Melania Trump presents 2025 inaugural gown to Smithsonian first ladies' collection

Her husband has described it as “OUT OF CONTROL”, a place where “everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been”. But Melania Trump declared a temporary ceasefire with the Smithsonian Institution when she presented her 2025 inaugural gown at the National Museum of American History.

The dress joined Mary Lincoln’s purple velvet ensemble, Jacqueline Kennedy’s state dinner dress and Michelle Obama’s inaugural gown in the first ladies’ collection. Melania wore the off-white silk crepe gown, trimmed with two bands of black silk gazar, to the inaugural balls in January 2025.

It was paired with a 1955 diamond brooch by Harry Winston, worn on a black ribbon choker; a reproduction of the brooch is now displayed at the museum. She noted that she “relish[es] the entire design process” and referenced the documentary Melania, which features the gown’s preparation with designer Hervé Pierre.

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