What will Melania Trump wear to the inauguration?
What first ladies choose to wear has never just been a fashion statement, but the soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump鈥檚 decisions for Inauguration Day and Night might have larger political implications this year.
If she doesn鈥檛 simply buy off the rack, the first lady will most likely wear a custom-made, high-end piece. But finding a designer to craft her unique look has proven difficult, as many designers have publicly refused to work with the Trump family for political reasons.
Such refusals are a marked departure from the norm. Traditionally, designing a dress for the first lady has been considered a great honor and high-profile business opportunity for designers.
"The impact of the first lady is really, really powerful," Naeem Khan, an Indian-born American designer who has dressed Michelle Obama close to 20 times, told the Associated Press. "It turned us into a global business."
Yet, despite the appeal to increased fame for designers, the Slovenian-born former model has fewer options than usual this year.
In an industry that favored Hillary Clinton, several designers have indicated their strong opposition to working with the Trump family during the upcoming four years.
鈥淎s one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom, and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next First Lady,鈥� Sophie Theallet, a designer who dressed Mrs. Obama, wrote in an open letter in November, as reported by The New York Times. 鈥淭he rhetoric of racism, sexism, and xenophobia unleashed by her husband鈥檚 presidential campaign are.鈥�
Though few designers have made such public declarations, when asked, some other American influential figures, including Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford, have said they too would not design for the first lady.
For Ms. Khan, the issue is simply a matter of professional choice.
"Every designer has a point of view," Khan, who declined to design an inauguration gown for Trump, said. "A designer is an artist, and should have the choice of who they want to dress or not."
Historian Carl Sferrazza Anthony of the National First Ladies' Library points to this debate as an example of the way that politics have entered aspects of life in an unprecedented way.
鈥淭his is the first time that this moment is being used by professionals and people in the fashion industry as an opportunity to put their political views out there in public," he told the Associated Press.
Among speculations as to who will design Trump's dress,聽Ralph Lauren has emerged as the front-runner. Despite wearing a sleeveless Dolce & Gabbana dress for New Year鈥檚 Eve, which many think was purchased off the rack, Trump often wore Mr. Lauren鈥檚 designs along the campaign trail.
Although an unabashed Clinton supporter, Mr. Lauren is, according to fashion site Women鈥檚 Wear Daily. The brand鈥檚 aesthetic has been seen as a perfect choice for the Trumps, representing 鈥渁 highly sophisticated,,鈥� according to The Guardian.
Other contenders include Karl Lagerfeld and Tommy Hilfiger, who has publicly complimented the first lady.
鈥淚 think Melania is a very beautiful woman and I think,鈥� Mr. Hilfiger said told Women's Wear Daily in November. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think people should become political about it. Everyone was very happy to dress Michelle [Obama] as well. I think they look great in the clothes. You鈥檙e not gonna get much more beautiful than Ivanka or Melania.鈥�
This story includes materials from the Associated Press and Reuters.聽
