The fashion of first ladies has captured and held the interest of the public since the dawn of the U.S. government — literally. George Washington's wife Martha Washington, the first woman to ever take on the role, did not have her every outfit photographed and commented on by people all over the world, but she was still so overwhelmed by the attention her wardrobe received that she avoided stepping out of her home. More than two centuries later, the 18th-century dresses have been replaced by skirt suits, but the public's fascination with the looks of presidential spouses is stronger than ever. However, many modern first ladies, including Hillary Clinton, used this attention to their advantage and made fashion a tool and platform to send a message, boost a cause, or promote American designe

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