The World’s Oldest Obsession

(excerpt from) The Boston Herald

All Eyes Will be on Michelle Obama and her Choice of Inaugural Gown

By Maria Recio / McClatchy Newspapers-Wednesday, January 7, 2009

WASHINGTON - Inauguration Day will belong to President Barack Obama, but that night will be wife Michelle’s turn in the spotlight, as all eyes will be on her - and her choice of ball gown. Throughout U.S. history, and especially in the post-World War II era, first ladies have made statements about themselves and the times they live in with their inaugural wardrobes.

Michelle Obama is creating a fashion frenzy. And even though we think that fashion and politics is a modern phenomenon, it isn’t. The first woman to use fashion for political reasons was the influential and beautiful Georgiana Cavendish, The Duchess of Devonshire.

 In the late 1700s, Georgiana created a stir over everything that she wore. She blended her fashion panache with her desire to support politicians and their political ideas. Plus, Georgiana understood and mastered the power of art and symbolism. To support her candidate, Charles Fox, and “The Foxite Whigs”, Georgiana often dressed in fox fur. Soon enough, everyone started to wear fox fur. To boost morale for a war where women had no place as soldiers, Georgiana organized a group of aristocratic women to dress in soldier-like uniforms.  

She also used color to rally support for the Whigs, whose hues were blue and buff.  Not only did she wear blue and buff during the election but she also created a scene with a giant blue and buff hot air balloon. At a time when women had no place in politics, she rallied women to join her and London’s finest would show up at the rallies with blue and buff uniforms and large foxtails in their hair. The newspapers would always cover it and the Whig party’s message was spread exponentially.  Amanda Foreman, author of The Duchess, explains how the Duchess of Devonshire was an innovator in using fashion and message to support the cause: “Georgiana should be credited with being one of the first to refine political messages for mass communication. She was an image-maker who understood the necessity for public relations, and she became adept at the manipulation of political symbols and the dissemination of party propaganda.”