Jill Biden Inauguration Dress: The Markarian Story and 4 Blue Pieces to Shop in 2026

For the Presidential Inauguration in January 2021, Dr. Jill Biden wore a custom ocean-blue dress and matching wool tweed coat by Markarian, the New York eveningwear label founded in 2017 by Alexandra O’Neill. The crystal embellished look put a young, made-in-New-York house on a global stage. Coveti stocks Markarian today, including blue midi dresses in the same spirit.

What did Jill Biden wear to the inauguration?

On inauguration day in January 2021, Dr. Jill Biden arrived at the Capitol in a custom Markarian ensemble: an ocean-blue dress with a matching coat in wool tweed, finished with crystal embellishment at the neckline. The dress and coat were made as a pair, so the colour ran unbroken from collar to hem.

The choice was specific. Markarian is a small, founder-led house, and every piece is designed, produced and hand-finished in New York City’s Garment District. If you want the full background on the label and its founder, our profile Who is Markarian? covers it, and Is Markarian a luxury brand? sets out the evidence on where it sits in the market.

Why the Markarian inauguration look mattered for American design

Inauguration dressing is read closely. Every colour and every label is taken as a message, and in 2021 the message was about American craft. Choosing Markarian meant choosing a designer whose collections are designed, produced and hand-finished in New York.

It also mattered because of scale. Markarian was founded in 2017, and much of its work is made to order to reduce waste. That is a very different model from a large heritage house, and the inauguration showed that a young label can hold its own at the highest level of public dressing.

For Alexandra O’Neill, the moment built on a run of industry recognition. She has been a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and was an FGI Rising Star. The inauguration turned that insider reputation into a name many people searched for the first time that week, and search interest in Markarian still peaks every January.

The Jill Biden Markarian look at a glance

Why blue still works as a statement colour

Ocean blue is a confident choice because it photographs well in daylight and stays rich at night. It flatters most skin tones, it reads as serious without being severe, and it lets the cut do the talking. Markarian’s own blues follow that logic. They tend to come in prints and textures, ikat florals, metallic bouquets and sequins, so the colour carries detail rather than sitting flat.

A personal note: I think the smartest way to borrow from the inauguration look is to copy the discipline, not the exact outfit. Keep one colour head to toe, choose a structured shape, and let a single embellished detail do the work.

Shop Markarian blue pieces at Coveti

The exact inauguration dress and coat were custom and are not available to buy. These Markarian pieces carry the same blue story into the current collections.

• Althea Sequin and Feather Mini Dress: pale blue sequins from neck to hem, long sleeves and feather trim at the cuffs and hemline. Fitted through the bodice and fully lined in silk. This is the party answer to the inauguration blue.
• Numa Blue Floral Ikat Corset Midi Dress: from the Markarian x Over The Moon collaboration, a corset midi in blue floral ikat with a scooped back and back slit, fully lined in silk.
• Cypress Dusk Marigold Ikat Midi Dress: dusty blue taffeta printed with marigold ikat florals, a strapless corset bodice that peaks at the front and a straight column skirt. Markarian says it fits true to size.
• Ila Navy Bouquet Trouser: cornflower blue cotton with metallic navy florals, an elastic waistband and side and back pockets. The easy, daytime way into Markarian blue.

From the Pre-Fall 2026 pieces already live at Coveti, the Jasminium Navy Bouquet Top pairs naturally with the Ila trouser for a matching look. The floral denim pair, the Savane Floral Denim Jacket Top and Ila Floral Denim Trousers, takes the idea into a more relaxed register.

How to wear blue Markarian like a public appearance

The inauguration look worked because it was complete. Here is how to apply the same rules to the pieces above.

• Stay tonal. Pair the Ila Navy Bouquet Trouser with the Jasminium Navy Bouquet Top so the print runs through the whole outfit, the way the dress and coat matched in 2021.
• Add a coat in one colour. Over the Numa corset midi, a plain coat in a deep blue keeps the line long. Leave the ikat as the only pattern.
• Keep embellishment in one place. The Althea mini already has sequins and feathers, so choose plain pumps and a small clutch.
• Respect the corset fit. Cypress and Numa are fitted through the bodice. Our Markarian size guide explains how US 0-14 converts to UK 4-18.

Blue for day, blue for night

The inauguration was a daytime ceremony, held outdoors in winter, and the look was built for that: a structured coat in wool tweed over a matching dress. If you are dressing for a daytime event in cold weather, follow the same order. Choose the coat first, then the dress beneath it.

At night the rules loosen. Sequins and feathers, as on the Althea mini, belong to the evening, and so does a strapless corset like Cypress. The Numa ikat midi sits in between: it is structured enough for a daytime wedding and rich enough for dinner. For a wedding with a dress code, our Markarian wedding guest dresses guide sorts every piece by occasion.

Where to go next

For every Markarian silhouette, from corset midis to column gowns, see Markarian dresses. Our Markarian review looks at craftsmanship, silk linings and value, and How to Style Markarian has outfit ideas across the seasons. If you are comparing New York houses, Markarian vs Oscar de la Renta puts the two side by side, and the Carolina Herrera edit is worth a look for more polished daywear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Jill Biden wear to the inauguration?

For the Presidential Inauguration in January 2021, Dr. Jill Biden wore a custom ocean-blue Markarian dress with a matching wool tweed coat, finished with crystal embellishment at the neckline.

Who designed Jill Biden’s inauguration dress?

The dress and coat were designed by Alexandra O’Neill, who founded the New York eveningwear label Markarian in 2017.

Can you buy Jill Biden’s inauguration dress?

No. The inauguration dress and coat were custom pieces. Coveti stocks current Markarian styles in blue, including the Althea Sequin and Feather Mini Dress and the Numa Blue Floral Ikat Corset Midi Dress.

Where is Markarian made?

Markarian is designed, produced and hand-finished in New York City’s Garment District, and every Markarian piece at Coveti is labelled Made in the USA.

Who is the designer of Markarian?

Alexandra O’Neill is the founder and designer of Markarian. She has been a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree and an FGI Rising Star.