Betty Ford's Dresses

A colorful, chiffon silk gown designed by Albert Capraro for First Lady Betty Ford. The dress features a large floral print design, snaps down the back, long flowing sleeves, and a sheer short cape over-lay.
Note:
May 8, 1975 – Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore
September 1975
November 17, 1975 – Mary Tyler Moore Show
Link

Accession Number: 1982.33.1
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: September 1981

A green gown designed by Luis Estevez for First Lady Betty Ford. The floor-length gown features flowing, sheer sleeves, a tie-belt at its waist, a strip of chiffon down the back, and a hidden zipper down the back. In addition, the top portion of the dress is made of lace and sequined flowers.
Note:
July 7, 1976 – Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh of Great Britain
Link

Accession Number: 1982.33.2
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  September 1981

A formal gown with a cape designed by Luis Estevez for First Lady Betty Ford. The dark brown, jersey gown features a white cape and a train down the back. In addition, it also has a white flower on the shoulder, no sleeves, and a zipper up the back.
Note:
October 27, 1975 – President Anwar Sadat of Egypt
Link

Accession Number: 1983.19
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: March 24, 1983

Description: A chiffon gown with cape designed by Albert Capraro for First Lady Betty Ford. The floor-length, aqua, chiffon gown features a high neck, a zipper up the back, hooks at the waist, and an attached cape. A chiffon scarf is also included with this sleeveless dress.
Note:
August 4, 1975 – State Dinner in Romania
December 5, 1975 – State Dinner in Indonesia
June 17, 1976 – New York State Fundraiser, Waldorf Astoria Hotel
January 6, 1977 – Yousuf Karsh photograph at the White House

Accession Number: 1983.20
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  March 24, 1986

A dress and cape designed by Luis Estevez for First Lady Betty Ford. The white dress features an eagle print, a high neck, long sleeves, a zipper down the back, and originally a blue belt as well. In addition, the dress is accompanied by a blue, knit cape with the same eagle print lining the inside.
Note:
March 22, 1976 – Luncheon for Committee for the Preservation of the White House
April 1, 1976 – Medal of Freedom Ceremony for Arthur Rubinstein
April 12, 1976 – President Ford Committee Reception at the White House
May 8, 1976 – Truman Library and Truman Residence
May 15, 1976 – Grace Episcopal Church, Grand Rapids, then Saginaw, then return home
July 16, 1976 – Arrival Ceremony for Chancellor Helmut Schmidt of Germany

Accession Number: 1983.88.2 a-c
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  March 24, 1983

A green, satin chiffon gown with embroidery and sequins designed by Frankie Welch for First Lady Betty Ford. The full-length gown features embroidered chrysanthemums and sequins decorating the top layer and a zipper up the front. Betty donated the original gown to the Smithsonian. However, Welch created this duplicate.
Note:
May 15, 1975 – Shah of Iran
June 1, 1975 – Salzburg State Dinner
October 3, 1975 – Reciprocal Emperor’ Dinner at Japanese Embassy
June 2, 1976 – King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain
June 16, 1976 – Original gown turned over to the Smithsonian
Link

Accession Number: 1988.1039.3
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: October 17, 1988

A brocade gown designed by Frankie Welch for First Lady Betty Ford. The dark pink gown with gold embroidery through features an “oriental” fashion with high neck at the back, a v-neck in front, long sleeves, and a zipper.
Note:
December 10, 1974 – Chinese Archeological Exhibit at the National Gallery
December 17, 1974 – Christmas Ball for Cabinet and Member of Congress, plus photograph with President by a Christmas tree

Accession Number: 1983.88.3
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  March 1, 1983

A blue, damask dress designed by Albert Capraro for First Lady Betty Ford. The blue floral, “Chinese Look” dress with a bow at the neck and pleated skirt features long sleeves, snaps down the front of the skirt, and buttons down the chemise.
Note:
March 28, 1976 – Radio and TV Correspondents’ dinner
March 31, 1976 – Reciprocal Reception hosted by King Hussein of Jordan and the House/Senate
April 10, 1976 – Mcgregors-Kennerly
November 2, 1976 – Party at the White House for Election night
November 20, 1976 – Dinner with President Ford, Vice President, and Mrs. Rockefeller at Japanese house in New York
January 6, 1977 – Capital Hill Club Reception
February 2, 1977 – Dinner at Firestones residence
March 13, 1977 – Dinner at Deware House, Ed Levi’s Ralph Lazarus
September 26, 1979 – Dinner party with Mrs. Rockefeller, New York
October 26, 1979 – Dinner at the Lodge, Pebble Beach
January 17, 1980 – Dinner at Driers

Accession Number: 1992.94.7
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  October 1991

A chiffon gown designed by Luis Estevez for First Lady Betty Ford. The pale blue and green floral dress with floor-length, sheer sleeves features a zip up the back and includes two belts and a scarf.
Note:
May 17, 1976 – President Valery Giscard d’Estaing of France
July 27, 1976 – Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser of Australia
March 12, 1977 – Annenberg dinner in honor of Lord Home (?)
Link

Accession Number: 1988.1039.15 a-c
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: October 17, 1988

A chiffon gown designed by Albert Capraro for First Lady Betty Ford. The floor-length gown features a sandstone-stripe design in two layers.
Note:
August 3, 1976 – President Urho Kekkonen of Finland
Link

Accession Number: 1988.1039.7
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: October 27, 1988

A full-length, mauve-pink dress with long sleeves designed by Luis Estevez for First Lady Betty Ford. The dress features bugle beads at the wrists, waist, neckline, and the ends of the matching scarf.
Note:
May 29, 1975 – Queen Elizabeth Piano Competition with Queen Fabiola
July 11, 1975 – Mid-America Committee Dinner in Chicago
November 22, 1975 – Moscow State Symphony at the Kennedy Center
May 29, 1976 – Parson’s Award
May 18, 1976 – Reciprocal dinner at French Embassy by President d’Estaing of France
December 6, 1976 – Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti of Italy
January 28, 1977 – Dinner at Country Club in Rancho Mirage
January 21, 1978 – Desert Museum Concert by Sinatra
October 9, 1979 – Photo session with Harry Layton
Link

Accession Number: 1988.1039.4
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  October 27, 1988

A dress and jacket designed by Albert Capraro for First Lady Betty Ford. The beige and white floral print set features a button down front with plastic buttons, side breast pockets on the jacket, side pockets on the dress, a matching tie, ribbon, and waist belt.
Note:
April 21, 1976 – First Lady Trip to Texas
June 2, 1976 – Arrival Ceremony for King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain
October 11, 1976 – Depart Waldorf Astoria photograph with George Shearing and Great PGA Wives
February 2-3, 1977 – Deware House / Beauty Shop
May 24, 1977 – Dr. Fitzmoriss
June 11, 1977 – Return from L.A. Wilshire with Susan
June 23, 1977 – Dr. Cruse and Dr. Wallace

Accession Number: 1987.690.1 a-d
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: 1987

A blue and gold checker, chiffon gown designed by Frankie Welch for First Lady Betty Ford. The floor-length gown features ruffles at its hem and long sleeves, a high collar with a second layer underneath the transparent chiffon, and a zipper up the back.
Note:
December 5, 1974 – Chancellor Helmut Schmidt of Germany
Link

Accession Number: 1988.1039.14
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: October 27, 1988

A multicolored dress designed by Albert Capraro for First Lady Betty Ford. The gray colored, background of the dress has green, pink, and cream colored geometric stripes going horizontally throughout. In addition, there are gold sparkle dashes throughout the piece. The dress features long sleeves and is floor-length.
Note:
September 22, 1976 – Reciprocal Reception with Tolbert of Liberia, September 22, 1976
March 30, 1976 – Helen Reddy Concert in Washington DC

Accession Number: 2009.2.6 a
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  February 18, 2009

A slim-tucked dress designed by Albert Capraro for First Lady Betty Ford. The ivory toned, slim-tucked dress includes a matching silk jacket, features long sleeves with button down cuffs, a button down front, and a tie ribbon.
Note:
May 17, 1976 – Arrival Ceremony for President Valery Giscard d’Estaing of France
May 20, 1976 – First Lady’s Breakfast
May 27, 1976 – President Ford Committee Reception, Trenton, N.J.
June 7, 1976 – Central High School Graduation
July 14, 1976 – Lunch at Sam Souci with President
July 25, 1976 – St. Johns Church
August 15, 1976 – Arrival in Kansas City
February 6, 1977 – Trip to L.A.
February 20, 1977 – Desert M. Dance Convention, U.C.L.A.
November 5, 1977 – Jerry’s Airport Arrival to L.A. for Dr. Cracchioco
February 18, 1978 – Interview with couples PS

Accession Number: 1987.690.8
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  1987

A lemon yellow, polka dot gown designed by Frankie Welch for First lady Betty Ford. The yellow, chiffon gown features polka dot layers over a solid yellow spaghetti-strapped gown. The gown includes long sleeves with ruffles at the ends and the hem, a yellow satin ribbon around the waist, and a zipper up the back.
Note:
September 12, 1974 – Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel
Link

Accession Number: 1988.1039.12
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  October 27, 1988

A chiffon gown designed by Luis Estevez for First Lady Betty Ford. The orange, pink, and red-layered gown features a matching chiffon cape, spaghetti straps, and zipper up the back of this floor-length dress.
Note:
September 25, 1975 – President Alfonso Lopez Michelsen of Columbia
November 3, 1975 – Mr. and Mrs. Ford trip to Jacksonville, Florida
October 14, 1976 – Martha Graham
April 16, 1979 – E.M.C. Dedication Dinner
Link

Accession Number: 1988.1039.17
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: October 17, 1988

A blue gown designed by Luis Estevez for First Lady Betty Ford. The slate blue, pleated, full-length gown with long sleeves is line with rhinestones between every pleat on the skirt, bodice, and sleeves. However, the band around the waist and the collar do not have pleats.
Note:
July 10, 1976 – Dinner on the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Yacht Britannia
February 1977 – City of Hope Award to Helen Reddy
October 2, 1977 – Wedding of Mary Fisher

Accession Number: 2005.818.4
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: October 31, 2005

An ivory, brocade gown designed by Albert Capraro for First Lady Betty Ford. The gown features a gold, spider mum design, fur cuffs at the end of long sleeves, and a zipper down the back.
Note:
December 17, 1975 – Congressional Ball at the White House
January 5, 1976 – Cabinet Dinner (FST. Club)
January 27, 1976 – Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin of Israel
December 9, 1976 – Congressional Ball
Link

Accession Number: 1992.94.11
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: October 1991

A white, crepe gown designed by Frankie Welch for First Lady Betty Ford. The long, white, formal gown features long sleeves, wrists and neckline trimmed with ostrich feathers, and a zip up back.
Note:
August 16, 1974 – King Hussein of Jordan
December 6, 1974 – National Symphony Ball, Shoreham
November 24, 1975 – Judiciary Dinner at the White House
January 7, 1977 – Chowder & Marching Society & S.O.S. Members Dinner
Link

Accession Number: 1988.1039.11
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  October 27, 1988

A watermelon-pink, jersey gown with long sleeves and a zipper on the back.
Note:
July 5, 1974 – Mike and Gayle’s Wedding
August 28, 1974 – Cabinet and Staff Dinner

Accession Number: 1992.94.1
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  October 1991

An olive green gown with embroidered flowers designed by Frankie Welch for First Lady Betty Ford. The gown features a high, open neckline, green embroidered flowers, a zipper up the back, and an empire waist. The gown is full length with long sleeves.
Note:
Official Portrait Dress
September 19, 1974 – Horst P. Horst photograph for Vogue
September 25, 1974 – President Giovanni Leone of Italy
May 20, 1975 – Ribbon Cutting, 50th Anniversary of San Diego Fine Arts Gallery
October 6, 1957 – Kodak photograph in Treaty Room
Link

Accession Number: 1988.1039.13
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: October 27, 1988

A brocade gown designed by Frankie Welch for First Lady Betty Ford. The pink and white gown features long sleeves, a rounded neckline, and a zipper up the back.
Note:
September 4, 1975 – John F. Kennedy “Mack and Mabel”
February 5, 1975 – Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan
July 17, 1975 – Germany State Dinner and the Rhine River Cruise
Link

Accession Number: 1992.94.12
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date: September 1991

A chiffon gown by Luiz Estevez for First Lady Betty Ford. The full-length, orange, chiffon gown features a floral pattern of silver sequins in addition to bordering the dress at the waist, the sleeves, and down the back. The gown includes a matching chiffon scarf.
Note:
May 31, 1975 – State dinner in Madrid
November 6, 1975 – Family of the Man Award Dinner, Hilton Hotel, New York City
March 9, 1976 – American Film Institute dinner honoring William Wylier, L.A., California
April 26, 1976 – Golden Slipper Club Award Dinner, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaMarch 11, 1978 – Annenberg Birthday Party

Accession Number: 1988.1039.5 a
Donor: Gift of Betty Ford
Donation Date:  October 27, 1988