Despite being an outspoken Hillary Clinton supporter during the 2016 US presidential election – and being one of her primary pantsuit designers – rumours are rife that it is none other than Ralph Lauren who will design a gown for Melania Trump to wear during this week’s inauguration.
WWD daily are reporting that Lauren is currently designing a gown for the First Lady to wear when her husband Donald Trump is officially sworn in as the President of the United States.
It won’t be the first time Melania has worn the US designer, making headlines in a white jumpsuit on election night in November 2016 – however she reportedly purchased this piece herself at the label’s New York boutique.
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With some 38 million viewers tuning in to watch President Obama’s inauguration in 2009, whichever designer the former Slovenian model does choose to wear will ultimately gain unprecedented publicity, for better or worse remains to be seen.
While many First Ladies before her have also garnered major attention for their wardrobe, none have been quite so shrouded in controversy and public scrutiny as Melania’s – largely due to her husband’s polarising presidential campaign.
So much so that she’s found herself in the middle of a fashion industry stand-off between designers who will – and those who most definitely will not – dress the incoming First Lady.
A number of high-profile designers including Tom Ford and Marc Jacobs have publicly declared they will not dress the First Lady due to her husband’s policies.
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“I have no interest whatsoever in dressing Melania Trump,” says Jacobs. “Personally, I’d rather put my energy into helping out those who will be hurt by [Donald] Trump and his supporters.”
While many designers have remained quiet, a handful of designers have however publicly declared they will support the First Lady including Diane Von Furstenberg and Tommy Hilfiger.
“Any first lady should be respected like any first lady,” Von Furstenberg said. “If you are first lady, you represent America.”
“Any designer should be proud to dress her,” adds Hilfiger.
Regardless of the designer she chooses, we can’t wait to see if Melania follows suit with another symbolic sartorial statement (coincidental or not) as she did with her now infamous pussy-bow blouse and election night pantsuit…
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