Melania goes full glam as stars party hard at Trump’s inaugural balls
Boxing rivals turned best buds, fashion so fabulous even the critics couldn’t find fault and a President not afraid to bust a move. See what went down at the hottest after parties in town.
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A knockout dress. A big cake cut with a sabre. And couples slow-dancing so slowly it barely still counts as dancing.
Welcome to the more theatrical and glamorous side of the transition of power in America: the inauguration balls.
Donald and Melania Trump made a grand entrance at the Commander-in-Chief ball, the first of three balls on their schedule – a fair punish after an already full day of pomp and ceremony, although a step down from the epic nine balls Ronald and Nancy Reagan tackled in 1981.
Melania went full glam in a custom Herve Pierre silk crepe gown, showing off her toned shoulders and left leg, just as she did for her first spin at an inauguration ball in 2017. The striking black ribbon detail on her dress was offset with an elegant black choker, finished off with an diamond and silver brooch designed by Harry Winston in 1955.
Mr Pierre, who also designed the First Lady’s gown for the inauguration balls in 2017, said it was a “big honour” working with her again.
From the outset, Mrs Trump “was gravitating towards a combination of black and white”, Mr Pierre said, “true to her own style and vision”.
Vogue Australia editorial director Edwina McCann said her gown was “a nod to royal dressing,” while the choice of slick black and white suggests “she means business this time”.
Country music band Rascal Flatts and singer Parker McCollum performed at the Commander-in-Chief Ball, which was geared towards Americans who serve in the military.
After a short dance together, the First Couple were joined by new Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha, with attendees recording the moment from 360 degrees on their mobile phones.
Mr Trump thanked the service men and women in attendance, saying, “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be tonight than with some of the greatest American patriots of all the men and women of the United States military.”
“There’s only one focus, defeating America’s enemies. We’re not going to be defeated. We’re not going to be humiliated,” he continued. “We will replenish the pride of our armed forces and the recruitment crisis.”
He then cut a huge cake, featuring a design of Air Force One, with a sabre.
“Does anyone want some cake?” the President asked, brandishing the sword. “I’m going to take a piece home with me.”
Rapper Nelly, country singer Jason Aldean and The Village People performed at the Liberty Inaugural Ball, with the long-lived disco act thrilling the crowd with their singalong favourite, YMCA.
The night’s final event, the Starlight Ball, was expected to be popular with the president’s donors. Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw was due to perform.
The events were a mix of tradition and triumphalism for the Trump faithful, with boxers Jake
Paul and Mike Tyson seen revelling at one of the black-tie parties; footage posted by Paul on social media showed him piggy backing Tyson, to the delight of the crowd.
While Melania Trump received plaudits for her elegant evening look, the reviews for her daytime attire were somewhat more mixed.
While the navy and white ensemble she wore to the inauguration ceremony was sharply tailored, her choice of a boater hat proved to be a talking point.
The white-ribboned Eric Javitz hat hid her eyes and hindered her husband’s efforts to kiss her.
Video showed President Trump leaning in for a kiss, but unable to reach her cheek due to the large brim.
The hat has divided watchers and sparked various memes on social media, with people suggesting it was a clever choice to keep her husband from getting too close.
Others likened her to the McDonald’s character Hamburglar, who wears a big black hat with a stripe in the middle.
Ms McCann said the hat “had the benefit of hiding (Melania’s) eyes from view for most of the carefully curated television broadcast, thereby denying viewers an idea of how she was reacting or what she was thinking”.
Her navy coat dress by New York designer Adam Lippes was seen as a classic choice.
“The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy and today we had the honour to dress our first lady, Mrs Melania Trump,” Mr Lippes said 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.”
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Originally published as Melania goes full glam as stars party hard at Trump’s inaugural balls
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