--- title: Melania Trump Inauguration Gown Designer Speaks Out description: Find out what Hervé Pierre said about designing Melania Trump's inauguration night dress in a new interview with Harper's Bazaar. canonical: https://time.com/4650041/melania-trumps-inauguration-gown-designer-interview/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-01-26T14:02:49.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:44:52.254Z og:title: Melania Trump's Inauguration Gown Designer Speaks Out og:description: 'I’m not doing politics, I’m doing dresses' og:url: https://time.com/4650041/melania-trumps-inauguration-gown-designer-interview/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc9f90cd85b9fb60a/6988b7540a4a227d4d9ccb40/melania-trump-inauguration-ball-designer.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3632 og:image:height: 2043 og:image:alt: us-politics-INAUGURATION-FREEDOM BALL og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Melania Trump's Inauguration Gown Designer Speaks Out twitter:description: 'I’m not doing politics, I’m doing dresses' twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc9f90cd85b9fb60a/6988b7540a4a227d4d9ccb40/melania-trump-inauguration-ball-designer.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Melania Trump's Inauguration Gown Designer Speaks Out > Sponsored content. 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Worth Your Time is TIME's culture recommendation newsletter, edited by culture editor Eliza Berman. Each week it surfaces the books, shows, films and ideas TIME's editors think are worth your attention, and explains why. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Does TIME have a culture newsletter? Yes. Worth Your Time is TIME's culture newsletter, published weekly. #### Who writes TIME's culture recommendations? Culture editor Eliza Berman writes Worth Your Time, drawing on TIME's critics and culture desk. #### Is Worth Your Time free? Yes. It is a free newsletter available at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-worth-2026q3/newsletters?i=0fd9d341-4c8b-4956-a31c-2aab6a3dde6a&cr=time-nl-worth-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch President Trump's Inaugural Address [Watch (HLS stream): Watch President Trump's Inaugural Address](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/bL9xqRfb.m3u8) (3:46)  _Published 2017-01-20. Donald Trump delivered his first speech as President of the United States on Friday morning._ by [Jillian Ruffo / People](https://time.com/author/people/) ## Jillian Ruffo / People Contributor Jan 26, 2017 2:02 PM UTC  US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump take the stage at the Freedom Inaugural Ball, January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump take the stage at the Freedom Inaugural Ball, January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP / Robyn Beck (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) ROBYN BECK—AFP/Getty Images by [Jillian Ruffo / People](https://time.com/author/people/) ## Jillian Ruffo / People Contributor Jan 26, 2017 2:02 PM UTC Hervé Pierre, the designer behind [Melania Trump](http://people.com/politics/presidential-inauguration-obamas-welcome-trumps-white-house-tea-coffee-meeting/)‘s [inauguration night](http://people.com/politics/presidential-inauguration-obamas-welcome-trumps-white-house-tea-coffee-meeting/) dress, has opened up about his big moment on the national stage. The former Carolina Herrera creative director [spoke to _Harper’s Bazaar_](http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/news/a20197/melania-trump-dress-designer-herve-pierre-interview/) about the “honor” of creating the First Lady’s white off-the-shoulder gown for the Inaugural Ball, and exactly what went into designing the piece for her first night in the White House. “She knows fashion—she was a model and has worked in a design studio—so she knows about construction,” Pierre tells _Harper’s Bazaar,_ adding that she hired him to design the dress after initially contacting him to be her personal stylist. “When I brought her fabric swatches, she immediately picked the heaviest, most beautiful six-ply silk from Italy. She knows about fabrics. It was a very organic conversation because we have the same vocabulary.” When it came to choosing a style, Pierre says the former model knew exactly what she wanted: something different from the more classic looks past first ladies have worn. “She was very specific about the neckline, about all the lines being parallel,” he shares. “It was important for us not to follow any recipe for a ‘First Lady gown’. She’s presidential now; she’s not just a fashion plate.” But some adjustments definitely had to be made, especially when she realized she wouldn’t be able to move adequately in the dress. The designer shares that Melania told him at one point during the design process, “Hervé, I love you, but I cannot move my arm to hold my husband’s arm when we dance.” And though [many designers have been outspoken about whether they will (or won’t) dress the first lady](http://people.com/style/sophie-theallet-open-letter-melania-trump/) for her White House tenure, Pierre, whose 15 year stint as the creative director at Carolina Herrera ended last February, prefers to be diplomatic about it. “That’s the good thing about this country: we are all equal, but we are definitely not the same,” he says. “I’m not doing politics, I’m doing dresses. We are not suddenly brokering a big deal between China and Russia. If people don’t want to dress her, I think it’s sad, but I was honored. I don’t criticize these people—it’s their choice, and that’s the beauty of democracy.” So what can we expect from Mrs. Trump’s wardrobe throughout her husband’s time in the White House? You’re already looking at it. “Her next four years as First Lady are going to be, like this gown, straight to the point, perhaps with a single measured detail. I also didn’t want to refer to the past, to any period,” he says. _This_ [_article_](http://people.com/style/melania-trump-inauguration-gown-designer-pierre-herve-interview/) _originally appeared on_ [_People.com_](http://www.people.com) ## Transcript Every four years we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power. And we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the gracious aide throughout this transition. They have been magnificent, thank you. [ APPLAUSE ] Today's ceremony, however, has very special meaning, because today we are not merely transferring power From one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington DC and giving it back to you the people. [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished But the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. We've made other countries rich, while the wealth, strength and confidence of our country has dissipated over the horizon. But that is the past. And now, we are looking only to the future. [ APPLAUSE ] We assembled here today or issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it's going to be only America first. America first. We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism which we will eradicate complete from the face of the Earth [ APPLAUSE ] At the bedrock of our politics, we'll be a total allegiance to the United States of America and thru our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. Together, we will make America strong again. We will make America wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And yes Together we will make America great again. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America. [ APPLAUSE ] Thank you. God bless America. 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