Melania Trump Returns to the Global Stage at the RNC in Red Dior Suit
Former first lady Melania Trump showed her true colors Thursday night at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee,
The outing was her first public appearance following Saturday’s assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump’s life, as well as her first worldwide photo-op in months. The former model turned out for the occasion, wearing a red modern version of the Christian Dior “Bar” suit.
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The designer ensemble is a repeat for Trump, who first wore it for a 2017 official visit with the former president to Paris to meet French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte. Her stylist Herve Pierre, said Thursday, “It’s nothing new – it’s just a repeat. But she loves that suit. She has beautiful clothes so she can repeat [looks.]”
To that point, the former FLOTUS also dipped into her closet earlier this month, choosing a red Valentino dress for the July 8 GOP fundraiser that she hosted in her Trump Tower penthouse. She had first donned that designer style in April 2017 for another global photo-op – to meet President Xi Jinping of China, and his wife Peng Liyuan at Mar-a-Lago.
For the RNC, Trump completed her look with red Christian Louboutin croc-effect stilettos. After shopping around for an appropriate look for the RNC, Pierre couldn’t find anything suitable. He and Trump delved into her closet and agreed that the Dior suit would be a good idea, he said. “The fit was perfect and that was it. We know each other quite well so it’s not a big deal. And we’re not going to spend three hours [choosing something],” Pierre said. “I usually give her two or three options. It’s very casual.”
While her husband was said to have rewritten his RNC speech after the July 8 shooting in Butler, Pa., his wife did not change her wardrobe plans. As for whether the choice of Dior is meant to be a signal of support for France, which like the U.S. is dealing with political upheaval, Pierre said, “No, but the way that people perceive things is out of my reach. We picked that suit two months ago. That was before the [legislative] election in France.”
Asked how Melania Trump is dealing after last weekend, Pierre said, “That was very disturbing for everyone, regardless of which side of politics [one stands on.]” The former FLOTUS posted a message on the social platform “X” Sunday calling for unity among Americans. Noting how heads of state and other key figures including First Lady Jill Biden had reached out to her, Pierre said, “That was very elegant of her.”
During his 92-minute acceptance speech – a record for length – the former president paid tribute to his wife and her message of unity, describing it as “a letter to America.” Seated beside his running mate J.D. Vance, she rose briefly and waved to the crowd. Trump’s five children Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany and Baron, were also on hand, as well as his 10 grandchildren. Thursday’s crowd in the arena included the UFC’s Dana White, Hulk Hogan, and the musician Kid Rock among other special guests. The former president detailed the recent attempt on his life, reiterated the need for unity and then repeatedly criticized “the current administration” for such issues as the economy, immigration and energy.
En route to Milwaukee with her stepdaughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, Trump boarded her husband’s private plane “Trump Force One” in Newark, N.J., wearing a white Gucci skirt and a black crewneck sweater that Pierre designed, when he had a signature collection several years ago. The French-born creative became a U.S. citizen in 2016. He also designed her ivory-colored off-the-shoulder gown for the 2017 inauguration night.
Pierre had no reservations about the repeat outfit for the RNC, which was an updated take on the “Bar suit” that the esteemed French designer created in 1947. “When you have a ‘Bar’ suit from Dior, you have it forever,” he said.
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