Jill Biden Favors Bold Shoulder Dress for White House Hanukkah Event

First Lady Jill Biden celebrated Hanukkah at the White House on Monday alongside her husband, President Joe Biden, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. Also known as the festival of lights, the Jewish holiday honors the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and takes place from Dec. 25 to Jan. 2.

Jill channeled Hanukkah’s signature colors of blue and white, which also appear on the tallit — a Jewish prayer shawl — selecting a navy gown with bold shoulders and a jeweled neckline.

The Bidens were joined by their young grandson Beau, named for the president’s late son, who died of brain cancer in 2015. Beau Jr.’s parents are Hunter Biden, Joe’s only living son, and his second wife Melissa Cohen.

Holiday celebrations have already begun in the White House: On Friday, the first lady hosted a Toys for Tots event with children whose parents have served in the military. Her attire was similarly festive, as she wore a gray Veronica Blazer blazer embroidered with clear sequins over a ribbed knit Gabriela Hearst dress.

Jill is a longtime fan of the latter label, having worn a white long-sleeve dress by the Uruguayan American designer on two occasions: she first sported the eyelet frock in September 2023 to meet with Queen Letizia of Spain ahead of World Cancer Research Day in New York, and in May 2023, she recycled it to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty.

The first lady also wore Gabriela Hearst to celebrate her husband’s inauguration in 2021, sporting a cream wool coatdress with a hemline decorated in floral embroidery.