Will political polarization return to the White House wardrobe?
Soon-to-be First Lady Melania Trump was shunned by many American designers (including Marc Jacobs, Christian Siriano, Derek Lam, Zac Posen and Tom Ford) during her first tenure at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But that didn’t stop Hervé Pierre, former creative director at Carolina Herrera who took over as Melania’s stylist (and who designed her inaugural gown), from doing a lot of shopping off the rack.
The resulting mix of designers in Melania’s wardrobe is very high-end ready-to-wear, and mostly European. Over the years, there’s been a lot of Versace, Valentino, Chanel, Prada, McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Dior, Celine, along with the occasional Ralph Lauren piece. And if her time on the recent campaign trail and months since the election are any indication, the next four years will stay the fashion course.
At President Jimmy’s Carter’s funeral earlier this month in Washington D.C., she attended the National Cathedral service in a long-sleeve Valentino black coat dress with an oversized white collar, featuring a black-and-white print of a 19th-century neoclassical sculpture of kissing lovers.
She wore a light wool gray Ralph Lauren pinstriped pantsuit to Wall Street with President-elect Donald Trump in December, pairing it with Manolo Blahnik stilettos.
On the campaign trail, she cast her primary vote in Palm Beach in March of last year in an Alexander McQueen shirtdress with a black orchid design. That was nicely accessorized with a skinny black belt, black sunglasses, and a black Chanel bag.
In April, Melania stunned in a pink print Valentino jumpsuit at a Florida fundraiser.
At other times during the campaign, Pierre has chosen more graphic pieces for her — like the zebra-print Michael Kors coat she wore at an October Madison Square Garden Rally. Contrast that with the ultra-bold red Christian Dior suit she wore to the Republican National Convention in July. With its fitted, tailored blazer and matching red skirt that extended over the knees, it evoked a Red State of mind.
Will Pierre design another inaugural ballgown? We’ll know in just a few days.
