A pink pantsuit set
- A nice textured pantsuit set in tweed or houndstooth
- High heels (don’t want to be tripping on the pant cuff)
- A light blue blazer with grey slacks
- A pair of leather or suede loafers
- A classic turtleneck top
Here are some of my other fav pantsuit looks 😉
The Reagan Red
There is no one who makes the color red more iconic than Nancy Reagan. As it was President Reagan’s favorite color on her, she wore it often. From international travels, to White House duties, you’ll be hard pressed to not find her wearing her signature shade. With the economic boom and international relations success of the 1980s, Nancy’s bold, patriotic red was a reminder that America was a powerful nation, and a country to be proud of.
YOU KNOW you are a Reagan Red if you have some of these in your closet. Stores like Zara and HM, might be some of your favorite shopping destinations.
- A red pantsuit
- A red coat (preferably with gold buttons)
- A pair of red high heels
- A pink and red dress/top and skirt combo
- A pair of nude heels
- A red leather jacket
- A pair of red gloves
- A red lace sheath dress
Even to her final days, she would still wear the color red. I love this picture of her; so sweet <3
Here are some other first ladies rocking the Reagan Red look 🙂
The Feminine Flair
Melania Trump was a first lady of many styles, but often exuded a theme of femininity and elegance throughout her looks. Beautiful, full skirted floral dresses, flowing chiffon gowns, and sheath dresses in light colors, make up some of her most memorable style moments. Melania’s style had a classic undertone to that we hadn’t seen since the first ladies of the 1950s and 60s. Many of her outfits (in my opinion), are very much inspired by old, feminine American styles worn by Jackie Kennedy and Mamie Eisenhower. Melania was a reminder that America’s past was worthy of being proud of, and a symbol of America’s prosperity during the economic boom of the last few years.
YOU KNOW you are a feminine flair if you have some of these in your wardrobe. Stores like Nordstrom and Dillards might be some of your favorite shopping destinations.
- A pair of pointed-toe flats
- A white knee-length or midi-length dress
- A light pink sheath dress
- Spring floral dresses
- A pair of high [pastel-colored heels
- A pair of oversized or cat eye black sunglasses
- A chiffon skirt
- A pastel colored coat
Here are a couple other Feminine Flair looks that I love 🙂
I hope you all enjoyed today’s post! See the links below if you would like to dive more into First Lady fashion history.
Learn More:
40 Best First Lady Fashion Moments of All Time | First Lady Style Evolution (marieclaire.com)
Articles about First Ladies & Fashion
Happy Monday!