Hats Off to First Family Chic, Despite Tarnish of Some Stars

President Bill Clinton sweeps into the Arkansas Ball on Inauguration Night and what’s the first thing out of his mouth? “Let me be really serious, does Hillary look great tonight or what?” If that isn’t a fashion statement , then our names are George and Barbara. But what about the rest of the time? During Inauguration Week, we spotted a few fashion failures and a few fashion victories that are sure to become trends. Here’s our view of the power Fashion Week That Was.

SHE: If someone had asked me a few months ago if Headband Hillary could turn into one of the most glamorous-looking creatures on Earth, I’d have said “Please!” Her shapeless hair framed a too-round face, and she had a frumpiness about her. Her square-shaped silhouettes said: “I mean business. Period.” Put her in a glamour gown, and she’d look silly.

Wrong. Put Mrs. Clinton’s new, perfectly shaped hair into a softly woven braid that frames her (thinner) face, fit her in a sparkling violet gown that trails when she walks and--wow!--she takes your breath away. I can’t remember a more beautiful First Lady on Inauguration Night.

HE: Yep, I’d put her up there in the inaugural firmament with Jackie Kennedy (who had to score a really big sartorial victory because she was conspicuously pregnant at the time). You’re right about the hair, too. What are those called--French braids? If more women would use them from time to time, it’d be a prettier world.

Having said that, what was she doing underneath that blue hat most of the day? I’m all for the return of fashionable millinery on people other than the British Royal Family, but that thing looked like it needed to be filled with fresh fruit. Tipper Gore did better; she’s got a round face, too, but her hat looked more aeronautical. It had sweep.

SHE: Mrs. Clinton’s swearing-in ensemble had her looking like Blue Girl: blue coat, blue hat with blue ribbon, blue hat pin, blue bag, blue ear bobs. And that fat, scrunched-up neck scarf was awful.

During Inauguration Week, I was struck by her incessant use of the turtleneck sweater. Was she out to hide a homely neck? Not at all, it turned out. Framed by the jewel-neckline on her ball gown, her neck turned out to be well-proportioned and lovely.

But she inaugurated a trend: turtlenecks with power-suits. And encouraged a few others: Jackie O-style shades (did you note the whoppers she wore during the parade?); flowing ankle-length coats; and the colors red (especially flag red), violet and blue.

HE: Hey, it’s the beginning of the traditional presidential honeymoon. Let’s say she looked scrunched up because it was cold. And even though the hat looked a little oddball, it’s a step in the right direction. Hats (something more formal than the ubiquitous ball cap) need to make a comeback. They can be pretty dashing on both women and men.

And speaking of men, let’s give the guys their limited due: Bill and Al not only looked good in those tuxes, they moved in them without self-consciousness, as if they were thoroughly comfortable. Not all men can do that. Some guys put on a tux and start moving like they’d just swallowed 10 gallons of quick-drying plaster. But the Prez jams on tenor sax on “Your Mama Don’t Dance” and the Veep bops around all over the stage. Pretty cool.

SHE: Talk about cool. Barbra Streisand looked incredibly up-to-the-minute during the Presidential Gala in her three-piece Donna Karan evening suit. There she was, a superstar who could have donned any knockout zillion-dollar ensemble, and she chose to go streamlined, low-key. I loved the way she downplayed her wealth with glittering faux jewelry and pin-stripes.

Other Hollywood types weren’t so tasteful. Which prompts me to bestow some Inaugural Week Fashion Awards (apologies to Mr. Blackwell):

To Goldie Hawn, the Hollywood Starlet Award: With her plunging-past-there neckline and her slit-up-to-there skirt, Goldie Hawn looked like she’d just jumped off the casting couch.

To Aretha Franklin, No Taste: How un-Democratic of you, Aretha, to strut before the President smothered in fur and diamonds. Who wears fur inside a building? And three diamond rings on one hand? Give us a break.

Diana Ross, Trying Too Hard: During her performance at the Lincoln Memorial, Ross wore a voluminous blue skirt (we’re talking Bo Peep here) and an endless red cape. Her clothing overwhelmed her. She could hardly walk.

Virginia Kelley, Shock-O: The mother of the new President swaddled in white mink? Faux fur, you say. I don’t think so.

HE: I’d give one to the Prez, too: Mr. Populist. He’s been wearing that black plastic diver’s watch all through the campaign, and he didn’t replace it on the biggest day of his life. That’s working-class class. Heck, the guy’s only making a couple of hundred thou a year. Let the Republicans have the Rolexes.

PARTY LINE

The inauguration scene. E7