Jill Biden's Skintight Dress At The 2024 DNC Was Borderline Inappropriate

Jill Biden was caught wearing one of her most inappropriate outfits to date at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. The former first lady all but ignored the formal tone of the event by going for a shimmery blue figure-hugging custom Ralph Lauren dress. Although Jill undoubtedly looked stunning in the outfit, it still looked more like something you would throw on for a night out with friends rather than an important political event. Even Jill's accessory choices for the night further cemented the idea that she could be going to the club immediately after her speech. 

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Jill only added to the glamor of the outfit with a pair of glitzy statement earrings and shiny silver shoes. As a whole, the inappropriate ensemble could have been Jill's way of subtly telling the world that she was ushering in a bright new era of her life with Joe Biden's retirement from politics. However, folks online unfortunately didn't see things the same way. On X, the dress drew unflattering comparisons to duct tape, wet suits, space suits, and even garbage bags. 

One X user got particularly creative and snarked, "Jill Biden's dress looks like a rubber sleeve for an automotive shock absorber." It's worth noting that Jill appeared to have previously worn the controversial Ralph Lauren dress when her husband presented Elton John with the National Humanities Medal in September 2022. However, it didn't cause a stir back then, presumably because it was a more appropriate outfit for honoring an international music icon.

Jill Biden has made it abundantly clear that she won't give in to the demands of online fashion critics. While attending the opening night of Broadway's "Othello" with Joe Biden in March 2025, the former teacher donned the very same shimmery blue Ralph Lauren dress that had tongues wagging at the 2024 DNC. She once again kept accessories to a minimum, pairing the timeless dress with a pair of sleek metallic heels, a delicate silver necklace, and earrings. 

This time around, the ensemble wasn't seen as a former first lady fashion fail because it was a perfect fit for a glamorous night out with A-listers. As a bonus, the choice was right on brand for Jill since she had subtly made a point about sustainability in fashion by repeating outfits during her public appearances as first lady. With a three-peat, Jill all but confirmed that the dress was one of her favorites.

Over the years, many of Jill's outfits have garnered the same level of criticism as her 2024 DNC dress. However, she has never directly responded to the online chatter surrounding her choices. Additionally, in March 2021, Jill's press secretary Michael LaRosa informed WWD that FLOTUS' office wouldn't ever comment on her fashion. Myra Gutin, a professor at Rider University, offered a plausible explanation for Jill's silence on fashion, telling Business Insider, "I think she's saying that she wants us to pay attention to what she's doing, to more substantive aspects of the office of first lady." Despite her silence, Jill became a first lady who sparked a fashion movement with her looks.