Melania Trump Co-Designs Her Own Inaugural Gown
After months of speculation, the new First Lady’s inauguration dress was revealed as Trump took the stage alongside husband Donald Trump wearing an off-the-shoulder white gown with a frill running down the front. Yet, as the designer of the confection was revealed, it wasn’t one of the usual presidential suspects, such as Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren (whom Trump wore earlier in the day for the President’s swearing in), or Jason Wu, whom Michelle Obama famously donned for both of husband Barack Obama’s inaugural balls. Nor was it a design by Karl Lagerfeld, which had been widely speculated.
Rather, Trump herself collaborated with Hervé Pierre, the former creative director of Carolina Herrera who left the company in February 2016 after fourteen years at the company. Prior to his tenure at the House of Herrera, the French-born designer headed up haute couture at Balmain.
In an official statement, Pierre said, ““It’s an honor to dress the First Lady. I was actually lucky because over my 20 years in the U.S., I dressed all the first ladies: Mrs. Clinton at Oscar [de la Renta], Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Obama at Carolina Herrera. So I feel lucky and honored to dress Melania Trump, but this time under my name… It was an amazing experience….