First Lady Melania Trump’s inaugural gown from President Donald Trump’s second inauguration will soon be featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History as part of its renowned First Ladies Collection.
The gown, designed by longtime fashion confidant and stylist Hervé Pierre, was created specifically for the inaugural celebrations. Crafted from silk crepe and encircled with a bold black silk gazar ribbon, the design reflected a structured, modern elegance consistent with the first lady’s refined public image.
On inauguration night, Mrs. Trump paired the strapless gown with a coordinating choker made from the same black silk gazar material. The look was completed with a Harry Winston diamond brooch from 1955, worn as a borrowed piece. The brooch complemented the gown’s central design concept, described as flowers gathered and tied together by ribbon.
The addition of the 2026 inaugural gown to the Smithsonian marks the second time one of Melania Trump’s dresses has been selected for preservation in the First Ladies Gallery. Only a select group of first ladies have had multiple gowns archived in the museum’s collection, which highlights fashion as a reflection of presidential history and cultural moments in American life.
Hervé Pierre also designed Mrs. Trump’s 2017 inaugural gown, which was previously added to the Smithsonian’s collection. That gown featured silk crepe with a red ribbon accent encircling the waist, showcasing Pierre’s signature structured silhouette and attention to detail.
The First Ladies Collection has long served as a historical record of presidential eras, documenting how style intersects with public service. Each gown represents not only the personal taste of the first lady but also a snapshot of American political history.
With the display of her second inaugural gown, Melania Trump joins a small group of first ladies whose formal attire has been preserved to commemorate multiple administrations.
