The very expensive secret behind Melania Trump's winning inauguration style formula
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After some time spent in the shadows, Melania Trump is back — and the world can expect to see a great deal more of her. As she steps out for a second inauguration day, first in 2016, and again for the 2025 proceedings, she will take comfort in her rigid style formula.
![[A service at St. John's Church on Inauguration Day, in Washington]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/20/13/54/A-service-at-St--Johns-Church-on-Inauguration-Day-in-Washington-jkw4fu2f.jpeg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
That formula has been developed with the help of Hervé Pierre, the man behind her White House look. The former creative director at Carolina Herrera began working with Trump upon her initial entry to the White House, when he designed her inauguration gown in 2016. After this meeting, the pair hit it off, and he continued to help her with her dressing, in what became his first styling job.
Because top luxury houses have historically refused to dress Trump (something Pierre has branded “snobbish”) a great deal of what she wears is purchased. Whether this will change in the coming four years remains to be seen, as a decline in sales at top fashion houses means they may no longer afford to be able to turn a blind eye.
![[TRUMP_INAUGURATION_DCAB205-2017JAN20_180018_698.jpg]](https://static.standard.co.uk/2025/01/16/10/55/TRUMP_INAUGURATION_DCAB205-2017JAN20_180018_698-jpg-4ewq7wye.jpeg?quality=75&auto=webp&width=960)
Pierre’s services do not come cheap, either. Having continued to assist Melania Trump after leaving the White House in 2020, it was revealed he was paid over $100,000 from Donald Trump's Political action committee in the last six months of 2023 alone.
Nevertheless, together they have found a handful of styles which work for any given FLOTUS situation. Below, the contents of her wardrobe armoury:. Much like the late Queen Elizabeth II, Trump well understands the impact one bold, bright colour can achieve — certainly when sartorially speaking to thousands. A standout was a pre-Brat, Brat green pleated dress she wore for her husband’s Republican Party nomination acceptance speech in August 2020. The Valentino spring 2020 pleated-crepe dress did get her in a pickle online: it was the same colour as a green-screen, which made her an easy target for a meme onslaught. It followed a host of other retina-damagingly bright looks.
