Nancy Reagan sporting a dress by one of her go-to designers, Oscar de la Renta.
She became a symbol of American fashion, the truly, really American fashion, in every way — not just the way she was running the White House but the way she looked every time. She
was perfect. That is the legacy that we will remember with all the dignity and all the honor she had for this country — and love for this country. She was very strong, but very dedicated to who she was. She had that very clear in her mind.
– Carolina Herrera, American fashion designer.
Ms. Herrera was speaking to WWD about Nancy Reagan who passed away at 94 on Sunday March 6, 2016.
Nancy Reagan as an older woman and First Lady always dressed well and appropriately for her station in life. I never considered her a symbol of American fashion but perhaps at the time she was. Perhaps, all First Ladies are current reflections of American fashion.
OverDressed for Life 
She represented fashion of a certain “class” of women – conservatives of her generation. All I remember is red, red, red.