Politics and Petticoats...Why we Love the Whitehouse

By, Lauralee Talbot



First ladies, leaders in their own right. They speak. They are aware. They influence the world they influence fashion. People remember them, Eleanor Roosevelt for being classy and smart. Jackie Kennedy for being beautiful and intelligent. Now there is Michelle Obama, poised, tall, well dressed toned and black.



Jackie Kennedy




Eleanor Roosevelt

Michelle Obama

First Ladies are sometimes thought of as a mere hostess at the White house and arm candy for the President, but behind every handsome charismatic president is a First lady carrying him forward into the eyes of the world with flair and fashion. First Ladies thru the ages have shown they are much more. Their preferred fashions has had influences on the fashion world and the general population. However these fashion statements were not mindless coincidental fancies. The dressing of a first lady has always been well thought out and purposeful. The elegance and allure of the First Lady (Edith Wilson) who was the pioneer visitor of OVERSEAS countries resulted in first real attention paid to the President and his entourage. She was invaluable in exciting the newspapers and reporters at the time. Other First Ladies have used their glamour and style to win them publicity when campaigning for their various charities. Long before charities caught on to acquiring rock star endorsements First Ladies knew that the people who give profusely likes to associate their donations to a charity endorsed by an influential well-dressed public figure. First Ladies were among the first to realize this. First Ladies entertain very influential world figures. They see what they wear as not only a reflection of their fashion taste but most importantly the dress the jewelry the accessories are symbolic of a country, its strength and its position. Politically savvy people may think of fashion as merely frilly useless pomp ...but used smartly as the first ladies have done it’s much more.                                                 



Edith Wilson



One must be very intelligent to figure out how fashion will make a favourable statement without offending.

                  

The President and his First Lady