First lady of fashion
HOW MELANIA TRUMP CAN BRING A-GAME TO WHITE HOUSE
There's about to be a new first lady in the house — the White House, that is. Melania Trump picks up the FLOTUS acronym on Jan. 20, and as with all first ladies, what she wears will obviously have an impact on both the fashion industry and on style-watchers across the country — and the world.
And she'll have some very big pumps to fill. First lady Michelle Obama was revered by the fashion world and its fans for her sophisticated but joyful style savvy; her skill with mixing high and low price points (from J.Crew to Thom Browne); her willingness to give new designers a chance (she donned everyone from Jason Wu to Joseph Altuzarra); and her championing of the industry at large (she hosted the very first Fashion Education Workshop at the White House and unveiled the Anna Wintour Costume Center at The Met).
Trump has already had some first-rate fashion moments —I loved her in that dusty pink Emilia Wickstead blouse when she gave a November campaign speech in Philadelphia, and in her white cutout Mugler dress at the Time 100 Gala last April. But she will enter the White House with the challenge to move her wardrobe beyond her penchant for expensive, off-the-rack European designers (on the campaign trail she favored the likes of Gucci, Roksanda and Roland Mouret). Ralph Lauren has appeared on her roster as well (she wore a stunning all-white RL jumpsuit at her husband's election night victory speech and black jumpsuit at the final presidential debate), and my advice would be to lean toward even more of the American designer's classic creations, as well as embrace many other American designers. Doing so sends a clear message of support to the country's industry, and to the many young designers hoping to join it. Shaking things up aesthetically would also be a great choice for Trump. So far, her outfits have tended toward solid-color, conservative and careful pieces. As a former model, she looks great in all of it, but a few younger, fresher patterns and edgier cuts would look equally great, and would send a message of energetic excitement. Choosing high and low price points would also be an important move for Trump, who wore a $2,645 Roland Mouret off-theshoulder knit dress at the first presidential debate, a $2,190 white bell-sleeve Roksanda dress at the Republican National Convention and a $1,100 Gucci pussy-bow crepe de chine blouse at the second debate. Those kinds of prices are great if you can afford them, but in representing a country of Americans with diverse incomes, it would be smart to mix in less expensive pieces here and there. After all, fashion is at its best when it's as accessible and inspirational as it is aspirational.