By Kristine Pasqual, Feb. 4, 2025
Fashion has long been intertwined with politics, serving as a powerful tool for self-expression and branding. While dressing political figures offers designers the opportunity for publicity and exposure, many in the fashion industry have hesitated or refused to work with certain politicians due to ideological differences and potential backlash from the public.
Historically, designers have taken a stand by boycotting politicians whose values they oppose. During President Donald Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, multiple luxury designers, including Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford, publicly refused to dress his wife, Melania Trump, citing their disagreement with Trump’s policies.
While media outlets debated over Melania Trump’s hidden face under her wide brimmed hat, the 2025 Inauguration served as a clear test for designers, with Trump being reelected as the 47th president of the United States. Unlike Trump’s first term, designers weren’t as hesitant to dress the controversial family.
Despite her background as a model, many designers distanced themselves from the Trump family, wary of the political implications of associating their brands with his controversial presidency.
This trend of political resistance through fashion choices is not new. Designers understand their work can serve as a vehicle for a political statement. Despite the publicity and brand exposure that can come from dressing a prominent politician, oftentimes designers are hesitant to dress or work with those in the Republican Party.
Apparel Merchandising and Management Lecturer Alejandra Parise explained the intersection of fashion and politics can be a double-edged sword for designers.
“Nowadays it’s very polarizing,” Parise said. “Designers sometimes stray away from affiliating with a certain party. Hollywood and designers typically lean toward Democrats and liberals. They tend to stray away from anyone who has an ‘R’ next to their name because they’re afraid to be blacklisted from the industry.”
A designer’s willingness to work with a politician or related figures can spark tension with its political undertones, symbols or cultural implications, mainly being endorsed by association. Parise sees the inauguration as a huge platform for designers to gain publicity for their brand, especially if it’s one that is up and coming.
Political science Professor and Department Chair Mario Guerrero feels a designer working with a certain party is often a reflection of their beliefs or values.
“Dressing (politicians) is kind of like an overt endorsement in my opinion,” Guerrero said. “Politicians and celebrities choose specifically to work with designers that promote some sort of message. … They pick them specifically because of their backgrounds or experiences to make a statement.”
At Trump’s first inauguration, Melania Trump was dressed by Ralph Lauren. This sparked controversy on Twitter/X using the phrase #BoycottRalphLauren over the pale blue dress and matching jacket.
Furthermore, Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour denied Melania Trump the cover of Vogue, despite it being a tradition for the fashion magazine.
“I think it’s important for Vogue to support women who are leading change in this country,” Wintour said on “The Economist asks” podcast, insinuating Melania Trump lacked progressiveness.
For apparel merchandising and management student Lindsey Moran, a designer choosing to work with a certain party, speaks volumes about where their beliefs lie.
“I think it negatively impacts their brand because everyone pays attention to which designer works with which politician,” Moran said. “People end up assuming that the designer has the same values as the politician and unless they come forward and make a stance for themselves, we think that they support that particular party.”
Similarly, AMM student Lauryn Murrell feels when a designer works with a family like Trump’s, it becomes a reflection of their political beliefs and values. Murrell pointed out the founder of self-titled brand Hugo Boss was an active member of the Nazi Party. Before the brand’s focus was suits, Boss supplied military uniforms for the Nazi government.
“To dress people in Trump’s party is a political statement,” Murrell said. “It’s showing where the brand is politically and who runs it. In a way, it’s like they’re endorsing the politician because, as the designer, you’re endorsing time and passion to a certain person.”
The 2025 Inauguration proved to be a starting shift in direction for the fashion industry and its designers. Melania Trump wore a custom Adam Lippes coat dress paired with a wide-brimmed Eric Javits hat, which have yet to see boycotts.
In a statement, independent designer Lippes said, “It was an honor to dress the first lady.”
Vogue also noted the fashion industry can’t afford to lose customers right now. Seemingly fashion houses are changing their minds about dressing the Trumps.
Melania Trump’s stylist Hervé Pierre explained the willingness to work with her comes from wanting publicity, money and avoiding Donald Trump’s bad side. The fashion industry is in murky waters after the potential threat of tariffs on European goods. Guerrero noted the importance of somewhat staying neutral as a major fashion brand.
“What you don’t want to do is alienate a huge segment of people,” Guerrero said. “If you’re explicitly endorsing one side or the other, it leads you to this territory of alienating half of America by coming out and saying you support someone.”
However, some independent fashion brands continue to be vocal about not supporting Donald Trump. American designer Willy Chavarria held a show at the American Cathedral where he closed it with a statement accompanied by Minister Marianne Edgar Budde’s speech pleading for “mercy” played in the background. Head Designer of Prada Miuccia Prada grew up in the Communist Party. The 75-year-old’s collection debuted at the opening weekend of men’s fashion week in Milan. Along with co-creative director Raf Simmons, the two described the line of neutral-colored pajamas and oversized puffer jackets as a “challenging collection for challenging times.”
“The world has become conservative, and what is happening is horrible,” Prada said after her show. “As always, it is an answer to what is happening. We have to resist.”
Whether designers continue to embrace or distance themselves from Trump’s presidency is yet to be determined. As Trump’s administration unfolds, the fashion industry will have to navigate the balance between political values and commercial success.
Feature image courtesy of Connor Hampton
