Jill Biden Re-Wears a Custom Schiaparelli Suit for One of Her Final White House Events as First Lady

Jill Biden at the White House podium wearing a custom red schiaparelli suit

(Image credit: Getty Images)

First Lady Jill Biden referenced her entire White House style legacy with one of her final outfits photographed at the national landmark.

On Jan. 16, Dr. Biden spoke at an annual White House event promoting Joining Forces, an initiative that supports the support system of U.S. military veterans: families, caretakers, and friends. She appeared at the podium in a familiar two-piece suit, custom-made by Schiaparelli creative director Daniel Roseberry. The set's blazer featured a high collar, curved waistline, and oversize buttons, each stamped with a surrealist motif (a Schiaparelli calling card since Elsa Schiaparelli founded the maison in 1927). Beneath it, Biden wore a knee-length matching skirt and coordinating pointed-toe pumps.

Jill Biden at the White House podium wearing a red schiaparelli custom suit — Jill Biden spoke at the annual Joining Forces event held at the White House on Jan. 16. The organization supports veterans' families and caregivers.

Later in the day, Dr. Biden would stand beside President Joe Biden as he accepted an award during a Commander in Chief farewell ceremony, held at the Joint Base Myers-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia.

Jill Biden and Joe Biden onstage at an event — Biden re-wore a custom suit by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli.

Over the last four years, Jill Biden has mixed fashion diplomacy with an appreciation for runway design. She chose a light Markarian coat and dress for President Biden's inauguration, nodding to a sea-change in U.S. Politics. Then, she picked a deep blue dress for a State of the Union address to show her support for Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia. This pattern was once again apparent in her Schiaparelli set, created by an American leading a storied French house.

This custom Schiaparelli suit first emerged in her FLOTUS wardrobe back in 2022, for an official visit to Spain. Dr. Biden wore it to greet Queen Letizia of Spain at Zarzuela Palace before visiting the Cancer Association in Madrid. The shades of red and gold picked up on the hues of the Spanish national flag.

Jill Biden wearing a custom schiaparelli suit to visit Spain — The First Lady debuted her suit in 2022, when she met Queen Letizia of Spain on an official visit.

More than a year later, in July 2023, Dr. Biden wore it again to meet French First Lady Brigette Macron on a state visit to France. The pair posed together on the steps of the Elysee Presidential Palace, Dr. Biden nodding to France's esteemed fashion history through her choice in designer.

She tapped the same label to create a custom gown for a State Dinner in 2024, greeting France's first family once again in Schiaparelli—this time, midnight blue with an off-the-shoulder neckline and dramatic white sash.

Jill Biden wearing Schiaparelli to meet Brigette Macron in France — Biden re-wore the Schiaparelli suit in 2023 for an official state visit to France.

Jill Biden attends a state dinner in France wearing a Schiaparelli gown — On the same trip, she also debuted a custom navy blue ballgown by the same house.

Returning to a notable look for her last days in office suggests Jill Biden is winding down her White House tenure in a reflective mood, revisiting a designer who dressed her for several important occasions. (The shade of red could also be a nod to the incoming presidential administration, whose party claims red as its official color.)

The next time Jill Biden appears in public will likely be at former President Trump's second inauguration day on Monday, Jan. 20. (She and President Joe Biden are confirmed to attend.) Judging by her style while serving as First Lady, she'll choose another meaningful designer to step away from the White House.

Halie LeSavage is the senior fashion news editor at Marie Claire, leading coverage of runway trends, emerging brands, style-meets-culture analysis, and celebrity style (especially Taylor Swift's). Her reporting ranges from profiles of beloved stylists, to exclusive red carpet interviews in her column, The Close-Up, to The A-List Edit, a newsletter where she tests celeb-approved trends IRL.

Halie has reported on style for eight years. Previously, she held fashion editor roles at Glamour, Morning Brew, and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been cited as a fashion expert in The Cut, CNN, Puck, Reuters, and more. In 2022, she earned the Hearst Spotlight Award for excellence in journalism. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Harvard College. For more, check out her Substack, Reliable Narrator.