Here’s what 16 first ladies wore at their husbands’ presidential inaugurations
Kirsten Acuna
REUTERS/Jim Young
As president Barack Obama bids farewell to the Oval Office, the United States will welcome in its 45th president.
While many will be watching when Donald Trump is sworn in as Commander in Chief on Inauguration Day, all eyes will also be on new first lady, Melania.
Michelle Obama helped to redefine first lady fashion. Will Mrs. Trump measure up to some of the iconic looks of the past? Keep reading to see what the first ladies of the past 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.
AP Photo
March 4, 1929: Lou Henry Hoover was known for her fashion and became the first first lady to be in Vogue magazine in May 1929.
AP Photo
Sources: Vogue, A Companion to First Ladies
March 4, 1933: Press described Eleanor Roosevelt’s inaugural gown as a shade called “Eleanor Blue.” Her wrap and dress were made of “crystelle velvet,” according to the New York Times. Press highlighted that Roosevelt’s gowns were designed and made entirely in the US.
AP Photo
Source: New York Times
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.
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.
AP Photo/stf
Mrs. Truman
January 20, 1953: First lady Mamie Eisenhower wore a pale pink de soie gown which was embroidered with over 2,000 rhinestones. Press had to wait until the week before the inauguration to receive details and photographs of the gown from Mrs. Eisenhower.
AP Photo
January 20, 1961: Jacqueline Kennedy was a vision at the inaugural balls wearing a sleeveless off-white silk chiffon gown. Kennedy had a matching cape to go with it.
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.
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.
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.
AP Photo
January 20, 1977: Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn walked from the Capitol to the White House in a brilliant turquoise coat.
AP Photo
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.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
January 20, 1985: Reagan looked regal again for the inaugural balls. She wore another James Galanos white chiffon gown with glass beads that reportedly took more than 300 hours to apply by hand.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Source: CBS News
January 21, 1989: Barbara Bush wore a royal-blue gown with a velvet bodice to the inaugural balls.
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. The dress was made by New York theatrical costume maker Barbara Matera Ltd.
REUTERS/Jim Bourg
January 20, 2001: Laura Bush attended the Texas inaugural ball in a red gown by Texas designer Michael Faircloth.
REUTERSWin McNamee
January 20, 2005: Laura Bush wore all white to her husband’s second inauguration.
REUTERS/Files
Later that evening, she wore a silver Oscar de la Renta gown to the second inaugural ball.
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.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
January 21, 2009: She wore a custom-made white gown by Cuban-born American designer Isabel Toledo at the Southern Regional Inaugural Ball.
REUTERS/Jim Young
January 21, 2013: Michelle Obama wore a collarless blue-checkered coat with J. Crew shoes to President Obama’s second inauguration.
REUTERS/Doug Mills/Pool
January 22, 2013: She stunned at the inaugural ball wearing a red Jason Wu gown and Jimmy Choo shoes.
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 coat.
Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Image
idealisticrebel 
what a fabulous post. 10 out of 10.
A reflection of fashion through the ages.