Posted on 01/21/2025 4:07:47 PM PST by simpson96
As the First Lady glided onto the stage at the Commander-in-Chief Ball, one of three inaugural celebrations she attended Monday evening, Melania Trump did more than delight her admirers. She silenced her critics – and they are, regrettably, many.
Melania, yet again, relied on her longtime stylist Herve Pierre, who on this occasion dressed her to stunning effect in a custom strapless white silk crepe gown with thick bands of black silk gazar trim.(snip)
Unlike stepdaughter Ivanka Trump's flowery overreach – settling upon an exact copy of Audrey Hepburn's 1954 Givenchy gown from the film Sabrina – Melania's choice was a subtle homage to mid-20th century fashion.
Melania, too, echoed Hepburn, however, in a more iconic cinematic role.
Pierre, an admirer of British photographer and costume designer Cecil Beaton, surely must have recognized the sartorial possibilities that Hepburn's appearance in 'My Fair Lady' offered. That film tells of an ingenue who becomes a star while wearing white and black couture (an outfit famously designed by Beaton).
Melania's Golden Age of Hollywood-look was rounded out perfectly with a borrowed 1955 diamond flower brooch by American jewelry legend Harry Winston and worn on a black ribbon choker.
The jewelry's styling, Pierre said, was also reflected by the gown: a ribbon encircling flowers. (Melania, one assumes, was the bouquet).
(snip) [Winston's] ultimately unrealized goal was to create a permanent collection of gems to be worn by successive first ladies, 'American Queens'.
Winston's third and final attempt to establish this new tradition was rejected by government officials in 1982. They (snip) believed, Americans would be offended by something suggestive of royal crown jewels.
In this way, Melania and Pierre's tribute to Winston speaks volumes.
Melania sees herself as a legacy builder – with or without the help of the fashion world.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
*ping*
Well, a happy president is a good president :)
Beautiful! Screw Vogue!
That was Melania’s ‘rebuke’, that she had a dress made which used a design from the 1950’s? Sometimes, an outfit is just an outfit. Melania has always shown good taste in clothing for special occasions.
i kn+ow i’m slow, but what was the rebuke?
The only memorable gown was Michelle Obama’s black widow
It's nice to have a First Lady who looks like a First Lady.
The rebuke was in the dress tag. It said ‘slender’. Jill will never have one of those!
Yes, but I have not liked the hat!
It covered her face, she looked like she is hiding something.
I believe it was the Harry Winston broach which he had designed to adorn American Queens, intimating Melania is Queen like.
She looks great. The media have to over-analyze everything.
I WILL DIE BEFORE I FORGET THE MOOCH IN THOSE MADRAS SHORTS “WALKING THE DOG”
There was no rebuke. The dress designer signed it. What a great feeling since it may wind up in the Smithsonian.
“I have not liked the hat!”
Be careful. On another thread someone was almost banned for not liking the hat - creating “discord”.
Don’t all First Lady ball gowns end up in the Smithsonian? I remember seeing a display of them there.......
Do you like my hat?
No, I do not like it.
Go, Dog. Go!
>> I have not liked the hat! It covered her face, she looked like she is hiding something.
I like it. She wasn’t hiding anything with that hat, IMO; she used it to graciously downplay the display of the righteous contempt she feels for ALL of the former presidents and their wives.
Pure class act.
Re the dress itself, I could go either way. Have seen better and have seen worse. (I preferred the 2017 ball dress.) What was gorgeous was the crepe fabric and how it clung to her legs when she walked. I loved the fabric! And the choker.
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