Melania Trump’s decision to wear a powder blue Ralph Lauren suit to her husband Donald Trump's presidential inauguration is already turning out to be a controversial one: The brand is receiving a bit of blowback for its decision to work with the new First Lady.
"With the historic swearing-in of her husband, Donald J. Trump, as the forty-fifth President of the United States, the First Lady–elect will become America’s new First Lady wearing an American designer who transformed American fashion, Ralph Lauren," a spokesperson for Trump told WWD, which pointed out that the brand worked directly with the 46-year-old former model and the outfit wasn't bought off the rack.
An important distinction, obviously, and one that isn't sitting well with everyone: A source at Ralph Lauren who asked to remain anonymous told Glamour, “We immediately started to get complaints about Melania Trump wearing [the label]. And people are using the #boycottralphlauren hashtag.”
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
Still, it's not all bad: some Twitter users applauded the designer for dressing the FLOTUS.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
X content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
Lauren has a history of dressing first ladies, regardless of their political affiliation, having dressed Hillary Clinton, Nancy Reagan, and Betty Ford. As WWD reports, Lauren the man has never endorsed a candidate or disclosed his political affiliation.
"The Presidential Inauguration is a time for the United States to look our best to the world," a corporate spokesperson from Ralph Lauren told us. "It was important to us to uphold and celebrate the tradition of creating iconic American style for this moment."
Our source added: “[It’s important to note] Ralph Lauren deliberately took an apolitical stance by dressing Hillary Clinton [for the inauguration] and Michelle [Obama for inauguration weekend]," the source said. "[But] I don’t see us publicizing this on Instagram.”
To be sure, Ralph Lauren isn’t the first fashion brand that people have called for a boycott of because of the Trump family. Retailers that stock the Ivanka Trump brand, including Macy's, Lord & Taylor, and DSW, have faced similar ire.
Designers such as Sophie Theallet, Tom Ford, and Marc Jacobs have all stated publicly that they would decline dressing Melania Trump should they be asked.
On the other side of the coin, designers including Carolina Herrera, Thom Browne, and Tommy Hilfiger publicly stated that it would be an honor, with Hilfiger telling WWD: “I think Melania is a very beautiful woman, and I think any designer should be proud to dress her.”
Trump finds herself in a very different position than the one Michelle Obama held during her time in the White House, when designers the world over were clamoring to dress her. It's a given that every style decision the new FLOTUS makes will be analyzed ad nauseam during her husband’s term, but—as of now—the fashion world doesn't appear quite ready to embrace her the way they did Michelle.
Related stories:
First Lady Melania Trump Co-Designed Her Inaugural Ball Gown
27 Inauguration Fashion Moments—From Mamie to Melania
Hillary Clinton's White Inauguration Pantsuit Is Just the Symbol Women Need Today
