A Brief History of Our First Ladies' Inaugural Gowns

The Inaugural Ball hasn't always been a must-see event for First Ladies. Our original First Lady, Martha Washington, skipped her husband's celebration, possibly because she didn't really approve of him running for office in the first place. Prior to the 20th century, the Inaugural events were only occasionally attended by the First Lady. Even when the president's wife did take part, her gown was seldom noted, and, sadly, rarely survived the test of time. Today, it's a much different story: The fashion choices of a First Lady are endlessly documented and analyzed, and landmark gowns are preserved for museum exhibition.

2021, of course, is a different story in that Joe Biden's inauguration won't be marked with crowded parties. It's unclear at this point, if there will be some sort of virtual ball for Jill Biden to attend, but ahead of January 20, here, we take a look back at inaugural gowns of recent decades, along with a few stunning examples of those from events long passed.