Melania Trump’s Stylist Shares Personal View of Former First Lady’s Mother
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THE VIEW FROM THE WHITE HOUSE: Following Melania Trump’s announcement Tuesday that her mother, Amalija Knavs, had died at the age of 78, the former first lady’s stylist Hervé Pierre recalled a few chance encounters. Despite having an internationally known daughter, Knavs — like millions of other mothers — enjoyed simple indulgences like fashion and cooking.
The Austrian-born Knavs was described by Trump in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, as being “a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth and dignity.” She also referred to Knavs’ devotion to her husband, daughters, grandson and son-in-law. The cause of death at a Miami hospital was not disclosed, but Knavs reportedly had been unwell for some time.
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Knavs, who grew up in Slovenia, was said to have worked in a textile factory. Having seen Knavs nearly every time he visited the White House to consult with the former first lady about her fashion choices for key public appearances and official overseas visits, Pierre described her as “so lovely.” He said Wednesday, “She had a very similar taste in fashion to her daughter. She was certainly not into fluff.”
Knavs spoke with the French-born Pierre — who worked for Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta, as well as esteemed French fashion houses Balmain and Christian Dior, before venturing out on his own — a few times about his background during Trump’s White House years. He said, “She loved fashion. She often came upstairs to have a peek at the clothes that I had brought before I met with Melania.”
But Knavs wouldn’t linger or dole out any fashion advice during the decision making, according to Pierre. “My meetings with Melania were always just the two of us. We were very focused on the schedule and finding the right look for the occasion,” he said. “We were not looking at trends or flipping through fashion magazines. It was business oriented.”
Pierre spoke of an only-in-America experience he had with the former first lady’s parents on one Fourth of July during the Trump administration. The trio watched the National Park Service’s annual Independence Day fireworks that illuminate the National Mall from the rooftop of the White House. “The three of us were watching. It was the best view in the house,” Pierre said.
Like the Knavs, the European-born Pierre had become an American citizen. Knavs and her husband became U.S. citizens in 2018 — 12 years after their daughter Melania.
Pierre praised Trump’s mother for having been “an amazing cook.” One day after his arrival at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Knavs wanted him to go with her to pick some potatoes and carrots from the White House’s vegetable garden “that had been recreated by Mrs. [Barack] Obama [in 2009]. To go to the garden, we had to pass through the Oval Office and all of the impressive Secret Service agents [stationed there]. I was wearing my usual daisy on my lapel and my Hermès scarf, and I was carrying a straw basket like I was going grocery shopping,” Pierre said. “I was quite intimidated and felt a little bit out of place.”
Remembering the experience, the New York-based stylist and designer said, “Let’s just say I was looking at the grounds, the floor, the lawn — trying to avoid the look of these men, who have the same measurements as a family-sized fridge.”
After picking the vegetables with Knavs “digging them from the dirt,” Pierre said he asked her that they take a different route back — through the East Wing instead of the West Wing — “to avoid some cynical smiles and raised eyebrows from the Secret Service gentlemen.” Pierre said Knavs took the veggies and “later that night I was savoring a homemade soup made from the White House vegetable garden. It was quite chic, delicious and really fresh,” he said.
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