I truely believe that instead of drawing conclusions from Ivanka Trump’s inauguration look to Wives in Gilead, we need to be comparing her looks to that of royalty.
Ivanka dresses intentionally and loudly. Her desire to be seen as an icon is easy for a layman to pick up with her historical recreations.
But in highlighting the obvious narrative, we’re forgetting soft messaging, which is inherent to what Royal Watchers call fashion diplomacy. With these recallable looks for the big, news worthy, events it’s easy to look past the Trump family’s subtle return to tradition; and more scarily, their desire for permanence.
The Trump women’s descent into traditional fashion using statement gloves and hats is visual propositioning. When women’s hands are fashion, to be covered, where else does fabric go?
Melania’s gloves in 2016 were a choice, most clearly represented when standing beside the First Lady of the previous administration. In wearing gloves to the 2016 election, Melania became the first First Lady to do so since the election of Richard Nixon.
Don’t believe me? Look at the historical record, all women since Patricia in that red coat have removed their gloves before holding the bible for the president to swear his oath.
In 2025, what do we see? Gloves. Gloves that match and hats too.
While the gloves were off indoors, the hats remained on. Before you “mehmehHatHairmeh,” I want you to ask yourself, have you ever seen a representative of your country wearing a decorative hat?
I’m not talking about religious or cultural garb; I’m talking about decadence. Visual representations of wealth disparity and class divide.
No First Lady since Nancy Reagan (ring an alarm yet?) and before her, you guessed it, Pat Nixon has worn a hat or fascinator to the Inauguration of their husband.
I want you to think about that. And I mean really sit in it, because this is not the America that I was born into.
It is not the America that most of our parents were raised in.
This is not an American silhouette.
Is this not a visual representation of our money bagging past?
The one that our brothers and sisters fought, bled, and died to be rid of?
The one that JFK said goodbye to?
And the class disparity, which still reigns over the British Empire Commonwealth?
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