President-Elect Donald Trump is, shall we say, controversial. After a campaign fueled by anti-immigrant/women/minority rhetoric, the business mogul and his family are facing a sizable backlash, with many people putting their money where their mouth is and boycotting both his businesses and the fashion empire built by eldest daughter Ivanka Trump. The latest member of the Trump family to receive a cold shoulder from the fashion industry is future First Lady Melania Trump.
During the campaign, Melania has been largely silent—in contrast to the insanely vocal role Michelle Obama has played in the current administration, so far we haven’t seen the former model do much more than wear pretty dresses and statement-making jumpsuits. But if the recent statement by designer Sophie Theallet—who is responsible for some of Michelle Obama’s best looks—is any indication, even that might be difficult to do. This week, Theallet released a statement saying that she will not dress the future First Lady. And she’s calling on other designers to do the same.
First Lady Michelle Obama wearing a dress by Sophie Theallet in 2009.
Getty Images
“As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next First Lady. The rhetoric of racism, sexism and xenophobia unleashed by her husband’s presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by.” she wrote in her statement via email. “I encourage my fellow designers to do the same.”
Her stand poses an important quandary to the American design community. Up until now, no one has really been dressing the future First Lady—for the most part, she’s been sticking to European labels and the occasional off-the-rack Ralph Lauren on the campaign trail. Considering the sizable influence Michelle Obama had on the fashion industry here at home—including her role in helping to catapult designers like Christian Siriano, Jason Wu, Thakoon, and Prabal Gurung to superstardom—a refusal from the fashion world to associate with a First Lady of the United States would mean not only a major break with tradition, but also an end to so many of the White House fashion moments we’ve come to love.
RELATED
- Get to Know Roksanda Illincic, the Designer Behind Melania Trump’s RNC Dress
- Michelle Obama Wows in White on Her Third Vogue Cover
- All of Michelle Obama’s White House State Dinner Gowns
Sophie Theallet
Getty Images
For our part, we’re totally behind Theallet’s call to action. “I am well aware it is not wise to get involved in politics,” she said in her statement. “That said, as a family-owned company, our bottom line is not just about money. We value our artistic freedom and always humbly seek to contribute to a more humane, conscious and ethical way to create in this world.” On that note, we could not agree more. The fashion industry’s responsibility extends beyond setting style rules. More than designing dresses that will be photographed, we have a responsibility to support the diversity that the industry is built upon and strengthened by. As designers make their decisions about the message their clothing sends, one thing is for sure: we’re about to see a very different relationship with FLOTUS.
Michelle Obama’s style evolution—8 years in 120 seconds:
0 Response to "Michelle Obama's Go-to Designer Is Refusing to Dress Melania Trump"
Post a Comment