Laura Bush Embraces Flats Again for Inauguration Day 2025 Outfit
Former first lady Laura Bush doesn’t make a lot of public appearances, but when she does, she often reaches for flats.
Knowing this, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the former first lady opted for brown ballet flats for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on Monday. Going monochromatic, Laura paired the timeless shoe style with an elegant sheath dress in a rich, warm shade of cognac brown. The dress featured quarter-length sleeves, a belted waist, and a hemline that hit just below the knees.
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The former teacher accessorized simply with timeless pearl earrings and a single strand of coordinating pearls around her neck. She also wore a black watch and carried a small brown leather top-handle bag boasting a croc-embossed finish, goldtone hardware, and a front flap closure.
This isn’t the first time Laura Bush has worn flats to a swearing-in ceremony. She styled a pale blue coat featuring black lapels and a dark gray dress with pointy black loafers for the 2021 inauguration of President Biden. The former librarian, who served as First Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009, donned a style adorned with dainty black bows on the vamp.
Bush’s daughter Jenna Bush Hager spoke on the “Today” show about her mother’s decision to wear flats for the formal occasion. “I respect my mother in this way — she was wearing flats!” the morning show host said. “Y’all, there are a lot of stairs in that Capitol, and they’re stone. So (if) you’re wearing high heels all day long, your feet really are barking.”
Other appearances in recent years have seen the wife of George W. Bush sporting a pair of black slingback flats. She wore the same open-toe style with a blue dress at a Dallas Cowboys football game in 2023 and with black trousers on the “Today” show in 2021.
Donald Trump’s inauguration was held at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. The event marks the second inauguration of Trump as U.S. president.
Check out the gallery below to discover more fashion of first ladies throughout U.S. history.
The Best First Lady Fashion and Shoes Throughout U.S. History
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