17 photos of the stunning inaugural ball gowns worn by first ladies over the last 50 years

While we still don't know all the details of what's in store for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration day, it has been confirmed that there will be three official inaugural balls, along with the usual unofficial balls held around Washington. 

Inaugural balls are a long-standing American tradition. The black-tie events that celebrate the new first family have been conducted since George Washington, and they only paused during World Wars I and II and the Great Depression. 

The ball is also a first lady's moment to step out, demonstrate her style, and set the tone for her role in the White House. Everything about her outfit, including the color and designer choice, will be critiqued, analyzed, and eventually memorialized as part of theFirst Ladies Collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

And though Trump inaccurately claimed in an interview with The New York Times Monday that "all the dress shops are sold out in Washington" and that "it's hard to find a great dress for this inauguration," Melania Trump is sure to be dressed to the nines come January 20. 

Below, see 17 photos of gorgeous inaugural ball gowns from 12 first ladies, beginning with Helen Taft, the first to donate her dress to the Smithsonian.

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First lady Helen Taft gladly supported the establishment of the Smithsonian's First Ladies Collection in 1912. The first to donate her inaugural ball gown, Taft began the tradition of having these dresses archived and put on display.

However, due to the Great Depression and World Wars I and II, it wasn't until 1949 that another inaugural ball was held. Bess Truman wore a black velvet dress, and it was reported that music played until 2 in the morning.

Source: The New York Times

Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to celebrate his election with not one, but two inaugural balls. In 1953, first lady Mamie Eisenhower's inaugural ball gown was a light pink peau de soie gown with more than 2,000 rhinestones sewn into it. A week before the event, Mamie released photographs and descriptions of the dress to the press.

Source: The Joint Congressional Committee