First lady Jill Biden telegraphed political unity with her outfit for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration Monday.
Dressed in a Ralph Lauren coat, gloves and pumps in a vibrant shade of bipartisan violet — blending the blue linked with the Democratic party and the red associated with Republicans — Dr. Biden joined her husband, President Joe Biden, at Monday’s swearing-in, in keeping with political tradition.
During her four years as first lady — and her eight as second lady, when her spouse served as vice president alongside POTUS Barack Obama — the esteemed educator repped American fashion in a major way, wearing looks from Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang and her personal favorite, Ralph.
For President Biden’s inauguration in 2021, she selected an ocean blue tweed coat and matching dress by Markarian, a label designed and produced in New York City; the color was chosen to “signify trust, confidence, and stability,” per the brand’s press release.
COVID-19 precautions meant that there was no inaugural ball, but Dr. Biden appeared during that evening’s “Celebrating America” concert special wearing an ivory coat and dress by sustainability-focused Latin American designer Gabriela Hearst, both embroidered with the federal flowers from every US state and territory.
Other sartorial highlights include a statement-making “Vote” dress by Christian Siriano, which she wore last June at President Biden’s post-debate rally in Raleigh, NC, and the royal blue sequined Sergio Hudson gown she chose for a White House state dinner honoring Kenyan President William Ruto last May.
Dr. Biden even made a surprise appearance at Ralph Lauren’s Hamptons runway show during New York Fashion Week in September, bringing along Hunter Biden’s daughter Finnegan as her date.
“When I became first lady, I knew that people would start to care a lot more about what I wore,” the FLOTUS said at a 2023 Smithsonian ceremony, during which she donated her inaugural ensembles to the museum.
“And there have been times when I welcome that spotlight, because I knew that my clothes could help me say something important.”
