While Rosalynn Carter‘s fashion selections may not hold the same glamour as those of Jacqueline Kennedy or other notable First Ladies, they nonetheless merit attention. Known to many as the former First Lady and devoted wife of President Jimmy Carter, her style evolution might have been understated, but it is as compelling as her personal narrative, which saw her rise from the humble beginnings in Plains, Georgia, to the grandeur of the White House.
Rosalynn’s style was characterized by practical yet elegant fashion, always reflecting her personality and values with an understated chicness, often in pastel tones like lilac and powder blue. Her fashion choices were anything but arbitrary; instead, they served as a mirror, offering glimpses into her character and principles. With Rosalynn’s recent passing at the age of 96, it seems apt to revisit some of her most memorable fashion moments.
Among these, one dress, in particular, stands out. A piece that stirred quite a debate back in its time, it serves as a testament to Rosalynn’s unique flair for fashion and her sustainable values.
The dress in question? The gold-embroidered, high-neck, blue chiffon gown she wore to her husband’s inaugural ball in 1977. Designed by Mary Matise, the dress was not new; Mrs. Carter wore the chiffon grow once before at her husband’s inauguration as Georgia governor in 1971, per Smithsonian Magazine. This was a departure from tradition, where First Ladies typically wore custom-made gowns for such significant events.
The decision was viewed by some as a fashion faux pas and even horrified the public and the fashion industry at the time. Even the New York Times labeled the dress “old” in a critical manner at the time, calling her a “sentimentalist” for wearing “something old and something blue.” This type of criticism followed her to the White House, as she was often questioned for her lack of interest in high fashion like Jackie O.
“Mrs. Carter’s reluctance to spend a lot of money on clothes does not mean that she doesn’t like to look right. In fact, she often comments on the attractive appearance of those around her, according to one of her aides,” a Washington Post column about her fashion choices from January 1977 reads. “But Mrs. Carter comes from a poor family, has worked most of her life, and finds it difficult to part with, say, $170 for a dress when there are equally respectable dresses at $70.”
Today, Rosalynn’s choice seems even more commendable given the growing emphasis on sustainable fashion. It was an early example of a prominent figure promoting the idea of ‘fashion recycling’ long before it became a trend.
“It enhanced the incoming Carter presidency’s notions of modesty and frugality,” Curator Lisa Kathleen Graddy of The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History told Time in 2013.
Rosalynn Carter may have horrified some with her fashion choice at the 1977 Inauguration Ball, but she also challenged societal norms and expectations about fashion and consumerism. It showed that elegance does not necessitate extravagance, a message that resonates with today’s values of sustainability and conscious consumerism in fashion.
So here’s to Rosalynn Carter—a woman who wasn’t afraid to make bold fashion choices and stand by them, even if they earned her the cold shoulder from the fashion elite. Her style legacy is a testament to the power of individuality, practicality, and sustainability. And for that, we commend her.
Before you go, click here to see which US presidents have done tree lighting ceremonies over the years:
Leave a Comment