Tom Ford has joined the arsenal of designers refusing to dress First Lady elect Melania Trump.
Appearing on American chat show The View to promote his new film Nocturnal Animals, Ford revealed that he’s been refusing to dress Mrs Trump for years.
“She’s not necessarily my image,” Ford said, ABC reports.
More his image? Hillary Clinton, whom Ford voted for. He is “very sad and disappointed that she’s not [going to be] in office.”
The designer did add, however, that he wouldn’t have dressed Hillary either, had she become the first female President of America.
“She shouldn’t be wearing my clothes. They’re too expensive [for someone in politics, who needs] to relate to everybody.”
RELATED: What It Means When A Designer Says They Won’t Dress Melania Trump
Unless you’re Michelle Obama, though. Pretty much all fashion designers are in agreement that she’s the exception to the rule. Ford has dressed her in a form-fitting floor length gown for a state dinner at Buckingham Palace. “That, I thought, was appropriate. I live in London, and so that made sense.”
Ford has joined fellow American designer Sophie Theallet in voicing their oppositing to dressing Melania Trump when her husband takes office in January next year. Other designers – including Joseph Altuzarra – have been more diplomatic, stating that they wouldn’t rule out dressing Mrs Trump, despite their opinions of her husband’s politics.
“I have no interest whatsoever in dressing Melania Trump,” said Marc Jacobs. ” I didn’t see [Sophie Theallet’s] letter. Personally, I’d rather put my energy into helping out those who will be hurt by [Donald] Trump and his supporters.”
Derek Lam echoes these sentiments, saying he would rather focus his energies on “efforts towards a more just, honorable and a mutually respectful world.”
RELATED: Tommy Hilfiger Says Designers Should Be ‘Proud’ To Dress Melania Trump
“I find it challenging to be personally involved in dressing the new first lady,” he says. “I don’t know Melania Trump personally, so I don’t wish my comments to seem I am prejudging her personal values, but I really don’t see myself getting involved with the Trump presidency.”
Phillip Lim says his brand looks to partner with individuals with whom they have “authentic relationships with”.
“Ultimately, women and men that share similar set of values, desires and ideologies: inclusion, diversity, justice, consciousness, innovation… With that said, we do not have a current relationship with Mrs. Trump and I don’t foresee a relationship developing under the Trump administration.”
On the other end of the scale, Tommy Hilfiger has come out in full support of the future first lady. “Any designer should be proud to dress her,” he said.
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