Nancy Reagan’s reputation may have fluctuated over the course of two terms in the White House, but her lavish fashion taste never faltered.
The daughter of an actress who married a neurosurgeon, Nancy Reagan enjoyed a happy childhood. She followed in her mother’s footsteps and studied theatre in college. She eventually made her way to Broadway and enjoyed a short-lived career as a movie actress. It was through a producer that she became acquainted with Ronald Reagan. They were married for over ten years before he entered the world of politics. Aside from her refusal to live in the rundown California governor’s mansion, Nancy seemed to enjoy her time as a governor’s wife. She took an active role in the Foster Grandparent’s Program in hospitals and expressed great concern for Vietnam veterans (Linehan). However, she was much more concerned with being Ronald’s loving wife than garnering a great reputation with the public.
When Ronald successfully won the election in 1980, Nancy was prepared for a life of glamour but not one of such constant criticism.
“Perhaps the most criticism was directed at Nancy’s wardrobe. Her inaugural ensemble included a donated gown valued at $25,000, a $10,000 mink coat, a fur-lined raincoat, a $1,700 dress, and a $1,500 alligator purse. This apparent excess was hotly criticized at a time when national unemployment was at 8.9 percent. Even before she had a chance to prove herself as First Lady, Nancy Reagan was accused of being obsessed with power and status” (Linehan).
Her elegant “white beaded one-shouldered sheath gown of lace over silk satin” was only the beginning of her fashionable run as First Lady (Smithsonian). She was known for her clean, classic high-end American style. She did not condone women wearing pants, so she consistently opted for well-tailored skirts and dresses. In addition, she was particularly fond of wearing red—the color suddenly changed from the color of communism to the color of American democracy, or “Reagan red.” If there was an occasion, it seemed Nancy Reagan had an outfit for it. The famous designer Oscar de la Renta reportedly claimed Nancy “never made a faux pas” (Pous).
The only faux pas she seemed to make was acquiring the clothes. Nancy Reagan was blamed several times for accepting designer clothing without reporting it—a direct violation of the 1977 Ethics in Government Act. Much of the American public disregarded these allegations, but worried more about the message her excessive wardrobe was sending.
“In a country ensnared in the deepest recession in decades, where poor people waited in line for surplus cheese and unemployment hovered near 10 percent, Nancy did not seem to grasp the issue. She blamed the furor over her clothing on other women who were jealous that she wore a size four. Such insensitivity was not lost on the American public. A year-end Newsweek poll found 66 percent of the country opposed to Nancy’s conspicuous consumption in a time of federal budget cuts and widespread economic hardship. By the end of 1981, she had a higher disapproval rating than any other First Lady of modern times” (Linehan).
Nancy tried to make up for her declining popularity by taking up a cause—the fight against drug and alcohol abuse. While she had claimed she would stay out of politics from the start, it came to her attention that she needed to do something or it would damage her husband’s reputation too. Knowing she would do anything for Ronald, she quickly thrust herself into the world of the anti-drug movement. She was responsible for the rise of the phrase, “Just say no.” Interestingly enough, this strategy worked for her! After visiting innumerable prevention and rehabilitation centers, and even sponsoring the largest gathering of First Ladies from around the world to discuss the international strategy to combat drug use, her reputation was significantly improved (The White House).
Reagan once said, “I believe a woman gets more if she acts feminine”—and that she certainly did. Nancy Reagan boasted an unprecedentedly lavish wardrobe and kept up a reputation as a relentlessly committed wife and mother. The backlash of her fashion choices goes to show how influential a First Lady’s wardrobe can be in politics and public opinion.
The First Ladies of Fashion 