In a heartwarming video, First Lady Melania Trump gave an inspirational speech as she gave her famous inaugural dress to the Smithsonian. In her comments, she offered inspiration to young women and participated in a centuries-old tradition.
First Lady Melania Trump presented her 2017 inaugural gown, a vanilla silk crepe off-the-shoulder design with slit skirt, ruffled trim, and claret ribbon by Hervé Pierre, to the Smithsonian’s First Ladies Collection on October 20, 2017. It joins the “The First Ladies” exhibition, continuing a century-old tradition started by Helen Taft.
In a statement on the gift, the elegant first lady stated, “We must take pride, not only in the small rituals of self-care, but in the courageous act of self-expression, our outward appearance to the world, the art of presenting oneself can be cultivated over a lifetime.”
Building on this point, Melania added, “Yet even the young girl who can take care of herself from the inside out with precision every morning, leaves for school with a more confident step and a steady gaze, confident to claim her place in the world.”
Concluding her comments, First Lady Trump gave a visionary statement about using her life and dress to help try and spark creative visions in Americans, saying: “This spark pays dividends and stays with her for a lifetime. I’m honored to have our creative vision on display here once again, within the walls of this institution, indefinitely.”
Offering more context, the First Lady made a gracious speech explaining her thoughts. “It is an honor and a privilege to dedicate my inaugural gown to such an iconic exhibit at the National Museum of American History,” she said.
Speaking about the dress, Melnia said, “This dress speaks with a distinct point of view – a modern silhouette, bold and dignified, and ruthlessly chic … The human condition is captured within every stitch – the idea to endure and rise above mediocrity – to reach the highest level – America’s destiny.”
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“This black-and-white masterpiece showcases America’s pure spirit of originality, superior engineering and boundless creativity. It’s a testament as to why America’s fashion industry can lead the rest of the world,” she concluded.
Watch Melania speak to the Smithsonian about her dress here:
“This black-and-white masterpiece showcases America’s pure spirit of originality, superior engineering and boundless creativity. It’s a testament as to why America’s fashion industry can lead the rest of the world,” she concluded.
Reacting to the generous gift, John Gray, thedirector of the museum, stated, “Today Melania Trump is taking part in a more than century-old tradition,” adding, “The first inaugural gown donated to the Smithsonian was by Helen Taft, and more than 100 years later we are proud to have Melania Trump donate to this extraordinary collection.”
Adding context, a statement from the Smithsonian noted, “Mrs. Trump’s dress is a vanilla silk crepe off-the-shoulder gown with a slit skirt, ruffled accent trim from neckline to hem, and a claret ribbon around the waist designed by Hervé Pierre in collaboration with Mrs. Trump. Pierre is a French American fashion and costume designer.”
Explaining the significance of Melania, the document declared, “Only a few first ladies have become fashion icons, inspiring trends and promoting American designers, but all have had their wardrobes scrutinized by the American public, continuing the debate over what is “appropriate” for presidential style.”
Featured image from embedded video