Ｋｅｌｌｙ 🖤

Political campaign and inauguration merch that I think is cool: During the mid-20th century, companies made "paper dresses." They weren't made from the kind of paper that might occupy your desk drawer, but rather a bonded material similar to the flimsy envelopes you find at FedEx today. Richard Nixon and Bobby Kennedy both made paper dresses for their campaign, which their supporters wore to rallies. During the 1970s, Gwen Gaillard of Nantucket, Massachusetts hand-knitted a sweater for President Ford's "Whip Inflation Now" campaign. The campaign encouraged Americans to cut back on their electricity and water consumption, reduce motor vehicle travel, and grow their own vegetables. It ultimately proved unsuccesful, but it did result in this nice little sweater, which Ford wore on Christmas Day in 1974 while vacationing withs family in Vail, Colorado. In 1980, Ben Silver made custom Reagan/ Bush blazer buttons to celebrate their inauguration. Unfortunately, the company exited the blazer button business in recent years so something like this will unlikely be made again, at least from a store with their heritage. Lastly and perhaps the most awe-inspiring: in 1865, Brooks Brothers made a greatcoat for President Lincoln's second inauguration, which he wore weeks later to Ford Theatre, where he would be assassinated. Inside the coat is a fully hand-embroidered silk lining with an eagle carrying a banner, "One Country, One Destiny." The quality of the lining alone is unmatched by anything produced in civilian bespoke tailoring today, including on Savile Row.