First lady Melania Trump stood behind President-elect Donald Trump as he took the oath of office Monday. The navy blue boater hat she wore covered her eyes almost entirely, which she paired with a double-breasted coat and a pencil skirt in the same color. She also wore an ivory blouse and stiletto heels.
Although these types of hats are typically a summer accessory, “This was just such a spectacular use of signaling and blending Palm Beach and (Washington, D.C.) with international global fashion aesthetic, while understanding the traditional and political power that is also necessary for your look to communicate,” said celebrity stylist and fashion expert Lauren Rothman, according to CNN.
The New York Times said the eye-covering hat, designed by milliner Eric Javits, and her “tightly buttoned coat ... gave her an air of mystery and inaccessibility that was unusual for an inauguration, when the first family is traditionally put on view as the new face of the nation,” but, the report also argued, the fashion statement falls “in line with the guarded image” she has polished over the years since Trump entered political life.
Her ensemble was created by American designer Adam Lippes. President Trump had on a navy suit, which was typical, but his tie, a mix of blue and red, drew a contrast from his signature all-red look.
Here are some other noteworthy looks from the inauguration.
Usha Vance
Usha Vance, wife of Vice President J.D. Vance, wore a custom Oscar de la Renta coat dress with tan gloves. The cashmere number in pastel pink is reminiscent of a bubble gum pink gown late first lady Jackie Kennedy wore when hosting a dinner in 1962. She also wore a watermelon pink Chanel suit in 1963, the day her husband was assassinated.
Jill Biden
Former first lady Jill Biden opted to wear purple head to toe, in a coat designed by Ralph Lauren. Former President Joe Biden matched with a tie of the same shade as his wife’s coat.
“[Purple] represents a blending and coming together of the red and blue, which are the two colors that represent each of the major political parties in the U.S.,” Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, told WWD during Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
A few surprises
Lauren Sanchez, who wore a white Alexander McQueen suit matched with a lingerie-style shirt, drew criticism for wearing an outfit that some said wasn’t appropriate for the occasion, as did Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., who showed up in his usual: Basketball shorts and a hoodie.