WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Teresa Heinz Kerry's casual style harkens back to first ladies from other eras, such as Grace Coolidge, Frances Folsom Cleveland and Julia Gardiner Tyler.
U.S. voters always have considered how potential first ladies, such as Kerry, whose husband is the Democratic presidential nominee, might impact the White House and how their styles may influence American culture, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
With Kerry's loosely-draped sweater around her shoulders and a hairstyle reminiscent of 1970s Hollywood star Jacqueline Bisset, historians have found the potential first lady akin to adventure lovers from as far back as 150 years ago.
Coolidge, whose husband was president from 1923 to 1929, was known as America's first ambassador of women's sportswear because of her love of hiking and swimming, said historian Carl Sferrazza Anthony.
During the 1870s, Cleveland -- who at 22 married then president Grover Cleveland, 30 years her senior -- had a penchant for shoulder baring evening wear that caused an uproar among Christian women's groups.
Tyler -- who married President John Tyler while he was in office in 1844 -- earlier had traveled in Europe with her sister in search of an active social life, adventures Kerry might too have enjoyed, the Times said.
