Inappropriate Outfits Jill Biden Has Been Caught Wearing

No matter where you stand on their individual politics, America's first ladies have long been seen as paragons of fashion and grace. From Jackie Kennedy's iconic elegance and the Michelle Obama's boundary-pushing style to Melania Trump's controversial but sometimes fashion-forward outfits, each presidential partner has left a mark, both during and after their time in the White House. But, of course, these high-profile role models aren't without their occasional sartorial snafus and fashion faux pas.

First Lady Jill Biden, for one, has attracted a lot of style critiques during her stint in Washington, D.C. To be fair, Dr. Biden has also been upfront that her wardrobe is not a main focus of the administration. As Press Secretary Michael LaRosa bluntly summed it up following Dr. Biden's stops at a few schools in early March of 2021, "We will not be commenting on her clothes." Whether she likes it or not, though, Dr. Biden's place in the spotlight means that her outfit choices send a message, and from awkwardly timed headwear to ridiculously pricey accessories, her ensembles have occasionally captured headlines for all the wrong reasons.

We love taking cues from the world's most stylish royals, and anyone familiar with the British monarchy knows that fascinators are de rigueur for special events and celebrations. However, Jill Biden misstepped when she chose to don a bow-like headpiece for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022. While fascinators aren't strictly forbidden at funerals, they aren't preferred — the safer choice would have been a more formal hat. At least Dr. Biden's outfit and headwear were appropriately black, but after significant public criticism, we doubt she'll wear that bow again, at least not at a serious event.

We actually liked the cheery vibrance and mixed patterns in Jill Biden's floral Dolce & Gabbana dress, but the total aesthetic felt too casual for the FLOTUS, especially at an official function. Unfortunately, Dr. Biden elected to wear this eye-catching frock at the worst-possible moment: as her husband, President Joe Biden, signed a bill to create the National Pulse Memorial in 2021. This memorial remembers the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, and the bill signing was a somber occasion — hardly the time to make such a bright fashion statement.

Jill Biden has an eco-friendly (and wallet-friendly) reputation for re-wearing outfits, which we love, and we certainly don't want to discourage anyone from enjoying the finer things in life. But it occasionally seems a bit much when Dr. Biden wears her gold Panthère de Cartier watch that costs thousands of dollars everywhere she goes. Sometimes, she's visiting disaster zones with all that bling, such as during her 2022 visit to tornado-ravaged Bowling Green, Kentucky, where the timepiece and other expensive-looking jewelry were clearly visible. This led onlookers to want her to tone it down when visiting folks who've lost everything.

Speaking of pricey pieces, in April 2024, Jill Biden wore a jaw-dropping $15,990 Oscar de la Renta dress dripping in sapphire crystal embellishments. The flowing ombré gown was objectively stunning but raised eyebrows for its sky-high price tag and barely there aesthetic. The sheer trend got less racy in 2024, but this dress still teased a lot of skin for a political figure, especially as the Bidens were welcoming high-profile guests — namely the prime minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, and his wife, Yuko Kishida. Was the dress gorgeous? Absolutely. Appropriate for a state dinner? That's up for debate.

First ladies are held to a higher fashion standard — a harsh reality Jill Biden has dealt with repeatedly. This includes continued sniping at her penchant for bodycon dresses, which don't always reach that FLOTUS-level refinement that onlookers expect. For instance, critics lambasted Dr. Biden for her sparkly blue dress at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, which looks eerily similar to a dress she wore while commemorating Elton John in 2022. Then, there's the tight black number Dr. Biden wore to the UN General Assembly in 2022, which some likened to a trash bag. Yikes.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets President Joe Biden at the reception of world leaders participating in 77th session of #UNGA hosted by ⁦@POTUS⁩ #PMPAKatUNGA #PakAtUNGA77
📸 PM ⁦@CMShehbaz⁩ with President ⁦@POTUS⁩ and First Lady ⁦@FLOTUS⁩ pic.twitter.com/n5kugrQEUQ

— Pakistan Embassy US (@PakinUSA) September 23, 2022