Daily Life

Trump sledges Tom Ford amid rumours Melania will wear Ralph Lauren to inauguration

Tom Ford has become the latest recipient of a public roasting by Donald Trump.

The president-elect said he was "not a fan" of the US designer and filmmaker, who publicly identifies as a Democrat, after Ford added his name to the list of labels who would refuse to dress the incoming First Lady.

In a November appearance on The View, Ford said he would not dress Melania Trump during her husband's time in office, explaining he had refused to work with her before her husband decided to enter politics.

"I was asked to dress her quite a few years ago and I declined. She's not necessarily my image," he said.

Ford added that he would also have refused to dress Hillary Clinton if she was elected, saying his clothes were "too expensive" for someone in public office.

But, in an interview on US television program Fox & Friends on Wednesday, Donald Trump denied Ford had even been asked to dress his wife, throwing in a few sledges of the multiple-time Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) honoree. 

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"[She] never asked Tom Ford, doesn't like Tom Ford, doesn't like his designs," he said. 

"I'm not a fan of Tom Ford, never have been."

Trump added that the CEO of high end casino and resort chain Wynn Resorts, Steve Wynn, contacted him to say "he thought it was so terrible what Tom Ford said, that he threw his clothing out of his Las Vegas hotel", however some doubt has been placed over the authenticity of this statement, with Marie Claire pointing out that there is no Tom Ford clothing store at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Speaking on the Golden Globes red carpet earlier this month, Ford had clarified his reasoning for not wanting to dress the wives of politicians.

"Whoever is the president, or the first lady, should be wearing clothes at a price point that are accessible to most Americans, and wearing clothes made in America," he said. 

"My clothes are made in Italy, they're very, very expensive. I don't think most women or men in our country can relate to that, and I think the first lady or the president should represent all people."

(It should be noted that, although he was not one of her go-to designers, Michelle Obama did wear Tom Ford, notably to an event at Buckingham Palace in 2011.)

As for Melania's wardrobe, speculation abounds as to which designer has been tasked with designing her Inauguration day wardrobe.

While pictures of the Slovenian-born former model in a Dolce & Gabbana dress at a New Year's party prompted some to wonder if she will select an international designer for the big event, the current frontrunner is US brand Ralph Lauren.

Ralph Lauren himself was a Hillary Clinton supporter in last year's election (along with most of the US fashion community: she was, after all, the first presidential candidate to be endorsed by Vogue), designing the pantsuits she wore when she cast her ballot and to give her concession speech.

Melania was also spotted in Ralph Lauren during her husband's campaign, but the white jumpsuit from the designer she wore on election night was purchased from the designer's Madison Avenue store.

Ralph Lauren has not commented on its involvement.