Throughout her eight years as First Lady, Mamie displayed a flair for fashion.  Designers loved her.  She had her own style, making a fashion statement of accessorizing haute couture (high fashion) with dime store jewelry and $9.95 mail order hats. 

Mamie was fond of charm bracelets and liked to buy jewelry at the Murphy’s 5&10 in Gettysburg.  Dresses were often purchased at J. C. Penney’s which she referred to as J. C. Pennes (accent over the e) in a mock French accent.  She made the list of ‘Twelve Best Dressed Women’ all eight years as First Lady.

The “Mamie look” typically encompassed a one-piece dress with a full skirt, a stylish Sally Victor hat worn so as not to obscure the trademark bangs, long gloves pulled over dress sleeves, and a mink to top off the entire ensemble.  “As a soldier’s wife, I learned early in life that pride in personal appearance is not a superficial thing,” the First Lady once said.