fascinating first ladies or diary of a fashion geek

At first I was perplexed as to why the media was making such a big deal out of what Michelle Obama will be wearing on the day of her husband's inauguration. I'm a fashion person, but is this what I want to hear on the news when there's a war in the mid-east and tanking economy to consider?

But a strange thing has been happening to me the last few days. Every time I read about Barak Obama being sworn in with the same bible that Abraham Lincoln was sworn in on, I feel choked up. I have this incredible sensation that the past--our past, the shameful and the significant--has finally caught up with the present. Our most loved and mythologized president, who was able to free the slaves in 1863 after our one and only civil war, has reached through time to be present at this moment of historic change.


Party like it's 1865

And then I remembered Mary Todd Lincoln's inauguration dress (above) made by Elizabeth Keckley. Born a slave, Elizabeth Keckley had dressmaking skills and became Mrs. Lincoln’s confidant. How did I know this? Because growing up, while other girls were drawing pictures of their wedding dress, I was obsessed with drawing clothes for historical ladies. Not a big secret: I was a complete fashion geek--I mean what kind of teenager gets Fascinating First Ladies for Valentine's Day? And when we flew back east to look at colleges, I was far more interested in checking out the collection of First Ladies dresses at the Smithsonian than taking in the sights of Georgetown.



Dolly Payne Todd Madison (1768-1849)

Dolly Madison's dress was always one of my favorite First Lady dresses. Probably a left over penchant for Empire dresses that came from playing paper dolls with Josephine (of Napolean and Josephine).



Julia Gardiner Tyler (1820-1889)

Then there was Julia Gardiner Tyler, known as "the rose of Long Island". She presided over the white house in black lace and white silk dresses. I always loved the detail on this bodice.



Lucy Ware Webb Hayes (1831-1889); known by some as "Lemonade Lucy" for banning liquor at the White House; Honored by the Women's Christian Temperance Union in this portrait

And of course I was crazy about the poet sleeves on Lucy Ware Webb Hayes' gown. Unfortunately Lucy Hayes never attended the inaugural ball in 1877 because the outcome of the election was still in doubt so there was no public celebration.




For sheer modern chic, in my mind, no first lady can touch Jackie Kennedy's inauguration dress that she commissioned (and co-designed) with Bergdorf Goodman's Ethel Frankau.



Michelle Obama in a Thakoon Resort 2009 floral dress

I do have faith, ever since I saw Michelle Obama wearing a dress by Panichgul Thakoon early on in the election, that the fashion of this presidency is going to be interesting to watch. It's been said that her best accessory is Barak and I would have to agree.