CNN
—
First lady Jill Biden will display her Inauguration Day outfit on Wednesday at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History as part of an exhibit from the museum’s collection of first ladies, the White House announced.
Biden wore two different outfits on Inauguration Day in 2021, CNN Style reported at the time. At the inauguration, she wore a blue tweed coat with velvet cuffs and a dress embellished with Swarovski crystals, alongside Colorado-born Alexandra O’Neill from American label Markarian. O’Neill’s matching mask.
“It was a great honor to dress Dr. Biden today,” O’Neill said in a statement to CNN Style at the time. “I’m honored to be a small part of American history.”
At the inauguration concert later in the evening, the first lady wore an all-white ensemble, including a skirt, coat and matching white gloves, designed by Chloé creative director, Uruguayan-born Gabriella Hurst.
Biden, along with designers O’Neal and Hearst, will speak as part of the plan, according to the White House.
Displaying the first lady’s inauguration suit at the Smithsonian is a tradition dating back to Helen Taft in 1912.
In 2017, former first lady Melania Trump donated her ivory silk crepe inaugural ball gown to the museum.
“This piece is one of many new beginnings for our family in Washington,” Trump said in a speech at the time.
The designer of the Trump gown, Hervé Pierre, was creative director of Carolina Herrera, the iconic American designer whose gowns are often worn by first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush.
Trump’s predecessor, Michelle Obama, ushered in a new era of modern inaugural ball style, choosing Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu for both of her husband’s inaugural ceremonies.
The first, in 2009, was a flowing white one-shoulder gown with floral appliqués, and the second was a bold red gown in chiffon and velvet. The 2009 dress is part of the Smithsonian collection.
