Inauguration 2025: Why Melania Trump's Statement Hat Almost Didn't Get Worn

Meanwhile, Eric revealed that the 54-year-old’s bold accessory had a major mishap while being shipped from Miami to New York last month. 

“I guess the hat arrived all crushed,” he told Women’s Wear Daily in an interview published Jan. 20. “It looked like it had been sitting in snow drifts for about a week. Obviously, I had to scramble to redo it. It couldn’t really be repaired, because of the construction of it.”

As he put it, “It was a little bit of a cliffhanger.”

However, the designer was able to produce a brand new one that was taken back to Melania by her trusted stylist Hervé Pierre, who was in Florida at the time. Eric added, “He had a driver, and Herve took it back to her by hand to minimize any other disasters that could possibly happen.”

Following the handoff, the hat remained out of sight until she arrived at the White House, where she and Donald greeted President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.

Eric revealed, “No other hands touched, nor did any other eyes see the hat, prior to Herve and the first lady receiving it.”

As Melania arrived at the Inauguration, the Internet started to draw parallels between her hat and Carmen Sandiego’s iconic accessory and trench coat. As one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, “I found where in the world Carmen Sandiego is. 

Added another, “Melania wearing a dress from the Carmen Sandiego fashion line.” 

Now, keep reading to see who else attended the 2025 Presidential Inauguration.