Melania Trump’s Inauguration Look Was Made in New York

Brooke Bobb
·2-min read
us first lady jill biden, from left, president joe biden, president elect donald trump, and former first lady melania trump during a welcome ceremony at the north portico of the white house ahead of the 60th presidential inauguration in washington, dc, us, on monday, jan 20, 2025 donald trumps monday swearing in marks just the second time in us history that a president lost the office and managed to return to power a comeback cementing his place within the republican party as an enduring, transformational figure rather than a one term aberration photographer jim lo scalzoepabloomberg via getty images
Meet the Designer Behind Melania's Inaugural Look Bloomberg

Historically, Inauguration Day has always offered a kind of fashion theater. It symbolizes the outgoing of one administration and the incoming of another, giving us a first glimpse at the distinct visual codes that will represent the new presidency. The inaugural style of the First Lady drives much of that conversation, and today, Melania Trump has revealed part of the direction she may take when it comes to sartorial matters over the next four years.

New York designer Adam Lippes is behind her Inaugural look: a tailored navy wool coat, a navy wool pencil skirt, and an ivory silk crepe blouse. To accessorize, Trump chose a strict, flat-brimmed hat by Eric Javitz, also based in New York.

In a statement, Lippes said, "The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy, and today we had the honor to dress our first lady, Mrs. Melania Trump." He continued, "Mrs. Trump's outfit was created by some of America's finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world."

Lippes is a beloved figure in the world of fashion and in New York, where his clothes are made. He worked with Ralph Lauren, served as Oscar de la Renta's right-hand man, and launched his eponymous label in 2014. His designs are sharp and sophisticated, with a suggestion of effortlessness: tailored jackets with wide-leg jeans or cropped cargo pants, feminine silhouettes with Grecian draping or sensual cutouts, and textured tops and blouses with details like pearl and sequin beading.

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While Melania has been known to favor European luxury houses in the past, her choice of a design by Lippes could mark the beginning of a wardrobe aimed at supporting American brands and independent labels. In fact, the First Lady has worn his designs before, namely on a 2018 Easter outing to a hospital in Palm Beach during the Stormy Daniels trial. Her choice is not dissimilar to the one made by Dr. Jill Biden for her husband's inauguration in 2021. She, too, made a point to support a smaller, made-in-America label, Markarian.

Trump's partnership with Lippes may signal a shift in her sartorial messaging—an area that was fraught with controversy during her husband's first term. A First Lady's style speaks volumes on inauguration day and beyond, and with Lippes in the spotlight today, Mrs. Trump's style vernacular might be taking a more thoughtful turn.

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