Melania Trump made a statement in a wide-brimmed hat during Donald Trump’s inauguration, but the accessory almost didn’t make it to the event.
Eric Javits, the American designer who created the hat to pair with Melania’s navy silk wool Adam Lippes coat, told *WWD* that it “arrived all crushed” when shipped from his Miami office to New York.
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“It looked like it had been sitting in snow drifts for about a week,” he said, adding that he had to redo the hat as it couldn’t be repaired due to its construction.
Javits described the situation as “a little bit of a cliffhanger,” explaining that stylist Hervé Pierre hand-delivered the newly made hat to Melania to avoid further mishaps.
“No other hands touched, nor did any other eyes see the hat, prior to Hervé and the first lady receiving it,” Javits noted.
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Designer Adam Lippes expressed pride in the craftsmanship of Melania’s outfit, saying, “Mrs. Trump’s outfit was created by some of America’s finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world.”
Here’s how social media users reacted to her hat:
Is Melania Trump the most beautiful First Lady in the history of America? pic.twitter.com/lrhNgjvrbF
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) January 20, 2025
Why the hell does Melania Trump look like the Hamburgler? pic.twitter.com/FVXt80zGe8
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) January 20, 2025
Melania Trump serving Jackie Kennedy ahead of her husband’s presidential inauguration. pic.twitter.com/raZUfpVU4N
— Pop Flop (@ThePopFlop) January 20, 2025