What We Know About Melania Trump’s Inauguration Dress Ahead Of Today’s Ceremony

Her fashion choices - sometimes controversial - will never have been more under the microscope.

With the world at large watching, Melania Trump’s choice of political uniform for such an occasion as Inauguration Day - her first outfit as FLOTUS (2.0) - will be more than just clothes. Consider it not so much a look as a statement of intent for the term ahead.

In 2017, she chose Ralph Lauren, a powder blue dress coat that recalled another First Lady: Jackie Kennedy (Melania's inauguration dress, meanwhile, an ecru off-the-shoulder gown that wouldn't have looked out of place on the red carpet, was designed by her stylist Herve Pierre). An American stalwart, its price point was very much emblematic of her first stint in the White House, where she cut a decidedly high-end figure in labels such as Dior, Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana. Her one foray into high street caused a public relations disaster. The Zara khaki jacket in question was printed with the words, ‘I Really Don’t Care. Do U?’, which immediately caused outrage because of the day she had chosen to wear it - the very same as a visit to a children's shelter in McAllen, Texas. A masterstroke in sartorial diplomacy it wasn’t (having initially responded to comments via a spokesperson by insisting ‘there was no hidden message’, Melania later explained that it was in fact a kind of statement to the ‘left-wing media who are criticising me’). What it most definitely revealed is that Melania, a woman who systemically matches her stilettos to her skirt suits, does put a great deal of thought into her outfits as FLOTUS, using what she wears as an opportunity to not only reveal allegiances but air grievances.

Ahead of Inauguration Day, she stuck to her tried-and-tested formula of the world’s most luxurious brands with a polished roster of outfits in black-and-white: a sharp-shouldered white trouser suit by Dolce & Gabbana, as well as a grey double-breasted coat by Dior. It was a continuation of the rather sombre colour palette that started at the funeral of President Jimmy Carter, for which she chose another black coat with an exaggerated white collar by Valentino. Was she purposely avoiding partisan colours, trying to stoke up a feeling of solidarity regardless of party? Or was it simply evidence of a preference for winter neutrals over jewel tones or primary shades? Either could be true but, with an unprecedented level of scrutiny around today's events, there will have been a strategy behind those particular hues and those specific designers, which, interestingly, were not American.

On that note, much has been written about the fact that designers either don’t want to dress Melania - or, perhaps just as likely, don’t want to publicly be seen to endorse anyone even associated with MAGA. (Herve Pierre famously buys most of her clothes as opposed to borrowing from designer fashion houses.) But could the tide be turning? Ivanka Trump’s reemergence onto the political scene in time for her father’s big day certainly suggests so. For Sunday’s Inaugural Candlelit Dinner, Oscar de la Renta dressed Ivanka, posting not one but two photos on Instagram, one of which was a behind-the-scenes video of the crystals and cabochon pearls being painstakingly embroidered onto a custom-made gown. The reaction in the comments section was mixed. ‘Absolutely beautiful!! Ivanka looked stunning 😍,’ said one user. ‘Beautifulllll gown but sadly to the wrong person,’ wrote another. A timely example of the political views dividing America? Undoubtedly.