First Lady Melania Trump has once again turned to her trusted stylist, Herve Pierre, to design her gown for the 2025 Inaugural Night. Pierre, a designer in his own right, previously crafted the stunning gown she wore for the 2017 Inaugural Balls, marking the beginning of her husband Donald Trump’s first administration. This year, Pierre has again surprised fashion critics and enthusiasts with a strapless off-white silk crepe dress featuring two black silk gazar bands. As a standout accent, Melania Trump borrowed a diamond brooch created by Harry Winston in 1955, which she wore as a choker. The brooch’s design mirrors Pierre’s vision for the gown, symbolizing a ribbon encircling a bouquet of flowers, as seen in his initial sketch.
In a statement released on Monday, Pierre shared, “It is a big honor to have collaborated with the First Lady on the design for her inaugural dress. It was clear that Mrs. Trump was gravitating towards a combination of black and white – true to her own style and vision.”
Pierre’s design for Trump’s inaugural gown is part of an all-American fashion story for the First Lady. For the swearing-in ceremony, she selected two New York-based independent designers for her attire. Adam Lippes created her navy silk wool coat and pencil skirt, while Eric Javits designed the coordinating hat she wore.
While the day featured American designers, Trump’s wardrobe also included European labels such as Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, and Saint Laurent, with key figures from the luxury industry attending the ceremony.
Pierre, a French-born American citizen, was quick to note, “So you see we are all Americans,” including Trump, who became a U.S. citizen in 2006. For the gown’s creation, Pierre collaborated with a Chinese-American seamstress from a New York City atelier, emphasizing that “fashion is for the eye, and it is up to others to come up with their interpretations.”
Pierre’s achievement of designing Trump’s second inaugural gown places him among a select group of designers who have dressed the same First Lady for two inaugural events. Designers such as Jason Wu for Michelle Obama and James Galanos for Nancy Reagan have similarly had the honor.
In keeping with a tradition that First Ladies and their designers often follow, Pierre did not charge Trump for this year’s inaugural gown.
Reflecting on the design process, Pierre noted that working closely with someone allows for a deep understanding of their tastes and preferences. Despite the typical pre-inaugural nerves, he said, “Afterwards, it doesn’t belong to you, as long as you have been true to yourself.”
Pierre drew inspiration for the gown from the meticulous restoration of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris following the 2019 fire. He sought to incorporate similar craftsmanship in his design, even choosing Harry Winston’s domestic heritage as a focal point. Pierre stressed, “We need to promote American craftsmanship at the highest level.”
The gown’s success, Pierre hopes, will be immediately recognized. “I hope people will like it, but I never know,” he said. “But I must say that the first one was a success. I barely heard a negative comment about the first one.”
The first gown, a vanilla silk crepe off-the-shoulder creation with a slit skirt, ruffled trim, and claret ribbon around the waist, is housed at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The Smithsonian also has a notable connection to Harry Winston, who donated the Hope Diamond to the museum in 1958.
Pierre’s journey has evolved since his first collaboration with Melania Trump. Originally struggling to secure a job after stints at prestigious fashion houses, Pierre found a lasting professional partnership with Trump, which has continued into her second term.
Although some American designers have distanced themselves from dressing Trump, Pierre expressed his indifference to criticism, including an incident in which he was turned away from an American designer’s store in New York. Despite such experiences, Pierre remains resolute, stating, “So, some won’t dress her – ‘alors.’ It’s fine.”
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