Melania Trump stepped out for the first inaugural ball in a white, modern-looking, off-the-shoulder column gown with a sculptural organza ruffle and red belt designed by Herve Pierre.
An under-the-radar fashion-industry vet, Pierre was executive creative director at Carolina Herrera before leaving in 2016. He’s also worked at Bill Blass, Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta.
The first lady worked with Pierre to create the custom look, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Pierre has been working with Melania for years, according to a source close to the designer, and has also been styling her looks by other designers.
Trump may have been nodding to Michelle Obama with the eveningwear choice. The former first lady wore an off-the-shoulder white Jason Wu gown to the inaugural balls in 2009, and the exposure helped launch the young designer’s career. Although Pierre doesn’t have his own namesake line currently, one imagines that after this placement, he will be ready to launch one soon.
Trump has been keeping her looks monochromatic during the jam-packed weekend. On Thursday, she arrived in D.C. sporting a black, military-inspired coat and a dress by New York-based up-and-comer Norisol Ferrari, which she traded in that night for a shimmery, buff-colored long-sleeved evening gown by Lebanese-American designer Reem Acra, an established label known for bridalwear. And on Friday morning, the new FLOTUS stepped out in a sky blue ensemble by icon Ralph Lauren, complete with gloves and matching Manolo Blahnik stilettos.
The sum total of her inaugural fashion diplomacy? One for a Seventh Avenue titan (Lauren), one for a bridalwear stalwart (Acra), two for names not-yet-known (Ferrari, Pierre) — all American.
