First ladies from Martha Washington to Jill Biden have gotten outsized attention for their clothing instead of their views

First lady Jill Biden presents her Inauguration Day clothing at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in January 2023. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

First ladies’ fashion choices tend to attract a lot of attention and often, quite literally, go down in history.

Now, with their new home at the Smithsonian Museum’s popular gallery showcasing first ladies’ fashion, the inauguration outfits of Jill Biden will attract attention for years to come.