People keep asking me: “What did you think about the inaugural fashions, and why haven’t you blogged about them?”
The answer: obsessing about First Lady hues or styles – and whether she evokes another First Lady — strikes me as sexist. (Do we even know what her husband wore?)
What matters is how her choices influence fashion’s retail industry. The inaugural attire of Melania, Ivanka and perhaps Tiffany Trump is likely to sell and be copied.
Like it or not: These women’s choices have consequences.
Michelle Obama’s sleeveless sheaths flaunted her sculpted arms, which underscored the benefits of exercise, one of her platforms as FLOTUS. After a few years, her ensemble of ensembles revealed another mission: to boost the careers of talented, fledgling first-gen Americans.
Now THAT was worth noting — and respecting.
Melania and Ivanka appear to be taking another direction.
Well-established labels of Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera don’t really need their assist. But a new star may be born: Herrera’s former creative director, Hervé Pierre, stepped out from behind her shadow to create Melania’s sculpted white ballgown on his own.
Political parties are irrelevant. I expect many fashion labels will quietly court Melania – and Ivanka – Trump. They’ll be hard to resist: as a former model with an enviable figure, and a powerful platinum princess with an equally runway-worthy shape.
When the goals behind their garb become clear you’ll hear more from me.
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