Politics and fashion are two different topics that have never and can never be integrated together in any aspect. Or could they?
By: Pery El-Etreby
World’s most famous designers wanted to express their political views in a way, and astonishingly they conveyed their point of view to the world by the thing they know how to do the most, fashion!
Designer Sophie Theallet has decided not to dress incoming First Lady Melania Trump, and sent a now-viral letter asking her fellow designers to follow her lead and refuse to dress her as well. While some, like Joseph Altuzarra, chose to remain neutral about their political leanings, others like Mark Jacobs expressed their lack of interest in dressing Melania, and some others took it as an honor to design for her.
(You can check our previous article to check all the list of designers who refused to design for Melania.)
The whole world was waiting to see how the First Lady will look like at the inauguration ceremony. So, whose design has Melania finally chosen?
Putting aside politics, Hillary Clinton–pantsuit designer Ralph Lauren has been the first American designer to dress First Lady–elect Melania Trump. Although Lauren has designed many of Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits, including her infamous white Democratic National Convention suit and post-election concession suit, dressing up Melania was out of question since he claimed that fashion has nothing to do with any political views. Trump has also worn Lauren before, purchasing the designer’s white jumpsuit for Election Night, and Melania wore Lauren’s black bow jumpsuit to the last debate and then an asymmetric version of the look in white on election night. With all designers coming outspoken about whether to dress Melania Trump or not, Lauren reaffirmed his bipartisanship.
So, how did Donald Trump respond to those who refused dressing up his lady? As people see it, Trump slammed Tom Ford for his dissent to design for Melania.
Donald Trump has responded on a Fox & Friends interview, claiming Melania never asked Ford to dress her. “[She] never asked Tom Ford, doesn’t like Tom Ford, doesn’t like his designs,” the president-elect said. “I’m not a fan of Tom Ford, never have been.”
He then claimed, “Wynn Resorts, CEO Steve Wynn just called me and he said he thought it was so terrible what Tom Ford said, that he threw his clothing out of his Las Vegas hotel.”
Interestingly enough, there is no Tom Ford clothing store at the Wynn Las Vegas (though the hotel does stock his beauty products). Wouldn’t be the first time Trump was “mistaken”.
We’ve rounded up some of the designers who declared that they’d be happy to dress Melania Trump, and here is what they said..
Steffano Gabbana
The Italian designer posted a photo on Instagram of the incoming First Lady after she wore one of his designs on New Year’s Eve, captioning the photo, “Melania Trump #DGwoman thank you #madeinitaly.”
Tommy Hilfiger
“I think Melania is a very beautiful woman and I think any designer should be proud to dress her. Ivanka is equally as beautiful and smart, although she wears her own clothes. I don’t 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’re not gonna get much more beautiful than Ivanka or Melania.”
Diane von Furstenberg
“Donald Trump was elected and he will be our president. Melania deserves the respect of any first lady before her. Our role as part of the fashion industry is to promote beauty, inclusiveness, diversity. We should each be the best we can be and influence by our example.”
Sam and Libby Edelman
Sam: “Oh, I would love to dress her. There is nothing that would make me happier. And I would love her to wear Sam Edelman’s shoes. Beautiful lady. She is going to be First Lady and represent our country throughout the world, and she should wear Sam Edelman shoes.”
Libby: “She is the First Lady, he is the president, and we should support them.”
Sam: “And she is beautiful.”
Thom Browne
“Out of respect for the position of the First Lady of our United States, I would be honored to be considered to design for any First Lady of the United States.”