Melania battles designer chill and fashion icons Jackie & Michelle
MELANIA TRUMP has big shoes to fill when the former Slovenian model becomes the 45th First Lady of the United States of America.
Her road to the White House has been rocky, her speechmaking derided and the fact that armfuls of designers don’t want to dress Mrs Trump doesn’t help her popularity ratings.
As the glamorous 46-yearold makes her way to the swearing-in ceremony, she knows she can expect criticism, whether it’s because her inauguration day dresses are too short, too showy, too expensive or, worst sin of all, not made in America.
Cue Ralph Lauren, who could just be the possible saviour of Melania’s wardrobe nightmare.
Texan Tom Ford had the perfect credentials with his sexy silhouettes, but he stepped away from dressing Melania saying “she’s not necessarily my image” and was followed by Marc Jacobs and others.
The new first lady still has a few irons in the fashion fire including Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Tommy Hilfiger and Badgley Mischka.
The hot money in Washington last night was on Ralph Lauren dressing her during the day, while German designer Karl Lagerfeld will be in charge for the evening. Legacy pressures won’t be lost on Melania. Today is the 55th anniversary of John F Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, moving into the White House.
Jackie casts a huge shadow over Melania, as does Michelle Obama.
Mrs Kennedy gave tours on the historical architecture of the White House on TV and Michelle created a bountiful vegetable garden. Meanwhile, Melania wants to install a ‘glam room’ to make sure she always looks her best for public appearances.
Jackie’s Halston pillbox hats became a global craze as did her shift dresses, big sunglasses, tailored coats and suits.
Cleverly patriotic, she recreated French chic with designer Oleg Cassini who made the pink suit Jackie wore on that fateful day in Dallas in 1963.
Mr Cassini also made Jackie’s beige wool suit with sable collar for the 1961 inauguration (right).
Michelle Obama wowed us with two inauguration gowns, in white, then red, by Jason Wu.
Fond of bodycon dresses, block colours, high heels and ‘blow out’ hair, Melania has been wearing European brands such as Roksanda, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana, but that has to change with her husband’s policy to bring jobs home.
Her 2005 Dior wedding gown cost €100,000, but she dare not spend that much today on her inauguration style because her ratings in the popularity polls are already on the floor.