When Donald Trump took the oath of office back in 2017, the world wasn't just watching the politics. They were staring at the clothes. Honestly, the fashion during that weekend was like a high-stakes chess match where every seam and sequin carried a message. While Melania went for that now-iconic powder blue Ralph Lauren, it was the Ivanka Trump inauguration gown that really got people talking—especially because she didn't just have one look; she had a whole strategy.
Fast forward to the more recent 2025 inauguration, and she did it again. But this time, it was even more theatrical.
The Sparkling 2017 Carolina Herrera Moment
Let's go back to the beginning. For the 2017 Liberty and Freedom balls, Ivanka stepped out in a champagne-colored gown that was basically a walking diamond. Designed by Carolina Herrera, the dress featured long, sheer sleeves and a deep V-neck, all covered in heavy crystal embellishments.
It was sparkly. Like, really sparkly.
Herrera is a legend in D.C. fashion. She’s dressed everyone from Jackie O to Michelle Obama. By choosing her, Ivanka was playing it safe but elegant. She wanted to look like the "First Daughter" of a new American dynasty. The gown was classic, feminine, and undeniably expensive. It signaled a sort of "Disney princess meets West Wing" vibe that defined her early years in Washington.
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But here is the thing: it wasn't just about the ball. Earlier that day, she wore a white Oscar de la Renta coat-and-trousers combo. It was sharp. Asymmetrical. It felt like "business Ivanka" was ready to take a seat at the table.
That Bizarre 2025 Audrey Hepburn Tribute
Now, if you want to talk about drama, we have to look at the 2025 inauguration. This is where things got kinda weird and very high-fashion.
Instead of going for a new American designer, Ivanka wore a custom Givenchy Haute Couture gown. This wasn't just any dress. It was a literal recreation of the iconic black-and-white gown Audrey Hepburn wore in the 1954 film Sabrina.
- The Look: A white organza skirt with black floral embroidery and a massive detachable train.
- The Vibe: Old Hollywood glamour, but with a political edge.
- The Controversy: Some people loved the homage; others felt it was "cosplay" in a setting that required its own identity.
The Arnault family—the power players behind LVMH (which owns Givenchy)—were actually at the inauguration. Bernard Arnault and his daughter Delphine were spotted just rows away from the podium. Ivanka even took to social media to thank the "Givenchy atelier" for the masterpiece. It was a very specific flex of global fashion connections.
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Why the Fashion Choices Actually Matter
You might think, "It’s just a dress, who cares?" But in the world of the Trumps, clothing is communication.
The Ivanka Trump inauguration gown choices over the years show a shift. In 2017, she was the supportive daughter in American-made (or at least American-designed) Herrera. It was about being part of the "Great America" brand.
By 2025, she was channelling Sabrina. In the movie, Sabrina goes to Paris and comes back transformed, sophisticated, and untouchable. For Ivanka, wearing a French couture recreation of that specific dress felt like a statement of her own evolution. She wasn’t just the "First Daughter" anymore; she was an international figure with the backing of the world's most powerful luxury conglomerate.
Real Talk: The "Handmaid’s Tale" Comparison
We can't ignore the internet's reaction to her daytime look in 2025. She wore a forest green Dior skirt suit with a matching fascinator. Almost immediately, social media went wild comparing her to Serena Joy from The Handmaid’s Tale.
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It’s a bit of a reach, honestly. But it shows how much people read into these colors. Green is usually seen as a color of growth or stability, but in the context of 2026's hyper-polarized world, even a Dior suit becomes a Rorschach test for your political leanings.
The Technical Side of the Gown
The 2017 Herrera gown was a feat of tailoring. It wasn't just "off the rack." The sheer sleeves were reinforced with a specific type of nude tulle to ensure they didn't sag under the weight of the crystals.
The 2025 Givenchy recreation was even more complex.
- Fabric: Pure white silk organza (the original 1954 version has actually yellowed over time in archives).
- Embroidery: Black silk thread work that had to be scaled to Ivanka's height, as Audrey Hepburn was famously much smaller and had different proportions.
- The Train: A detachable piece that allowed her to dance to "Unchained Melody" with Jared Kushner without tripping over ten feet of fabric.
Making Sense of the Style Legacy
If you're looking to capture some of that "inauguration elegance" without a Givenchy budget, the takeaway is all about the silhouette. Ivanka almost always sticks to:
- Defined waists: She rarely wears shift dresses or boxy cuts.
- Monochrome palettes: She usually sticks to one color from head to toe (or a very simple black-and-white contrast).
- Structured shoulders: This adds a "power" element to even the most feminine gowns.
The Ivanka Trump inauguration gown isn't just a piece of fabric; it's a look at how the family views their place in the world. From the sparkling optimism of 2017 to the curated, cinematic nostalgia of 2025, the clothes tell a story of someone who knows exactly how to use a camera lens.
If you are planning a high-profile event and want to emulate this level of "power dressing," start by focusing on a single, bold designer statement rather than over-accessorizing. Keep the jewelry minimal—maybe just some diamond drops—and let the tailoring do the heavy lifting. That is the real secret to the Trump aesthetic: it’s never about being subtle; it’s about being memorable.