WASHINGTON - Despite the economic crisis, ball gowns and tuxedos are flying off the racks to the many eager to strut their stuff at hundreds of balls and galas celebrating Barack Obama's inauguration Tuesday.

"We always look forward to an inauguration year," said Samuel Muscarella, store manager of Macy's department store in downtown Washington.

"We have air shipping every day. We received 200 gowns today in 20 different styles," added Muscarella, rubbing his hands while gazing at the gown section, which has tripled in size in anticipation of the inaugural festivities.

The inauguration-themed section includes other formal evening wear, jewelry, bags, silk scarves, long gloves and other accessories.

The US capital is preparing to swirl with silk and sparkle with rhinestones for everyone from soldiers to Hollywood stars celebrating Barack Obama's swearing-in at a bevy of inaugural balls.

Ten of the hundreds of galas will be official balls hosted by Obama. They include invitation-only soirees for guests from across the country and Obama's two home states of Illinois and Hawaii, the military and young Americans, who were a key force in propelling him to the historic win on November 4.

"This is the biggest inauguration. This is the biggest event in the world since Jesus Christ," said Jim Dandy of Formal Wear, a store in the Maryland suburbs of Washington that leases tuxedos.

"Everybody wants to dress up for Obama. It's very exciting," according to Joe Samaha, manager of Sam's Factory Outlet.

Back at the women's section at Macy's, most clients rush toward "evening wraps" or "social wraps," with thousands of silk or mesh scarves promising to freshen up an old outfit, suggested the store manager, with a twinkle in his eye.

Inauguration fever also has bargain-hunters flocking to discount and factory stores, hoping to find a cheap buy for a dress or suit they will only wear once or twice.

Goodwill thrift-shop stores "are a great place to find very inexpensive yet beautiful vintage and contemporary high-end fashions for the inaugural festivities," the chain's vice president of marketing, Brendan Hurley, told The Washington Times newspaper.

The Goodwill store in Gaithersburg, Maryland, just outside Washington, has reported "far more customers looking for formal wear this early in the season than usual," he added.

On the less thrifty side of things, women are also rushing to don fur coats for what is sure to be a cold inauguration day on Tuesday.

The Macy's store downtown has 600 coats on display instead of the usual 400, including a large-sized blue mink coat selling for 22,000 dollars a piece.

Obama's wife, Michelle, "will have a fur coat," claims Connie Ingram, who manages the store's fur coat section.

"It's a must. She is from Chicago."