Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs and More Won't Dress Melania Trump
For the last eight years First Lady Michelle Obama has brought fashion into the White House, embracing emerging and established designers alike. Remember how stunning Michelle looked in that Atelier Versace rose gold chainmail dress at her final state dinner? Or the elegant cobalt crepe silk Christian Siriano dress she wore during the Democratic National Convention? The question now is, as the Obamas transition out of the White House, what role will the fashion industry play when it comes to our new First Lady’s wardrobe? We can assume that Melania Trump can buy whatever she wants off the rack but will she employ the help of a stylist or reach out to designers? It remains to be seen. Since the election, many designers have spoken out about their desire (or lack of) to dress our future first lady — and a record 6 say they'll never dress her. Scroll down for a breakdown of who would dress Melania, who is adamantly against it, and who's still on the fence.
JP Yim1/16Christian Siriano is a no:
Though he dressed Michelle Obama several times, Christian probably won't dress Melania Trump, he told Time. "I think for a while, everyone was trying to figure out what to do [with Melania]. Unfortunately, it really doesn't have anything to do with her, but she is representing what's happening politically and what's happening politically right now is not really good for anyone."
He added: "I dress people that I can support and support what they’re doing in their lives. That’s why it’s important to me and it should be important to every designer because the people that you put in your brand represent the brand."
FilmMagic2/16Tom Ford is a no:
“I was asked to dress her… I declined,” Ford said during an appearance on ABC’s The View. “She’s not my image.”
WireImage3/16Tommy Hilfiger is a yes:
“I think Melania is a very beautiful woman and I think any designer should be proud to dress her,” Tommy Hilfiger told Women’s Wear Daily. “Ivanka is equally as beautiful and smart, although she wears her own clothes. I don’t think people should become political about it. Every was happy to dress Michelle [Obama] as well. I think they look great in the clothes. You’re not going to get much more beautiful than Ivanka or Melania.”
Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images4/16Sophie Theallet is a no:
“As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom, and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associate myself in any way with the next First Lady,” Sophie Theallet said in a statement on Twitter. “The rhetoric of racism, sexism, and xenophobia unleashed by her husband's presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by.”
Getty Images5/16Cynthia Rowley is eh:
“In the midst of this heated debate, the question actually seems somewhat irrelevant,” she told WWD. “She can simply purchase whatever she wants, so how can we control it? Just because she's shown wearing a designer does not mean that designer is endorsing her, her husband or any of their beliefs. Checking someone's ethical beliefs before they're allowed to purchase, sets up an exclusionary dynamic that feeds into the exact mentality that is preventing us from moving forward in a positive direction. Some people say fashion and politics should never mix, but when given the choice, I think you should address and dress your conscience.”
WireImage6/16Diane von Furstenberg is a yes:
“Donald Trump was elected and he will be our president,” the designer and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America told WWD. “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.”
Getty Images7/16Marc Jacobs is a no:
“I have no interest whatsoever in dressing Melania Trump. I didn't see [Sophie Theallet's] letter,” Jacobs told WWD. Personally, I'd rather put my energy into helping out those who will be hurt by [Donald] Trump and his supporters.”
Getty Images8/16Thom Browne is a yes:
“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,” the menswear designer told WWD.
Getty Images9/16Derek Lam is a no:
“What a tough question to answer now that the election has been decided. I've been slammed on social media when expressing an opinion about the election outcome,” Lam told WWD. “I was warned by people that I should not make an opinion which could alienate a client. Having been duly warned, my response is, while I have incredible respect for our country's political institutions, I find it challenging to be personally involved in dressing the new first lady. I would rather concentrate my energies on efforts towards a more just, honorable and a mutually respectful world. I don't know Melania Trump personally, so I don't wish my comments to seem I am prejudging her personal values, but I really don't see myself getting involved with the Trump presidency.”
AFP/Getty Images10/16Vera Wang is eh:
“We have not been contacted by the Trump campaign or administration thus far,” she told WWD. “But the first lady-elect should support American fashion, as did her predecessors.”
Getty Images11/16Philip Lim is a no:
“It's been such an emotional roller coaster of an election process,” he told WWD. “The result has only confirmed my belief that we must stand for what we represent as a brand, so my sentiment is still the same. As a global brand, we are always looking to partner with individuals that we have authentic relationships with — ultimately, women and men that share similar set of values, desires and ideologies: inclusion, diversity, justice, consciousness, innovation…. With that said, we do not have a current relationship with Mrs. Trump and I don’t foresee a relationship developing under the Trump administration."
Getty Images12/16Carolina Herrera is a yes:
“I think that in two or three months, they'll reach out, because it's fashion,” she told Business of Fashion. “You'll see everyone dressing Melania. She's representing the United States.”
FilmMagic13/16Humberto Leon is a no:
“No one should, and if she buys your clothes, tell people you don't support it,” the co-founder of Opening Ceremony and Creative Director of Kenzo wrote in a post on Facebook. “You know who you are!"
FilmMagic14/16Joseph Altuzarra is eh:
“I don't want to not dress people I disagree with,” he told the New York Times.
Getty Images15/16Marcus Wainwright of Rag & Bone is a yes:
“It would be hypocritical to say no to dressing a Trump," the Rag & Bone designer told the NYT. “If we say we are about inclusivity and making American manufacturing great again, then we have to put that before personal political beliefs.”
Christian Siriano, Ashish, and Tracy Reese declined to comment for this post.
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