He wanted the First Lady to wear an American designer when her husband took the presidential oath.
“I just thought the First Lady ought to be wearing an American designer on the day her husband got sworn in,” Lippes told The Telegraph. “It seemed crazy for her to wear a European name.”
The resulting ensemble became one of the most recognizable fashion moments of the January 20, 2025, inauguration.
Melania wore a custom navy silk-wool coat and matching skirt with an ivory silk crepe blouse. The pieces were hand-sewn in New York City, highlighting the craftsmanship behind the look. Vogue and other fashion publications noted that Lippes was an American designer and that the outfit was produced by American craftsmen.
The outfit was deliberately polished and restrained. Melania paired it with a dramatic wide-brimmed navy hat designed by Eric Javits, creating an unmistakable look that immediately dominated attention on Inauguration Day.
Behind the scenes, however, Lippes says the response was considerably less glamorous.
“I got death threats for designing it,” Lippes said. “People called me a gay Nazi. I had to have a security officer for a while.”
That revelation changes the story surrounding what initially appeared to be simply another high-profile fashion choice.
According to Lippes, the backlash became serious enough that he required additional security.
His account also highlights an unusual political reality surrounding his career.
Lippes has previously dressed Jill Biden numerous times, yet his decision to design one outfit for Melania Trump apparently led some people to assume that he had suddenly become a devoted Trump supporter.
“Everyone seems to think now I’m some raging MAGA Republican,” Lippes said.
But designing clothing for a political figure is not necessarily the same thing as endorsing that person’s entire political agenda.
That distinction is especially relevant in Lippes’ case.
His stated reasoning was centered on American design and craftsmanship rather than a political endorsement. His own public comments about the inauguration emphasized the significance of American artisans and the country’s democratic traditions.
“The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy, and today we had the honor to dress our first lady, Mrs. Melania Trump,” Lippes said. “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.”
The decision also stood out because Melania’s relationship with the American fashion industry has sometimes been complicated.
During Donald Trump’s first term, several prominent designers publicly distanced themselves from dressing the First Lady. The fashion industry’s relationship with Trumpworld became a political issue in its own right.
By the time of the 2025 inauguration, however, Lippes stepped into the spotlight.
And he did so with a distinctly American-made creation.
The Washington Post described the navy Lippes ensemble as part of a broader shift in the fashion world, noting that more designers appeared willing to work with Trumpworld than during the president’s first term.
That makes Lippes’ account of the backlash particularly noteworthy.
The designer did not campaign on a stage for Trump. He did not announce a political endorsement. He made a coat, skirt and blouse.
Yet his decision became politically charged because of the woman who wore them.
That raises a broader question about the intersection of fashion and politics.
Designers routinely dress presidents, first ladies, celebrities and political leaders. Their clothing can carry symbolism, but the act of accepting a commission does not necessarily establish agreement with everything the wearer believes.
Lippes appears to be making that distinction himself.
His story also illustrates how quickly fashion decisions can become political flashpoints in an intensely polarized culture.
The Melania Trump ensemble was praised, criticized and dissected from virtually every angle. The hat alone generated widespread discussion, while the tailored navy coat became one of the defining images of the inauguration.
Yet behind the photographs was a designer who says he faced threats because he accepted the job.
Whatever one’s politics, death threats over a fashion commission represent a dramatic escalation from ordinary criticism.
Lippes’ experience also provides an unusual reminder that political divisions can follow people into areas that once seemed relatively separate from partisan warfare.
A coat is still a coat.
A designer is still a designer.
And an American craftsman can decide to dress a First Lady without signing onto every political position associated with her husband.
For Lippes, the defining point appears to have been the opportunity to showcase American craftsmanship on one of the most visible stages in the country.
The January 2025 inauguration ultimately put his work in front of millions of people around the world.
The navy ensemble became part of the visual history of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, while Lippes’ subsequent account has added another chapter to the story.
What began as a fashion decision became a political controversy.
And now, more than a year after the inauguration, the designer is explaining what happened after he made that decision.
