Can Fashion Be Political? Ask Melania Trump.

Did You Notice Fashion’s Political and Symbolic Statements During the Inauguration?

In this tumultuous political climate it seems that there is at least one thing, however seemingly trivial to some, in which we can all agree. And it relates to fashion.

Today’s inauguration left me feeling more hopeful than I had expected. I find it quite remarkable that we had a peaceful transition of power despite a rather divisive campaign season. As I turned on my laptop, to my surprise, trending on all social media platforms was a dress. Not negativity about riots. Not memes of Trump’s hair. Not even the inauguration itself, but a dress.

melania-trump-inauguration

And not just any dress. A sky blue elegantly designed and perfectly executed dress created by an American designer with an iconic, all-American image, to be exact. Trending higher than the smashed windows in Downtown DC, higher than all the political noise and chatter, there it was: the dress. The dress that, for a few brief seconds in time, had us – perhaps unknowingly – reaching across political lines in agreement.

To me, this simple symbol of unity is a promise of hope of an eventual better tomorrow. As a country we have to heal somehow – and we have to start somewhere. Our thoughts on policy may be vastly different but today, in a small yet meaningful way, we agreed on something.

Vogue summed it up best: “Today is a historic moment in American history and one major player in marking the occasion is First Lady Melania Trump. The first immigrant to serve as First Lady since Louisa Adams (wife of John Quincy Adams), Trump showed her American pride at the inauguration ceremony in a custom ensemble from Ralph Lauren Collection.” (vogue.com)

According to Vogue, Hillary Clinton was supposedly wearing the designer as well – a “message of unity and togetherness” was symbolically sent by Melania to Hillary. Melania used fashion to make a political statement; to extend an olive branch of sorts. And seemingly, Clinton embraced the symbolism in her Ralph Lauren ensemble.

Perhaps we aren’t so different, after all.

Vogue continues and describes Melania’s dress as being powder blue, with matching gloves and stiletto shoes; recalling “the elegance of Jacqueline Kennedy at the innaguration of John F Kennedy in 1961.” Additionally, according to the magazine, the shape of the suit was “certainly a nod to 60’s sophistication: The cocoon-like jacket with 3/4 sleeves and the to-the-knee hemline, paid tribute to Oleg Cassini, a Kennedy favorite.”

I think starting today, we works towards moving forward together as one great nation instead of two divided parties. It may take time to heal, but our country has come back from worse, like a phoenix rising from ashes.

Today I feel hopeful for a better tomorrow. For all of us. May God bless this country in which we live.

UPDATE: Ralph Lauren’s stock has soared since January 20th (the date of the inauguration)

On a complete side note: Do you think Tom Ford has foot-in-mouth disease? Let me know in the blog comment section below (scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page).

Images: AP Images, Getty Images, Reuters

Referene:

Vogue.com :  Melania Trump Wears Ralph Lauren for Inauguration Day