SakshiMamie Doud Eisenhower
San Antonio, Texas is the place where Mamie Eisenhower saw her future husband Dwight D. Eisenhower for the very first time. Dwight before becoming a president was in the army. That is why the couple had to move a lot from places to places before Dwight registered for the candidature of Presidentship. She too was a trendsetter in the fashion world.
She hosted many parties during her stint in the house. Scaasi, Mollie Parnis, Trifari, and Sally Victor are among those designers who made outfits for this First Lady. Mamie’s has a “fashion look” named after her called “The Mamie look”. That is said to be inspired by Dior.
The “Fashion Look” Of Mamie
The look included a full-skirted outfit complemented by charm bracelets, pearls, little hats, and bobbed banged hair. She appeared in a beautiful gown designed by Nettie Rosenstein in the inaugural ball. Needless to say that her pink peau de soie gown was extremely attractive. This hand embroidered costume was decked with 2,000 rhinestones.
She completed her incredible look with jewelry and gloves designed by Trifari, shoes by Delman and a beaded purse by Judith Delman. This incredible amalgamation of fabrics can still be seen at Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s collection of inaugural gowns. Also, the credit of making this specific shade of pink popular among the people goes to her.
Jackie Kennedy
J.F Kennedy is one of the most favorite president of all time and her wife Jacke Kennedy too won every American’s heart. JFK was serving as a congressman when he came into contact with Jackie. The couple was already everyone’s favorite and when JFK won the election in 1960, they became the youngest pair to reside in the White House as it’s owner. The 1960s also saw the growing interest of people in the television and movie culture.
The most striking thing about Jackie was that she kept on experimenting with her look. Her fashion statement was lauded not only in America but all over the world. She principally worked with Oleg Cassini a famous American fashion designer.
The Image Conscious Jackie
Also known as “the ideal women” in media, Jackie was very conscious about her image in the media that is the reason she hired a press secretary unlike any of her predecessors. She also made a point of taking care of how is she going to be seen and how her kids are photographed. Academic Maurine Beasley once said Jackie “created an unrealistic media expectation for first ladies that would challenge her successors”. The whole family of her was like an American royalty for the public.
Lady Bird Johnson
Lady Bird Johnson was the wife of President Lyndon B. Johnson who took the presidential post after the assassination of JFK. Naturally, the entire nation was in shock. Therefore, the inaugural ceremony was kept simple.
Lady Bird graced the event in a yellow gown designed by John Moore. The color of her gown symbolized hope and optimism. She, during her stay in the White House, participated in many social works such as holding a Head Start program that helped poor children to receive the good education. She was not much into the fashion and kept her focus on other things.
Pat Nixon
Pat Nixon was married to Richard Nixon. Nixon ascended the chair of the president in a very chaotic time. The raged public had hit the road in order to the protest the Vietnam war and the assassination of Martin Luther King.
Nixon assured the public that he will bring back the “law and order” into the country but a revelation by his own staff raked up a controversy against him. The staff member confessed that they thought of criminalizing the civil rights movement and the anti-war protesters both. Pata’s elegant yellow gown was embellished with Austrian crystals and had gold and silver embroidery.