Beauty

Even about Melania's outfit

And why she chose this special designer

By

What a circus it was yesterday. From Zuckerberg's peeking in Mrs. Bezos's bra to the band that didn't start when Carrie Underwood Beautiful America wanted to sing and – after two minutes of waiting – did it a capella, to that dreadful arm salute from Elon Musk to the new variant of the air kiss that Donald gave to Melania Trump. It was something. And before we wait with hope and fear for what we are heading towards, I'll just stick to my pet topic: fashion. Because Melania (and Ivanka too) looked above average good again.

Okay, the hat could have been placed a bit higher, but maybe Melania couldn't fully bear the circus that was unfolding before her and this was pure self-protection. The ensemble didn't feel particularly festive either, but I found it lovely. The designer of the day was Adam Lippes. A progressive American designer, born in New York and trained by Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta.

It makes sense to choose a designer from your own country on a day like this and to let your friends from Paris, Dior and Chanel, hang in your closet for a while. That Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton (by the way, did you know she hasn't driven a car in 30 years?), Jill Biden and Michelle Obama had already chosen this Adam earlier, didn't bother Melania.

Adam Lippes – funny by the way, he was born exactly one day after me, as I found out while researching – is known for his architectural approach to clothing. Think of many clean lines, a clear cut, graphic effects. He also tries to produce as sustainably as possible. All of this does not lead to a low price tag. Don't expect anything under 2000 euros. But that doesn't bother Melania, who is estimated to have a fortune of 70 million dollars, not to mention Donald, at all. That it was a stylish statement jacket, with a light skirt and blouse underneath, I can only endorse.

Her evening dress was made by Hervé Pierre, who also made her first inauguration ball gown in 2017. I thought it was beautiful, really, but the choker made it just a bit less timelessly elegant. Jackie Kennedy would certainly have left that at home.