Vanilla silk crepe off-the-shoulder gown with a slit skirt, ruffled accent trim from neck to hem, and a claret ribbon around the waist designed by Hervé Pierre in collaboration with Melania Trump.
Originally from Slovenia, Melania Trump became a United States citizen in 2006. She is the only naturalized citizen to serve as first lady. As first lady, Melania Trump has balanced her time between the traditional duties of the role and her focus on children prioritizing visits to schools and hospitals. In 2018, she launched her “Be Best” campaign. Be Best raises awareness about children’s well-being, online safety, and the risks of opioid abuse, and promotes organizations and programs that help children.
COVID-19 precautions meant that there was no inaugural ball. Dr. Biden wore this ivory silk wool dress with an organza bodice to watch the nationally televised inaugural concert and firework display. The bodice is embroidered with the federal flowers of the states, territories, and District of Columbia to symbolize unity; some of the flowers are embellished with beads and sequins. The Delaware state flower is positioned at the level of the wearer’s heart. The dress, coat, and matching mask were designed by Gabriela Hearst. They were made from existing fabrics to lessen the environmental impact.
Jill Biden became first lady with years of experience serving as second lady during the Obama administration and quickly became a trailblazer as the first first lady to work outside the White House. Dr. Biden balances her official duties with her job as a professor at Northern Virginia Community College.
As first lady she has relaunched her Joining Forces initiative to support military families, advocated for the administration’s legislative initiatives, promoted partnership with the United States on a trip to Latin America, supported athletes at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Japan, encouraged Americans to be vaccinated against COVID-19, met with victims of gun violence in Buffalo and Uvalde, and traveled to Ukraine to meet with first lady Olena Zelenska in a show of American support for the Ukrainian people.