While the red baseball cap has become a symbol associated with President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump made her mark with a navy blue wide-brimmed hat by an American designer at President Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20.
A hat by designer Eric Javits covered most of First Lady Melania Trump's eyes as she stood next to her husband, President Donald Trump, during his second inauguration. Javits said that designing for the First Lady was one of the greatest honors of his career.
“I used my artistic background to create hat designs that bring balance and harmony to the face. This was not difficult for Melania Trump because she has a beautiful face, charming demeanor and sophisticated fashion sense,” said Javits.
The hat not only stood out, but it also created many interesting moments at the ceremony. When Mr. Trump entered the Capitol Rotunda and leaned down to kiss his wife, the hat left only room for a kiss. Even former President Joe Biden had to skillfully lean away from the hat when talking to Mr. Trump.
In his speech later, President Donald Trump joked that his wife’s hat almost “blew away” when Biden’s military helicopter took off, creating a strong wind. “She almost got lifted off the ground,” Donald Trump said with a laugh.
Unlike the Ralph Lauren blue dress at the 2017 inauguration, this time, Melania Trump chose a light navy blue silk wool coat combined with a skirt of the same color and an ivory silk shirt, all by American independent designer Adam Lippes.
“The presidential inauguration is a symbol of the beauty of American democracy, and today we are honored to dress First Lady Melania Trump,” said Lippes. “This dress is the result of the best American craftsmen, and I am proud to bring such a work to the world.”
During President Donald Trump's first inauguration, Melania Trump's style was compared to fashion icon Jacqueline Kennedy - who was also famous for her pillbox hat at the inauguration of her husband, the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, in 1961.
However, designing for First Lady Melania Trump became controversial in 2017, when several designers refused to collaborate despite the prestigious opportunity. Some social media users even called for a boycott of Ralph Lauren at the time.
Moving into 2025, Ralph Lauren became the designer chosen by outgoing First Lady Jill Biden.
Mrs. Biden impressed with her purple outfit from coat, shoes to gloves, at President Joe Biden's handover ceremony.
