Ralph Lauren’s Melania Trump Dilemma
While this isn’t Ralph Lauren’s first time dressing First Ladies, not everyone took kindly to their part in dressing Melania Trump for the inauguration.
Of course, Ralph Lauren maintains a history of dressing First Ladies – including Hillary Clinton, Betty Ford, Nancy Reagan and Michelle Obama – but even so, not everyone took kindly to the designer’s part in dressing Melania Trump for her husband’s inauguration last week. Though no matter how well our new First Lady donned the powder blue number (reminiscent of Jackie O), the decision did not sit well with many.
A spokesperson for the First Lady told WWD Friday, “With the historic swearing-in of her husband, Donald J. Trump, as the forty-fifth President of the United States, the First Lady–elect will become America’s new First Lady wearing an American designer who transformed American fashion, Ralph Lauren.”
Immediately, the decision prompted #BoycottRalphLauren, and it’s not a trend that went unnoticed. An anonymous source with the designer brand told Glamour magazine, “We immediately started to get complaints about Melania Trump wearing [the label]. And people are using the #boycottralphlauren hashtag.”
. @RalphLauren -Since you support Trump, I and others will stop supporting you!! #BoycottRalphLauren #NotMyPresident #PoloIsPlayedOut
— Yvonne Dominiak (@CosmicAudioChic) January 18, 2017
Ralph Lauren just hurt a lot of women today and we won't forget. It's not OK to support oppression. #boycottralphlauren #imwithtomford
— Sarah Wickham (@Fightforliberti) January 20, 2017
For the record, I've cancelled my order for the entire summer/autumn collection 2017 by Ralph Lauren. #BoycottRalphLauren
— Tim Brannigan (@tim_brannigan) January 24, 2017
Obviously, there was a lot of hate being thrown toward Ralph Lauren and Melania Trump. But naturally, there was support to be found as well.
Politics aside.. Melania's outfit is superb! Stunning! #dress #RalphLauren 👌💙
— Camille Meyer (@TheRealCamilleG) January 20, 2017
To all the designers who said, "I refuse to dress Melania Trump" - thank you! And thank YOU #RalphLauren. Stunning! #dtmag pic.twitter.com/uuBeO6HFzx
— Nancy Chapman (@ChapmanNancy) January 20, 2017
“The Presidential Inauguration is a time for the United States to look our best to the world,” said Ralph Lauren in a statement on Friday. “It was important to us to uphold and celebrate the tradition of creating iconic American style for this moment.”
Now it’s worth noting, of course, that this is not the first time that a company has faced backlash for Trump affiliations. Also as Glamour reported in November, technology and media marketing specialist Shannon Coulter created the hashtag #GrabYourWallet. With the hashtag, she created a list of companies that support Trump or carry Trump affiliated products in the hopes that consumers would avoid them. Unfortunately, the lengthy list includes popular retailers such as Macy’s and TJ Maxx, which both carry Ivanka Trump’s clothing line.
(Plus, it’s worth noting that Hillary Clinton also wore a cream colored pantsuit by Ralph Lauren to the inauguration. Take that as you will.)
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So, will you #BoycottRalphLauren or is it a non-issue for you? Sound off in the comments below!