Editor’s Note
This article examines the deliberate sartorial ambiguity of Usha Vance, the new Second Lady, whose inaugural ball gown sparked curiosity for its lack of identifiable branding. In an era where fashion is often a direct political statement, her choice of a “grandly modest” and uncredited design presents a nuanced alternative.
By Alfons Kaiser
Even the experts were puzzled: Which brand was the dress that the new “Second Lady” wore on the evening of President Donald Trump’s inauguration? “Women’s Wear Daily,” usually always precise, remained extremely vague: “Usha Vance wears a blue evening gown for the 2025 inaugural balls with JD Vance.” A blue evening gown? Can’t it be a bit more specific?
Forget Chanel or Dior – for the “Inauguration Balls,” Melania Trump wore a dress by her stylist. A sign of restraint? Not at all: Major fashion houses do not want to work with the First Lady.
