Adam Lippes was "honoured" to dress Melania Trump for Donald Trump's inauguration.
The First Lady stepped out in a tailored navy wool coat and pencil skirt and ivory silk crepe blouse by the designer, accessorised by an Eric Javitz flat-brimmed hat, to see her husband sworn in as president for the second time on Monday (20.01.25) and the New York-based designer "took great pride" on showing off the work of his team.
He said in a statement: "The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy, and today we had the honour to dress our first lady, Mrs. Melania Trump.
"Mrs. Trump's outfit was created by some of America's finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world."
Meanwhile, milliner Eric said he was "greatly honoured and very moved" by the "entire experience" of creating Melania's hat.
He told ABC News: "When I was creating the hat in my hands, it was a simple hat. It was understated, it was classic.
"When I saw it on her head, it really transformed. The experience became very powerful. Because everything worked together. And of course, you know that speaks to her grace and her presence, so it was very, very strong.
"The visual impact is very strong of seeing her. And of course, I just feel very grateful to have been enlisted to create that for her."
Eric thinks the hat reflected the messages Melania is keen to send as First Lady.
He said: "It's a time of some restraint, and it's really sort of a turning point to more conservative values, I think. And I think she was thinking of protocol and looking very elegant and very simple in a way ... it still was a very powerful visual message."
When her husband was sworn in in 2017, the 54-year-old former model opted for a powder blue Ralph Lauren suit.
She subsequently favoured luxury European fashion houses during public engagements but her choice of Adam suggests Melania could be keen to support US labels and independent brands during her current stint as First Lady.
