THE COLOUR PURPLE

 

In 1998, we ventured off on our first big overseas trip...

to meet up with our travelling daughter in New York, visit New England, Pennsylvania, and then on to Washington DC.

We played tourist outside the White House, and loved the Smithsonian museums.

I must have done my homework, because I contrived to find our way to the National Museum of American History, and The First Ladies inauguration gowns exhibition.  As a lover of both history and fashion, I enjoyed this immensely.

(Google image) Inauguration Ball gowns: Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush

Cameras were forbidden back in the pre-iPhone camera days, alas...

I know I saw every First Lady's Inauguration Ball gown from Mamie Eisenhower (above left) through to Hillary Clinton (currently First Lady when we visited)

Always an avid Jackie fan, I loved seeing her exquisite cream gown with chiffon overlay, so chic and understated...

Leaving politics aside, it was interesting to see the fashions worn at this week's Inauguration of President Joe Biden - and to see that fashion and politics are never far apart...

I thought Dr Jill Biden's Ocean Blue coat was beautiful in cut and detail, and the matching blue leather gloves added an elegant touch..

Vice-President Kamala Harris wore a plain and stylish purple dress and coat....

I found out later that purple is now a Bipartisan colour: red and blue combined.

Former First Ladies Hillary Clinton in Violet, and Michelle Obama in Plum..

I was thinking it was disappointing that Dr Biden could not have a fabulous Ball Gown, as this year the Balls were cancelled.  

Here are the Bidens at the second Obama Inauguration..

However, today I find that Dr Biden did indeed have a special evening outfit, when the First Family attended the concert at the Lincoln Memorial:

This lovely dress and coat, by New York designed Gabriela  Hearst featured the embroidered floral emblems of all the States of America..

As an Australian, I only happen to recognise one of them, the Texas bluebonnet, to which I was introduced by our friends when we visited Texas the following year... in fact, I still have a piece of quilting fabric featuring them in my stash.

Quilters will understand...

The matching mask, a sign of the times, and really very pretty as well.

In a Bipartisan spirit, here are a few more purple flowers found in our Garden of Neglect this afternoon..

Have a good, and relaxed weekend, and here's to a safer year in 2021.

XXXX

PS - haven't times changed?