The Trump clan’s subtle nods to Royal family fashion – and why it’s important
Nobody could fault Melania Trump for her inauguration outfit on Monday – except, perhaps, her husband. When the president-elect leaned in to kiss his wife before taking the Oath of Office, the wide brim of her Eric Javits boater hat meant that he couldn’t quite make it to her cheek.
Perhaps that’s the way she wanted it, fashion that enforces a little social distancing. It would fit with her frosty image.
The incoming US First Lady wore a custom navy tailored coat by US designer Adam Lippes under which a crisp white shawl collar could be glimpsed at the neckline. Her navy boater-style hat by Eric Javits – another American label – featured a white band, and the look was completed by ultra-high navy suede Manolo Blahnik heels and a pair of black leather gloves.
No wonder, then, that Jill Biden has also worn Lippes – a textured navy dress and matching blazer to meet the Pope in 2021 – a moment of which the designer was very proud: “I’m not an emotional guy, and I was really emotional this morning,” he told Bazaar.com at the time.
Lippes was proud on Monday too, though. In a statement he 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. 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.”
Bare legs aside, Melania’s outfit reflected the weather in Washington DC – a chilly -6C, which has forced officials to stage the inauguration indoors for the first time since 1985.
It’s not unlike a look from 2019 during a state visit to the UK. For a visit to Buckingham Palace to meet the late Queen, she wore a white Dolce & Gabbana dress with a white boater-style hat, designed by her stylist Hervé Pierre, trimmed with a black ribbon. Her hair was styled in a low bun, creating a striking silhouette.
In fact, it’s a look which bears similarities with the British royal style playbook. A tailored coat, elegant millinery and sky-high courts are a fail-safe fashion formula for the Princess of Wales, Duchess of Edinburgh et al, and boater-style hats were a popular choice amongst them at Royal Ascot last year.
Melania isn’t the only high profile figure at the inauguration to do so. Ivanka Trump was back in First Daughter mode, wearing a dark green belted jacket with an exaggerated hourglass shape and a shawl collar, accessorised with a neat teardrop shaped hat, a black Lady Dior bag, black leather heels and black leather gloves – not unlike an LK Bennett suit worn by the Princess of Wales in 2015. Her daughter, Arabella, 13, looked grown-up in a head-to-toe beige look featuring a cape and trousers – could that have been inspired by Princess Charlotte’s caped look at King Charles’ Coronation in 2023?
Usha Vance, the wife of incoming Vice-President JD Vance, is also emerging as a fashionable figure amongst the Republican elite. For the inauguration, she was firmly on trend in a pink coat with a scarf in the same fabric, completed by a narrow belt in the same tone, and taupe suede knee-high boots. The Duchess of Gloucester wore a very similar look to the Princess of Wales’ Together at Christmas concert in December.
For a ceremonial event such as this, the British royal style playbook is a reliable one from which to borrow. The royals are experienced in dressing for formal occasions in a tactful, timeless way, and deliberate about how and when they imbue messages within them.
They often dress in block colours with sharp silhouettes; this makes them stand out for somebody in a crowd, glimpsing them from a distance. The late Queen once said, “I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am” – and on another occasion: “I have to be seen to be believed.”
But could there also be an element of the Trumps fancying themselves as America’s answer to the Royal family?
The Bidens both arrived in Ralph Lauren, with Jill wearing an ultraviolet look. Earlier this month the designer was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by the outgoing President. Ralph Lauren was Melania’s label of choice for the inauguration in 2017.
Hillary Clinton went for a navy coat by Stella McCartney, and Kamala Harris kept things simple in a black jacket with a zip front and pockets, and while outdoors, a black wool coat with a grey silk printed scarf. Laura Bush wore a rust-coloured dress with a string of pearls and a matching patent top-handle bag.
And then there were the Tech Bros: in their optic white shirts, navy suits and burgundy ties, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew looked so similar, it was as though they’d coordinated via a group WhatsApp. Elon Musk too, bar his navy tie (Open AI CEO Sam Altman wore a navy textured tie too). Alongside them, the soon-to-be Mrs Bezos, Lauren Sanchez, wore a tight-fitting white blazer – Alexander McQueen no less – with a boned lace bodice visible underneath. Over the top, she wore an ivory tailored coat with a fluffy texture. Maybe this look wasn’t quite so aligned with royal style protocol – and a contrast with Priscilla Chan in her cardigan and pearls.
The verdict? There’s no formal playbook when it comes to inauguration dressing – and the fashion choices tell their own story: pride, enthusiasm, indifference... But observing the wardrobes of those who already navigate life in the public eye is a good place to start.
