First Lady fashion has captivated us since the beginning of the U.S. government, from Martha Washington sparking so much sartorial interest that she avoided leaving the house to skirt suits taking over two centuries later. Today, people are just as obsessed with the style of presidential spouses. Some of them, like Hillary Clinton, use the attention and turn their fashion into a tool and platform to get a message across, raise awareness of a cause, or spotlight American designers. Hillary was the first FLOTUS to wear a pantsuit in the first lady portrait, marking a moment of speaking out for gender equality. Beyond pantsuits, she has a track record of some fabulous looks — ones that would give Melania Trump a run for her money.
Multiple black and red looks in 1992
Hillary was known to rock a headband during Bill’s presidency. She wore this color scheme with a more wholesome red and black plaid cardigan and a red turtleneck sweater, brought together by a matching headband. However, she wore an edgier look with these colors when she wore the same headband paired with a slouchy black leather jacket, a short red skirt, black boots, and a red turtleneck.
A royalty-chic houndstooth jacket
Houndstooth is timeless, and Hillary proved that in 1997 when she paired this chic, black and white houndstooth jacket with a black roll-neck turtleneck sweater. The look was accessorized with a cameo pendant necklace and pearl earrings. Overall, the look was an elegant throwback to Princess Di’s houndstooth looks from the previous decade.
Outshining her husband at his inaugural ball
When her husband Bill Clinton took his oath at the inaugural ball in 1993, Hillary stole the show with a stunning blue gown that resembled the night sky, a lace appliqué adorning the top, with sparkly details adding an ethereal but glam effect. The ensemble cost a whopping $50,000, marking it as one of the most expensive FLOTUS outfits ever.
She’s experimented with every shade of pink imaginable
Hillary wasn’t afraid to wear the color pink in her outfits, even if it was just a pop of color to brighten things up. Think light pink lapels and cuffs for a feminine twist to a darker suit (like her look for Nelson Mandela’s 1994 inauguration) or a darker pink paired with a lighter one in a houndstooth suit. She even wore an all-hot pink suit, but also styled more demure shades like a salmon pink.
Monochromatic outfits
Think Megan Markle is the queen of monochromatic looks? Hillary Clinton is also a contender. At a White House event in 1993, she wore a flattering rich royal blue outfit, with a jacket, dress, and belt that were all the same hue. A couple of years later, she was giving Barbie a blush pink suit with gold and pearl jewelry.
A festive burgundy dress that commanded attention in 1993
At the Kennedy Center Honors in 1993, Hillary made herself synonymous with the color burgundy after wearing a gorgeous velvet gown in the shade of Oscar de la Renta. The holiday-chic look was figure-hugging on top with a flared skirt, and worked well with big gold earrings and red lipstick.
A regal, post-scandal look ahead of an impeachment
Hillary Clinton would never be caught looking frumpy, especially after the Monica Lewinsky scandal that her husband was caught up in. Despite knowing that her hubby would soon be impeached, she wore a regal gold gown that cemented her status as the queen of the White House at the time.
Chic pantsuits in Paris
If you’re in Paris, you better not be caught slacking fashion-wise, and Hillary certainly wasn’t when she visited in 1994. She wore a fitted jacket that showed off a snatched waist paired with black heels and stylish wide-leg trousers in a memorable, monochromatic look. The combination of various textures and a micro clutch made this one of her best looks yet.
Royalty meets royalty in 1994 when meeting the emperor of Japan
For this look, Hillary wore pearl jewelry, white gloves, and white pumps with a yellow skirt suit, shirt, and hat for a sunny yet elegant outfit that she donned to welcome Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan to the White House. One X user tweeted, “This look was a serve. Top tier.”
Off-duty looks that were even better than her official working looks
While her looks on royal duties never slacked, it was her more casual outfits, like vacation ensembles, that sometimes stole the show. In 2021, Hillary shared a throwback photo from a 1995 family trip to Wyoming that screamed Western chic. It featured maximalist jewelry, a belted maxi dress, and cowboy boots with a cowboy hat. This proves that so many old-school FLOTUS styles are still in fashion today!