Melania Trump’s 2025 inauguration look was almost derailed by a hat disaster. Designed by Florida milliner Eric Javits, the ivory-ribboned boater hat—a custom request from stylist Herve Pierre—arrived water-damaged days before the event. Javits scrambled to recreate it in four days, hand-sewing 92% of the seams himself. The replacement was rushed to Mar-a-Lago, where it completed Melania’s sleek navy coat ensemble by Adam Lippes.
The hat’s dramatic journey didn’t end there. On Inauguration Day, high winds threatened to sweep it away, forcing Melania to clutch it tightly. Later, it became an accidental punchline when Donald Trump quipped, “We nearly lost her to the hat!” Social media reactions ranged from admiration (“Elegant!”) to mockery (“Looks like The Mask!”).
Her official portrait, shot by longtime collaborator Régine Mahaux, further highlighted her fashion instincts. The monochrome image, featuring a structured black suit and polished waves, contrasted sharply with her softer 2017 portrait. Critics debated her “serious” expression, but the look undeniably cemented her as a figure of refined, if controversial, style.
