Fashion’s First Lady: Dr Jill Biden’s personal style, from the campaign to the inauguration

Prim and polished, Dr Jill Biden’s personal style says a lot about how she will handle the role of First Lady.

She is the new First Lady known for her polished style as much as her political prowess.

Favouring American designers, Dr Jill Biden’s dress sense – spanning well-cut tailoring to peplum skirts and a penchant for recycling outfits – says a lot about how she will handle her new role in the White House, experts say.

From Michelle Obama’s power suits to Jackie O’s pillbox hats, most First Ladies have become style – as well as political – icons during their husbands’ reigns as US President.

Classic cuts and block colours will feature in the new FLOTUS’ wardrobe, building on the all-American styling seen in her previous tenure as Second Lady during the Obama Administration.

First Lady Jill Biden and President Joe Biden at the inauguration. Picture: AFP

The new First Lady wore a little-known New York designer for the occasion. Picture: AFP

The Bidens’ White House arrival. Picture: Getty Images

At her husband President Joe Biden’s inauguration, Dr Biden turned heads in a custom-made blue coat and dress from New York-based label, Markarian. It was regarded as a surprise style move for the First Lady, who chose the young designer – known in fashion and society circles for structured bespoke party dresses – over established labels, for the moment in American political history.

A fashion moment at the presidential. Picture: AFP

What Dr Biden will wear during her tenure as First Lady is expected to be a stark contrast to her predecessor, Melania Trump, stylists predict.

Tailoring is the backbone to Dr Biden’s perfectly put-together, occasion-worthy outfits, which tend to centre around shift-style dresses and point to her “fuss-free” personality, career and family-focused image.

The now-First Lady wore a chic wrap-dress to last year’s Democratic National Convention. Picture: AFP

Wearing a pink sleeved pencil dress, Jill Biden attended the Electoral College in Wilmington, Delaware, last month. Picture: AFP

A floral moment. Picture: AFP

For a campaign stop in Miami last year, Jill Biden theme-dressed in florals. Picture: AFP

A navy silk moment. Picture: AFP

Pencil skirts and blazers form a key part of the First Lady’s wardrobe. Picture: Getty Images

At official engagements, expect see the university professor sporting American designers including Oscar De La Renta, Brandon Maxwell, Carolina Herrera and Michael Kors, as well as Narciso Rodriguez, Christian Siriano and Lela Rose, which she has worn previously.

“She is someone who knows what works for her body shape and doesn’t stray too far from silhouettes that she knows work for her,” said Vogue Australia senior editor and market director Philippa Moroney.

“It’s clear though, that she understands how her fashion choices can hold influence and create buzz,” Moroney added, noting that Jill famously wore Stuart Weitzman VOTE boots when accompanying her husband after voting in the Delaware primaries.

A peplum silhouette in 2019. Picture: AFP

She was red-y for the White House during a 2018 appearance on Fox News. Picture: Getty Images

A crimson cap-sleeved pencil dress in 2017. Picture: Getty Images

Jill Biden and her daughter, Ashley Biden, at the 88th Annual Academy Awards in 2016. Picture: AFP

A casual look on a Middle East tour in 2016. Picture: AFP

Then-Second Lady Jill Biden with then-President Barack Obama in 2015. Picture: AFP

Even in 2015, Jill Biden was dressing like a future First Lady. Picture: AFP

Jill’s wardrobe suggests she is “confident, she is a very accomplished woman who clearly has a “uniform” approach to dressing”, Moroney said.

“Some of the best dressed women in the world approach style in this way, it’s fuss free and works with her down to earth approach to style.

“American Designers will of course be favoured. It will be interesting to see if Dr Biden’s streamlined approach to fashion will mean she will wear a style off the rack or if she will wear a custom-made look.”

Then-US Senator Joe Biden and Jill Biden in 1987. Picture: Getty Images

Jill Biden (left) stands behind her husband, then-Senator Joe Biden, after his keynote address to an Illinois Democratic Party dinner in Chicago, Illinois, in 1987. Picture: Getty Images

Throughout her time in the White House, Mrs Trump’s wardrobe comprised of mostly expensive, luxury designers including Dolce & Gabanna, Gucci and Ralph Lauren, favouring sharp lines and bold prints (including that multi-coloured departing outfit).

Melania’s outfits “were overly, and often inappropriately, themed to the events she was attending which also meant she was widely criticised”, Moroney said.

These included a Zara jacket with the words “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” written in graffiti-style print on the back and a Pith helmet worn on her solo trip to Africa.

“Dr Biden’s fashion choices will be miles apart from Melania,” Moroney predicts.

“She will stay true to her classic fuss free style and much like Michelle Obama, use her fashion choices to support American designers.”

Originally published as Fashion’s First Lady: Dr Jill Biden’s personal style, from the campaign to the inauguration