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Fashion Designer Tom Ford Not Interested In Dressing Incoming First Lady, Melania Trump

By Tito Ojo-Medubi
Published on: 19:18 PST, Nov 30, 2016

Fashion designer, Tom Ford has revealed he has no desire to style Melania Trump in his clothes, Daily Mail is reporting.

The 55-year-old high-end designer had appeared on The View, Wednesday to talk about Nocturnal Animals, a movie he directed, when host, Joy Behar asked him whether he would design clothes for the first-lady-in-waiting. Ford revealed he would not be dressing the former model in his clothes, adding that he had refused to dress her, years before her husband, Mr. Trump became a politician.

“I was asked to dress her quite a few years ago…I declined. She’s not necessarily my image.”

The 55-year-old, who was a staunch supporter for Hillary Clinton during the November elections, added that he did not think it was the right thing for a first lady to be wearing expensive clothes if she wanted to connect properly with the American people.

“Other than the fact that I’m a Democrat and voted for Hillary Clinton and very sad and disappointed that she’s not in office—even had Hillary won, she shouldn’t be wearing my clothes. They’re too expensive. And I don’t mean this in a bad way…she needs [Melania Trump] to relate to everybody.”

Tom Ford’s cheapest designs run between $2,000 and $3,500.

On the campaign trail, the Slovenian beauty had donned several pricey designs including a $1,790 Ralph Lauren jumpsuit and a $1,000 Gucci “pu*** bow” blouse. The 46-year-old’s blouse had caused a stir at presidential debate night. Many people felt she was making a subtle statement relating to her husband’s “Grab them by the p***y” lewd tape.

Hillary Clinton wore designer Ralph Lauren suits during her campaign rallies and on debate nights. She was also known for getting $600 treatment for a cut and blow-dry at the upscale John Barnett Salon, where hair color costs an additional $600.

Tom Ford revealed that he would not dress Melania Trump because his designs were too high-end which was inappropriate for a “woman of the people.” However, in 2011, the iconic fashion designer designed a custom-fitted ivory evening gown for Michelle Obama. The outgoing first lady had been invited to dinner with the royal family at Buckingham palace.

The price of the resplendent dress was never made public, but fashion buffs have said the gown would have cost at least $5,000. The former creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent said dressing Michelle was a one-off and appropriate for the occasion.

“Michelle I dressed once when she was going to Buckingham Palace for dinner with the queen and I thought that was appropriate. I live in London so that made sense. And it was an honor.”

Tom Ford who is worth a reported $70 million is one of the most successful designers around. In 1994, he shot into the limelight when he was creative director at Gucci. The fashion house was almost bankrupt, but Ford through sheer talent and hard work turned it into a $4 billion enterprise in less than five years.

In 1999, he took on a second role as creative director of Yves St. Laurent. The position proved to be a more difficult one. His clothes were loved by critics and boosted the profits of the fashion business, but Yves hated his work and openly criticized the designer’s hyper-sexualized inspirations.

In 2004, Tom Ford resigned from both posts, took two years off, before returning to the fashion scene in 2006 with the Tom Ford label, an eponymous line for men and women. His clients include Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Pitt, Keira Knightley, Julianne Moore, Naomi Watts, Jennifer Lopez, Colin Firth, and Reese Witherspoon. The designer has it as a golden rule never to dress more than one celebrity at a major red carpet event like the Golden Globes or Oscars.

Before Tom Ford revealed that he would not be working with the first-lady-in-waiting, Sophie Thellet in an open letter had said that she would not be designing any clothes for the former model. Theallet, a French-born fashion designer who dressed Michelle Obama for eight years, revealed her values were simply not compatible with what her husband, Mr. Trump pushed at his campaign rallies.

“As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom and respect for all lifestyle, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next First Lady…the rhetoric of racism, sexism and xenophobia unleashed by her husband’s presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by.”

Tommy Hilfiger, a friend of the Trumps who has an office in Trump Tower argued that fashion and politics be kept separate, adding that every fashion designer should count it an honor to dress a first lady.

[Featured Image by Evan Agostini/AP Images]

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