Mixed Reviews of MAGA’s ‘Misguided’ Fashion at Trump Inaugural Balls

Donald Trump’s trio of inauguration balls placed the MAGA world’s biggest names in the spotlight Monday.

The events were black tie, meaning the men—including Trump and JD Vance—turned up in tuxedos. The women appeared in striking designer gowns, however, that have set the internet abuzz.

Below is a look at those gowns and what people are saying about the fashion of MAGA 2.0.

Melania Trump

The presidential couple shared a dance at the Commander in Chief Ball, where Melania turned heads with a black-and-white gown designed by her longtime stylist, Hervé Pierre.

The strapless silk crepe dress had two bands of black silk gazar, which, along with a black diamond brooch choker, was designed to resemble a ribbon encircling a bouquet of flowers.

Republicans praised the first lady’s elegance, but others on the left raced to critique the look—some equating it to poorly painted traffic lines or Trump’s thick sharpie signature.

Others, including The New York Times’ chief fashion critic, Vanessa Friedman, noted it had close similarities to her inauguration gown from 2017.

“As a whole, it elegantly called to mind the Parthenon, Erté, and a question mark, all at once,” Friedman wrote of the dress.

There appeared to be a consensus across party lines that the 54-year-old’s evening attire was a notable improvement from her inauguration outfit, which people mocked as resembling “Smooth Criminal era” Michael Jackson and the Hamburglar.

Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump went with a black and white Givenchy haute couture gown on Monday evening. Women’s Wear Daily reported the piece was a “bustier gown” that followed a “1953 style from the house’s archives.” She wore black gloves with it.

The dress featured unique “black floral motifs” and was a hit within the MAGA-verse, with even Elon Musk chiming in to compliment the 43-year-old.

“Making fashion beautiful again,” Musk wrote, tagging Ivanka.

Friedman said the president’s eldest daughter “channeled Audrey Hepburn” from the late movie star’s 1954 film Sabrina. “She looked lovely, in a cosplay kind of way,” the Times critic said.

A rep for Ivanka told the Daily Mail she considers Hepburn an inspiration and was “honored” to wear the gown. The rep added she was “incredibly grateful for Arnault family and the Givenchy atelier for creating this masterpiece.”

Not everyone was a fan of her nod to Hollywood, however, including Vogue’s senior fashion critic, Christian Allaire. “Her nod to upbeat Hollywood glamour, on a stage that holds so much weight for Americans, felt misguided,” he said.

Lara Trump

Lara Trump landed on a fiery red gown that featured a corset bodice and a column skirt with a ruffle train attached. Women’s Daily Wear reported the piece was created by designer Oscar Garcia-Lopez, a former contestant of the Project Runway spinoff Under the Gunn.

Lara, 42, has infamously missed the mark with her fashion choices at times in recent years, but her ball gown received a largely positive reaction online and a neutral response from critics, who had no words of praise—or disgust—for the piece.

She was the lone member of the Trump family to ditch muted colors for the striking red, which is perhaps fitting given her position as the co-chair of the Republican National Committee.

“I don’t know the designer but I absolutely love it,” the writer Sarah Stook, of Elections Daily, posted about the dress.

Tiffany Trump

Tiffany Trump went with a flowing, dove grey chiffon dress that featured a beaded off-the-shoulder bodice and a draped scarf.

The president’s youngest daughter, who is pregnant, largely received acclaim for her ball gown. One commenter remarked on X that she appeared “princess-like gorgeous” in the piece, while another added on Facebook that she “Absolutely loved Tiffany’s gown at the Liberty Ball.”

Tiffany, 31, danced with her husband, Michael Boulos, and repeatedly flashed a big smile at photographers at the event.

Usha Vance

Usha Vance, 39, landed on a strapless sapphire dégradé gown for the Liberty Ball. She let the shimmering piece—designed by the Lebanese designer Reem Acra—stand out on its own by wearing minimal jewelry and having a simple side-parted hairdo.

The Times wrote that the piece was “mermaidlike,” and a popular post on X asserted she was giving off “Princess Elsa vibes.”

Another commenter on X said she was relieved to see that the “woke brigade” would no longer ruin her political ball viewing. “Used to love watching award shows until the Woke brigade took over with ridiculous outfits,” she wrote. “The gowns last night was the highlight of the day.”

Another suggested that the MAGA group—and especially Usha—was giving the British Royal Family a run for their money on fashion. ”Usha is becoming my favorite,” they wrote. “So many different designers and yet they all make sense. The Royals better up their game.”

Acra, of course, loved the piece. He patted himself on the back on Instagram where he wrote that it was “a true vision of grace and style on this monumental evening.”

Many commenters the first and second lady against each other, with many claiming Usha’s dress had won the evening.

“I foresee Usha Vance getting hate for out dressing Melania,” read one post. “Usha understood the assignment today. And this is coming from someone who wholly disagrees with them politically.”