Lately, the topic of politics has become an extremely controversial and divisive subject among individuals. With the inauguration having taken place recently and President Donald Trump being sworn into office, tension and fear are high due to many of his controversial policies. However, fashion is one aspect of inaugurations that always unites people despite the president or party taking office. For decades, while people may be divided in respect to the president during inaugurations, first lady inauguration looks are always something that brings people together despite their differences. During these tense times, it is refreshing to look at this year’s first lady inauguration fashion and compare it to those that came before.
However at this year’s inauguration, First Lady Melania Trump’s fashion choices received mixed opinions. Melania Trump was seen at the inauguration wearing a Ralph Lauren navy silk wool double-breasted coat by designer Adam Lippes. Beneath the coat, Trump wore a silk wool pencil skirt along with an ivory silk crepe blouse that was styled uniquely by being folded into a sharp neckline. These pieces of clothing were all hand-sewn by Lippes’ team. However, it was Trump’s eye-catching hat that seemed to be getting most of the attention from her outfit. Trump paired her outfit with a hat designed by New York-based Milliner Eric Javits. Her military-style ensemble expressed a strict, cold and intimidating feeling through the sharp cuts and lines of the outfit. Further adding to the grim aura, the hat obstructed most of her vision, facilitating the emotions of intimidation and coldness being transmitted. The message of power and authority being sent here through these outfits is evident, which is why her choice of fashion was so heavily critiqued, seeing as it failed to follow the tradition of warmth and welcome a first lady’s fashion choices should express on Inauguration Day.
An example of a first lady Inauguration Day outfit that aligns more with tradition and exudes a warm and welcoming message would be Michelle Obama’s 2009 Inauguration Day outfit. Obama wore a sparkling lemongrass Isabel Toledo coat and dress paired with a pair of sage green J. Crew gloves. This accessory caught the attention of many, interpreting it as a foreshadowing of her relatability to the people’s approach to politics. This humble gesture instilled trust and connection between the government and the people.
Similarly, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was known for her great taste in fashion and for using it as a tool for subtle power. Kennedy’s Inauguration Day outfit consisted of a powder blue pillbox hat, which received considerable attention. The hat was a modern and elegant silhouette by the then-emerging milliner designer Halston. Along with her white chiffon sleeveless gown and matching cape worn to the evening ball designed by Oleg Cassini, Kennedy established herself as a fashion force and represented her husband, former President John F. Kennedy’s vision of transformation for the presidency.
Ultimately, first lady inauguration fashion is a powerful tool for symbolism, reflecting not only personal style but also the broader political and cultural landscape of the time. Each outfit choice carries with it layers of meaning, from honoring the past to signaling new directions and themes of unity and progress. As much as it is about fashion, inauguration fashion can also be interpreted as a carefully curated statement that helps define the legacy of a presidency and the role of the first lady. Whether subtly or boldly, the clothes chosen for this momentous occasion become part of the narrative, transcending mere aesthetics and shaping perceptions and expectations for years to come.
