When Grace Went on Vacation
Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 11:38 AM Image via Library of Congress
When Grace Coolidge was First Lady (1923-1929), she and her family frequently turned to the great outdoors as a vacation destination. Mrs. Coolidge was a nature lover at heart and, as such, she enjoyed hiking, camping, and horseback riding. She also enjoyed traveling with her numerous pets, including several dogs, a wombat, and a raccoon named Rebecca. Favorite vacation spots for the Coolidges included the Adirondacks in New York and the Black Hills in South Dakota.
Mrs. Coolidge, whose nickname was Sunshine (perhaps in contrast to her famously silent husband), had a reputation as a stylish dresser. Her official White House portrait showed her dressed in a sleeveless red velvet dress with the distinctive dropped waist of the flapper era, accompanied by her dog Rob Roy.
While her exact fashion sense may not translate to today, we love certain details of the vacationing Mrs. Coolidge in her off-duty clothes: her embrace of white for a cool summer look on hot days; a fuller skirt for graceful movement; and a signature necklace for a small but mesmerizing hint of glamour. Compared to some of the more elaborate fashions of the time, these summer outfits seem pared down—making them appropriate not just for the weather of the day, but also for the test of time.
Image via Library of Congress
Reader Comments (19)
Lovely Mrs C, thank you.
(Sleeveless red dress for the portrait you say? Good lordy Miss Maudy.... ;-) )
What a beautiful photograph with the president and her dog. Does anyone know the photographer's name?
By the way, thank for this lovely blog. It is truly one of my guilty pleasures. I love Ms. Obama and all that she stands for. Who knew in the early days of the campaign that she would come to symbolize the best in everyday fashion. SHE is so smart.
A lady can never go wrong with a white dress for summer. Huffington Post has pics of the Obamas and guests (including POTUS sister and brother-in-law, as well as Valerie Jarrett) going out for dinner Tuesday at the Sweet Life Cafe in Oak Bluffs. Mrs. O's sleeveless white dress looks cool and comfy; And, of course, don't forget the bling. I love the diamond hoops!!
New pics of MO and the girls on yahoo.
Mrs. O is wearing her bathing suit underneath a white button down and whtie capris. They look fresh from the beach.
Just a side note: I need Mrs. O to shop for Mr. O to get him some new downtime clothes. His polo shirts are clearly losing their shape, and while I don't need him to wear tight jeans, they need to be a better fit. With, or without a new wardrobe, I still love my president ta bits...
I see a new book in your future Mrs T., "First Lady's Fashion".
Iva, I agree with you, some of Mr O off duty clothes have really achieved that comfy look.
Thank you for this post, Mrs. T. I think my all-time favorite fashion period is WWI through roaring 20s. I love the shift!
(Early 60s through Mod early-Carnaby Street had some good shifts, too.)
PS -- Saw the new Yahoo pix. President O's bad jeans are perfect for visiting a beach town shack, aren'ty they? (I mean this as a compliment & I was one of those who mocked those drawers mercilessly..... He really does need an intervention on the casual clothes front.)
The posts featuring archival photos of past First Ladys are truly fascinating and a good reminder of the many different ways fashion reflects the wearer! Thank you for these historical views and please keep them coming.
Iva, I noticed that too. I was like his polo shirts are extra big and you notice with him tucking them in all the time. However, I think we might as well get use to it because the POTUS hates to shop and he already said he likes to be comfy.
I also love that Grace Coolidge's official portrait was in a sleeveless red velvet dress! here is a jpg http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/furnishings/Grace%20Coolidge.jpg
Ladies, the article was written by Mrs C - I mean nothing snarky by this, it's just that I know you'll all want to acknowledge the right person! (And I made the same mistake myself the other week!!!)
Yes, thanks Posh! It has been a wonderful series by Mrs. C!
I'm so obsessed with this post. Her style is divine! :)
Time for flapper dresses to make a comeback. They are so pretty! There's a book (chick lit) called 20s girl by Sophie Kinsella that has a lot about flapper fashion in it. Great beach read.
Yvette, thanks for the link to Mrs. Coolidge's portrait! I wish someone had dug that up when there was such a fuss about Mrs. O's "right to bare arms."
I thought they have just been in? Last winter working through this summer....
Video of President Obama and his family arriving at Sweet Life Cafe in Martha's Vineyard. He's holding his little niece. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-JaFWCtUFI
I can't wait to see the montage..... ya gotta have a montage.
Enough of history. Moving on. ...http://www.michelleostyle.blogspot.com/