Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States (FLOTUS), wore an ensemble by American fashion designer Adam Lippes for the inaugural ceremony of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States of America. Her outfit consisted of a tailored navy silk wool coat, a navy silk wool pencil skirt and an ivory silk crepe blouse. She teamed her navy and ivory outfit, designed by the New York-based designer, with a boater-style hat by Eric Javits, who is also American.

The all-American ensemble marked a departure for Melania, who is most often seen in European luxury labels, particularly Dior and Dolce & Gabbana. During her first term as FLOTUS, Melania was shunned by many designers. Her stylist, Hervé Pierre, described this as “snobbish.” The 54-year-old wife of Donald Trump and Pierre first collaborated eight years ago and have continued to work together since.

Pierre, who prefers to shop at retail, often styles Melania in structured looks that appear effortlessly chic.

Fashion has always played an important role in making a statement — it signals what individuals stand for in their personal capacity. For instance — In 2021, Dr Jill Biden promoted the spirit of unity through subtle symbolism, wearing a custom ivory dress and cashmere coat by Gabriela Hearst, embroidered with the federal flowers from every U.S. state and territory.

Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady and wife of President Jimmy Carter, decided to embrace sustainable fashion during her husband’s inaugural ball in 1977. She wore a gold-embroidered, high-neck blue chiffon gown, which she had worn earlier. It was expected that First Ladies would wear something custom-made for the occasion, but this was a departure from tradition. The New York Times even went as far as calling her dress “old.” Today, when sustainability in fashion is more important than ever, it shows how an influential figure was promoting recycled fashion long before it became a mainstream concern.

For the Inaugural Ball in 2009, Michelle Obama chose a white silk chiffon one-shoulder gown by designer Jason Wu. For Michelle, it was about promoting a young designer living the American dream. “The countless hours that you can see he spent sewing this piece made my night even more special,” said Michelle in the 2010 WWD article.