Diane von Furstenberg Says Fashion Industry Shouldn’t Shun Melania Trump
An industry divided: yet another one of fashion’s foremost leaders has weighed in on the will-they-or-won’t-they dialogue about dressing First Lady Elect Melania Trump.
On the topic, designer Diane von Furstenberg told told Women’s Wear Daily, “Donald Trump was elected and he will be our president. Melania deserves the respect of any first lady before her.”
The 69-year-old CFDA board chair added, “Our role as part of the fashion industry is to promote beauty, inclusiveness, diversity. We should each be the best we can be and influence by our example.”
von Furstenberg’s stance contrasts from other designers, like Tom Ford, who said earlier this week that he had previously outright declined dressing Trump.
“She’s not necessarily my image,” Ford said on The View, Tuesday.
RELATED VIDEO: WATCH: Melania Trump’s RNC Dress Sold Out Fast!
Sophie Theallet also penned an open letter, which she posted to Twitter, and said she would not lend clothes to Trump. On the other side of the debate, Tommy Hilfiger told WWD, ” I think any designer should be proud to dress .”
A source previously told PEOPLE, “This has already been going on for months. Designers wouldn’t lend to Melania, Ivanka or Tiffany, so they either bought the items themselves or wore Ivanka’s brand.” The source added, “There was a lot of shopping their own closets.”
Do you think designers should be on board with dressing the future first lady or are they entitled to refuse? Sound off in the comments.
