Now for the inaugural fashion post
[Scroll down for UPDATES on the ball gowns.]
One of the things I’m looking forward to in a Trump presidency is seeing Melania’s fashions. Now, there’s a woman who can wear anything, and who usually looks incredibly good. We’ve certainly never had a First Lady whose previous calling was “model.”
Toay I am gratified to see that not only is Melania looking spectacularly lovely and tall in a blue columnar coat (or maybe coat-dress) with a high collar, but she’s looking retro with matching blue gloves. Extremely elegant, and you’d almost have to be a model to pull off something that form-fitting in a coat. It also strikes me that here she resembles Sophia Loren:
Let me add that I have a coat with such a collar. It’s one of my favorites. But it doesn’t hug the body so much. And one of the most wonderful things about Melania’s outfit is that the three-quarter-length sleeves show off the gloves with great flair, which are long enough to make an unbroken line of color with the sleeves.
Hillary Clinton gets props from me for being there. She looks vaguely Nehru-esque in a white pantsuit with a long coat:
Michelle completed the red-white-and-blue triumvirate with a long mid-calf-length dark red (nearly wine-colored) coat with a huge collar. It’s a hard look to pull off, and I think the length of the outfit and her severe hairdo work somewhat against complete success here, although her height helps. It was easy to find many photos of her dress minus the coat, but hard to find one of the coat itself:
Here’s Laura Bush (blue + white; classic style) and husband. Remember him?
Kellyanne Conway appeared to be in drum majorette costume, a very bold and cheeky choice. What can you say? It’s different:
And Ivanka also sported a white pantsuit, a much more fitted one. White is not an easy color to wear, in my opinion, but she’s another ex-model so whatever she wears looks good:
The men? Red tie, blue tie.
UPDATE:
Apparently, Melania wasn’t wearing a coat over her blue dress today. It was actually a short jacket.
And since Trump and his wife just made their first appearance at one of the inaugural balls, I’ll comment on Melania’s inaugural gown. It’s a bit disappointing to me—white again! Off the shoulder, an odd ruffle in the front, a tiny red belt, and one of those Angela Jolie-esque thigh-slits, although a more demure one. Melania is incapable of looking bad, though; she just has a lot to live up to, after this afternoon. I don’t think this one hit it out of the park, because it de-emphasizes her beautiful carriage and makes her look as though she’s slumping a tiny bit:
Mrs. Pence also has on an off-the-shoulder number, a royal blue one. Just about all the female Trump children and in-laws sport a lot of bling. And I would imagine that, unless you’re a professional ballroom dancer, it’s pretty nervous-making to have to dance with your spouse in front of all the world.
To my way of thinking, it’s Ivanka who really shone. Literally. Her dress isn’t the kind of thing I ordinarily like. Very sparkly, very princessish. But the word that comes to me is “magical”:
Hillary: The virgin bride in white; jilted again.
All the women discussed were well-dressed with the possible exception of Ms. Conway, but I do think she was making a statement, so I cut her some slack, and since she is also attractive physically, she can pull off the majorette suit.
Of the women, though, Ivanka was the most stylish, even though it was a pantsuit.
Wasn’t Pat Nixon a model? (And Nancy Davis was a Hollywood actress, a similar calling.)
Conrad:
I can’t find a thing about Pat Nixon having been a model. So I really don’t think so.
She did have that “respectable Republican cloth coat,” though.
There’s also Jacqueline Kennedy, who would rank highly among First Ladies for style and fashion. Prior to her marriage to JFK in 1953, she was well-known as a debutante, in a sense being like Ivanka Trump with her family’s wealth and social connections.
Very impressed with Mellania’s fashion sense. Ivanka would look good in the proverbial burlap bag. Sans coat, Michelle’s dress reminded me of something a servant would wear. Intentional? If not, what irony…
As for the men, the problem is that it’s either everyday business attire or a Tux… In this case and IMO, neither was appropriate. In those pictures, only the Marines were dressed appropriately.
Melania stole the show. Gorgeous.
I’m not happy at all with Michelle’s dress. She made it look very “frumpy”. But seeing it with the jacket, which I hadn’t see before, makes all the difference. She shouldn’t have taken the jacket off at all as it make her look very classy.
David:
I think the problem with Michelle’s dress is that the neckline was very plain, and the lack of a necklace or any sort of jewelry, even a pin, made it seem very drab. The jacket was a coat, by the way, about as long as the dress itself, which is a hard length to wear.
What I know about fashion could only be measured with negative numbers, but I liked Kellyanne Conway’s outfit.
She’s a political consultant, campaign manager, and Presidential advisor, so why not have some fun with upbeat patriotic clothes? Politics with a sense of humor is a nice change.
P.S. For the last couple of days, I haven’t been able to see any comments until after six or eight hours, or so, after Neo’s post. During previous episodes of the disorder, comments have immediately appeared, for me, after I’ve added a comment. I guess I’ll see soon enough.
Cornflour:
Am I correct in recalling that you had the viewing-comments problem long ago, even before the big problem that almost everyone had here recently? Most people are reporting everything’s okay now.
Does it happen to you even if you refresh and clear your cache?
I’d like to fix it for everyone, but I’m not sure how.
I couldn’t see comments yesterday until I logged on and commented that I couldn’t see the comments 🙂 I haven’t cleared out my browser history and cookies so still able to see comments now today.
Neo:
Yes, I’ve had the comments-display problem infrequently for a few(?) years. The last episode struck me later than it did most people, but the problem disappeared at the same time as it did for others.
The problem has never been affected by anything I can do with my browsers or computers.
And, obviously, as usual, after I add a comment, I can see all the other comments.
If no one else has this problem, I’m mystified. If no one else notices the problem, or if no one else reports it, I’m not surprised. If it really is only my problem, then I’ll shut up about it.
Wasn’t Pat Nixon a model?
Maybe the idea that Pat Nixon was a model is because she worked as a movie extra during college and also because she acted in amateur theatrics. I got that information in a condescending, nasty 1970 profile of her in the NY Times, which, if anything, may actually be worse than what is often written about Republicans today.
Cornflour:
I think one other person had the problem temporarily before the others got it all at once.
Now I don’t think anyone but you is reporting the problem, except for one other commenter.
It’s awfully odd. I don’t get it. I wish I knew how to solve it, though.
I love the clothes the ladies are wearing today. So disappointed that some of the major fashion bloggers are ignoring/refusing to cover Melania and Ivanka. One claimed it was because Trumpsters would swarm the combox if they gave unfavorable reviews. I think it’s the opposite, if they give a favorable review, the leftists will swarm.
Sad day when fashion bloggers won’t review an actual former model turned First Lady.
I was really taken with Melania’s dress. A gorgeous color and a really great design. And as you say she wears it well. I guess that is one thing to look forward to, all the nice clothes; that had not actually occurred to me until today!
neo,
I have a feeling the Trump women are going to give you a plethora of fashion to critique.
I don’t know much about fashion but I can read faces a bit. Melania’s Marine escort was having the hardest time to keep from smiling. When she needs an escort in the future will the Marines arm wrestle for the privilege?
The First Lady wins for me. I look forward to future fashion installments!
And Neo, I’m glad you’re okay (w/r/t the pseudo-silence thing from the computers).
Sarah Rolph:
Call me shallow, but it’s something that first occurred to me the day after the election.
I wrote about it on November 9, in a “miscellaneous musings” post:
I have not cared for the Clintons since the beginning, but I give them props for showing up today, and IMO, looking rested and relaxed.
Melania’s outfit was stunning. Simple, classic lines, and the color was quite beautiful. It will undoubtedly be preserved for display in the Presidential library.
Kelly Ann Conway looks good in whatever she wears. Trump gave her such a compliment last night at the dinner. Words to the effect that when his men were loathe/afraid to go talk to the TV shows that Kelly never refuses to go into those lions’ dens. And she always does a good job representing his views. Smart and courageous as well as attractive.
A good start on the next four years.
J.J.:
The color of the coat was not only beautiful, as you point out, but it’s a color you don’t see worn that much as well as a somewhat retro (early to mid 60s) color. I had a spring coat (wool) exactly that color that I loved. It didn’t go with everything, but it was very special.
The thing I noticed was the Republican First Ladies holding onto the arm of their escort.
In contrast, you had Bill holding onto Hillary’s arm and the Obama’s walking separately.
Glad to see W and Laura looking good. I’ve always thought that Laura had an understated look that said class.
Yes the day really belonged to Ralph Lauren. Holy Smokes Melania looked AMAZING in that beautiful beautiful outfit! Mr. Lauren, a master designer at the top of his game really put all others to shame I think. It is a wonderful triumph especially after all of that nastiness from hip designers saying they would refuse to dress Melania Trump. Well GOOD! Cause we got Mr. Lauren now and he was just spectacular in how he pulled it off for the occasion. Young designers, I hope you took note! What a pro!!!! And he had before seemed just so “yesterday”. It proves that experience really does trump so to speak, the hot new young thing. Bravo Melania and Mr. Lauren! Perfection!!!!! AND quite daring in a way. It was certainly not Same-O Same-o. They could have played it safe. Slam Dunk!!!!
From the photos I saw I thought Melania’s gloves were white. Interesting to know they are blue.
We’ve just had a huge upgrade in the first lady looks department. Plus, Melania doesn’t walk like a truck driver.
I never saw MO as remotely beautiful or even moderately good looking. IMO she looks like a high school quarter back in a dress. Thus I must be a mysogynistic racist. There are millions of beautiful black women, MO does not fit into that category.
Who are you going to believe, the MSM telling you Michelle is glamorous or your lying eyes? Either they have a vision problem or they deliberately lied time and again because they were Obama boosters. Odds are Michelle is the worst looking first lady ever.
Mr. Frank:
What are you smoking?
I think you’re letting your dislike of Michelle Obama cloud your eyes.
Now, she’s not a great beauty. But most first ladies aren’t. And she’s not a model. Sometimes she makes bad fashion choices. But she usually looks quite good, I think. I’ve written many posts about dresses of hers that I like, too.
“Now. she’s not a great beauty, but…”
For 8 long years we have been told by the msm about her beautiful attributes. Give me a @$&*ing break. She looks like a freshman JV quarterback in a dress. Lipstick on a pig.
Wow, Ivanka in that sparkly dress was stunning.
My take on all the Trump clothes: class seems to be replacing cool. I think it’s good to have role models for the young showing what adults look like rather than having what should be adults trying to prove they are as cool as teens. I hope this will filter through to other areas such as musical preferences.
I also like the opportunities for showing some examples of families and motherhood. And it is great to have a boy in the WH. Barron semed to be having fun at the parade.
Finally, all the clothes were good, but I’m with Yancy on Ivanka’s gown.
I’m sorry… it was Betty Ford, not Pat Nixon, who worked as a model in her early days.
There was some brouhaha on fringe sites when Michelle Obama wore a weird black dress with a red hourglass pattern, giving the effect of a black widow spider, at the celebration after Obama won in 2008.
http://www.hillarynme.com/2009/01/05/michelles-red-black-dress-a-tribute-to-obamas-father-malcolm-x/
It was a peculiar tableaux with the whole family dressed in red and black — the colors of anarchism.
Some conspiracy-minded writers thought it foreshadowed Obama’s assassination, as in black … widow. Thankfully that didn’t happen.
Anyway it seemed an odd fashion choice.
Ivanka’s Carolina Herrera gown was fantastic, and wonderfully well-constructed.
True couture at its best
Michelle’s lantern jaw and macho walk are unrelated to her wardrobe.
Anyone else notice Laura Bush’s demeanor in that picture? She radiates a secure contentment. A ‘grounded’ certainty about her life and place in the world. I’ve no doubt as to George Bush’s devotion to her and hers to him. A good, solid marriage. I have the same impression of Barbara & George Bush Sr. and of course, the Reagans as well. Contrast that with the Clintons and Obamas… I suspect the left’s politics of dissatisfaction and feminist ‘expectations’ have a lot to do with it…
Ivanka’s hands are awesome. A real princess: nothing else so clearly demonstrates aristocratic pedigree as the shape of woman hands.
The things of this world are as dust in the world. Cursed is a people that worships appearance as substance, and talk as deeds.