Don't teach Melania fashion and style

Melania's choice of non-American labels such as Gucci, Roksanda Illincic and Roland Mouret during the campaign trail was seen as sending out all the wrong messages.

There is no question that Melania Trump has very stylish shoes to fill. For the last eight years, the outgoing First Lady of the United States (Flotus) Michelle Obama's wardrobe hit all the right style notes. Michelle began her stint as first lady wearing wholesome American brands such as J.Crew, Talbots and Ann Taylor. She had the figure and the height to be a clotheshorse, and she knew how to "work it". Her sartorial sense also reflected her husband's approach to politics: Michelle's wardrobe - ranging from the high-fashion designer Tom Ford to affordable retail chain TJ Maxx - was about being all-inclusive. And young American designers from various ethnic backgrounds such Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung and Bibhu Mohapatra have credited her for putting them on the international fashion map.
Melania, while being a former fashion model, has found the industry to be less supportive, with designers such as Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs and Phillip Lim going on record to say they would not be willing to work with the new first lady.
Her choice of non-American labels such as Gucci, Roksanda Illincic and Roland Mouret during the campaign trail was seen as sending out all the wrong messages, out of step with her husband Donald Trump's belief in putting America first.
She seemed to be dressing more like "A Real Housewife" than a future Flotus.
But the presidential inauguration ceremony on Friday suggested Melania has learnt her lesson - and that no one should underestimate the "dress sense" of the new Flotus - as she opted for a powder blue ensemble by Ralph Lauren: a conservative yet chic shift dress with a matching bolero jacket complete with gloves and complementing shoes.
The choice of designer made a statement - Ralph Lauren is considered one of America's greatest designers, and he also has dressed Donald Trump's opponent Hillary Clinton many times. (Hillary wore Ralph Lauren at the inauguration too, leading us to wonder if Melania knew of this and if that, in any way, influenced her decision!)
The style and colour of Melania's dress seemed to be a nod to Jacqueline Kennedy, who wore a very similar shade of blue to her husband John F. Kennedy's inauguration back in 1961. Perhaps Melania feels she can be the next Jackie?
Melania's choice of outfit for the evening celebration was a column off-the-shoulder gown in vanilla with architectural details and a thigh-high slit, designed by Herve Pierre, former creative director at Carolina Herrera (Pierre, while at CH, worked with two former first ladies: Laura Bush and Michelle Obama); it had all the glamour of a red carpet gown, yet was elegant and sophisticated. Melania worked closely with Pierre and helped design the dress.
All eyes will be trained on the new first lady's style statements. For the moment, Melania seems to be coming up trumps.
Like a princess
The president's sartorially savvy daughter Ivanka Trump wore a beige and gold Carolina Herrera, its full skirt giving out a princess feel - reminding us she is the Princess of the Trump Empire. Ivanka opted for another well-known American label, known for being a favourite among first ladies, Oscar de la Renta, for her father's inauguration. Ivanka's trousers ensemble, with its asymmetrical white coat, had a feel of fashion yet looked totally professional.
Goodness and purity
Hillary Clinton wore a white pant suit at the inauguration. A former first lady herself, she has openly stated that her fashion savvy is not as strong as her political know-how, The Ralph Lauren outfit was seen as significant due to its colour white, that stands for light, goodness and purity. Politically, it was made famous by early suffragettes at the start of the 20th century - this colour was believed to protect them from their immoral opponents.
Sujata@khaleejtimes.com