The serendipity of our professional lives is underestimated. We end up “doing stuff” – if we are lucky – because we stumbled upon something that held our interest, and others’ interest, even, dare I say fascination in a way that we never planned. Almost thirty years ago I huddled in our family room with my two young children and watched Elizabeth Dole descend the steps at the Republican National Convention as she spoke from the heart about “the man I love.” She was, frankly, more charismatic and articulate than the candidates themselves. Like many people watching, I wondered why she wasn’t running for president (which she did four years later). It has been so fun to research and write about topics of women in politics for most of my career. And my latest project focuses on our First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden.
So, when I was graciously invited to the historic Smithsonian event where Dr. Jill Biden would officially donate her inaugural clothing, as first ladies have done since Helen Taft in 1912–well, I was “so there.” Like in here. As I write this I’m in the lobby of the hotel getting ready to head to the Smithsonian, negative Covid-19 test in hand. You see, this is especially special because Dr. Jill Biden does not talk about what she’s wearing, perhaps the first time ever for modern First Ladies, because maybe she believes too much of the conversation about women in the public eye is about what they look like. More than that, she is the first First Lady to keep her professional work. Dr. Biden is an instructor at Northern Virginia Community College, a position she has held since 2009. So, just on those two counts, she is a barrier-breaking spouse of the president.
Events like today are always historical events, but this time even more so since Dr. Biden’s two ensembles, her teal blue dress with coat she donned at the swearing in and her ivory silk wool dress and cashmere coat ensemble she wore at the White House later that evening, are not gowns at all—they are both dresses. I believe the only other first lady who wore a dress and not a gown was Betty Ford, since the events surrounding her husband’s presidency were sudden because of Watergate.
Usually, first ladies donate the gown they danced in at the many Inauguration but there were no inaugural balls in 2020 because the COVID-19 pandemic was raging. So, in addition to her dresses, the matching face masks – for the first time in history – will be part of the donation.
For the ceremony at the Capitol, Dr. Biden chose an ocean blue wool tapered tweed dress embellished with pearls and crystals, a matching overcoat with a dark blue velvet collar and cuffs, and a face mask. They were designed by Alexandra O’Neill, founder and designer of Markarian. In the evening, she wore an ivory silk wool dress, an ivory double-breasted cashmere coat and a face mask, all embroidered with the flowers of every U.S. state and territory. They were designed by Gabriela Hearst, founder and creative director of Gabriela Hearst.
This is truly an dream come true for me. My mom’s been gone a long time, but if she were here with me, well she’d be right here in DC today with me. This would be one of those “memories” since she was as interested in women and politics, okay and what they wore as I am. Pinch me!
TalkDoc 