The Dark Maga Era is Here
Decoding inauguration fashion, that hat and a new world order.
Who says fashion isn’t important. The style ciphers of yesterday’s inauguration spoke volumes about the new era we find ourselves in. An extraordinary new balancing of male and female energy, and the newly minted status, mindset and ambition of the world’s first superpower.
The star of the show? A hat, a sartorial prop that sat somewhere between Gestapo uniform and Al Capone cos play. Melania’s fashion statements are always strong, if a little confused, and who knows if she meant to give off such dark vibes. But for those mourning the the US’s second withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, (Trump took America out in his first term, Biden reinstated it, Trump withdrew again yesterday), the vibes were real. Incidentally, the only other countries to reject this global effort to maintain warming to 1.5C (already breached) are Iran, Libya and Yemen. “This is a national energy emergency,” Trump declared, and pressed the button on a supercharge of oil and gas production.
For the eco anxious, this funeral is real. The more so for the craven attendance of international business players, tech tycoons and their questionable wives, and the characterful circus Trump has amassed around himself in six decades of deal making, inluding Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White, ‘shock and awe’ Youtube stars Logan and Jake Paul, and country singer Carrie Underwood. The mermaid waves, stilettos and bodycon of this tribe will have a palpable effect on American fashion. Trump loves a show, and his pageant of women are very much part of that.
But back to the hat. Trad wife it was not, it was a strong, stern statement of Melania’s status: First Lady and regal fashion savant. Where else can a playboy model ascend to the highest office, a complicit partner in her husband’s war on immigrants, people just like herself? Hand sewn by the American milliner Eric Javits (twice apparently - the first hat was damaged en route and another had to be whipped up in just 4 days), “couture techniques” were employed, according to WWD. While the Trump family have traditionally signalled their status and wealth by dressing in European designers - Melania is partial to Saint Laurent, Dolce and Dior - yesterday was the turn of a new American wave. This hat, and its accompanying tailored coat by New York designer Adam Lippes, both of which served mobster vibes, perfectly conjured the imperial presidency Trump is promoting. The very best of American made, and as those tariffs go up, the birth of a new moment in American fashion. “The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy,” said Lippes in a statement. “Mrs. Trump’s outfit was created by some of America’s finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world.”
But don’t worry, we’ve still got Lauren Sanchez to bring the laughs. The improbably hard, entirely engineered and disturbingly shiny veneer of Mrs Jeff Bezos, which always, always works from her chest outwards, was in full force this weekend.
The rest of this post is for my subscribers. Do let me know if you are enjoying it, and please do join us below the line…