Melania Trump, the wife of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, was sporting an original look as she arrived at Inauguration Day ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
As the incoming first lady walked into St. John’s the Episcopal church in Lafayette Square for a morning service that was the first official event of the day, she resembled “a mafia widow or high-ranking member of an obscure religious order,” according to Washington Post fashion writer Rachel Tashjian, who then added: “and a bit of My Fair Lady.”
The outfit, which included a tailored navy silk wool coat, a navy silk wool pencil skirt, and an ivory silk crepe blouse, was designed by American designer Adam Lippes and hand-sewn in New York City, according to a press release.
In a statement, Lippes 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.”
The matching hat, a squat, wide-brimmed affair that cast a lot of shade over the first lady’s face, was by Eric Javits, another American designer, who told Women’s Wear Daily ahead of the ceremony: “Until the hat goes on her head, there’s no proof that she’s going to wear it. I know she likes what I made, but you never know.”
The ensemble was a far cry from the outfit she wore to her husband’s previous inauguration, in 2017. That was a powder-blue cashmere dress from Ralph Lauren, not unlike something Britain’s Kate Middleton might choose to wear.
Women’s Wear remarked on a dearth of hats on first ladies in recent Inauguration Day ceremonies, pointing out that the last one of note was worn by Hillary Clinton in 1993 — a navy number to match her coat on the day. Though none are likely to unseat Jackie Kennedy’s iconic pillbox from 1961.
Social media users were less than kind, with remarks that the outfit — and especially the hat — reminded people of McDonalds’ Hamburglar, Michael Jackson from his video for Smooth Criminal, the cartoon character Carmen Sandiago, and even Mad Magazine’s Spy vs. Spy character.
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