Oscar de la Renta Receives Backlash for Dressing Usha Vance for Donald Trump Inauguration
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Usha Vance and Vice President-elect, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) arrive for service at St. John's Church as part of Inauguration ceremonies on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
All eyes were on President-elect Donald Trump and his Vice President JD Vance’s Inauguration today (January 20). But among the packed inaugural day schedule, the public’s keen eye on the administration’s wardrobe, namely the women of the incoming administration. At the heart of the conversation were Usha Vance and Ivanka Trump, who were wearing custom designs Oscar de la Renta, which was founded by the Dominican designer of the same name.
On Sunday (January 19), Oscar de la Renta shared a photograph of JD and Usha Vance on the eve of inauguration day, walking hand in hand as Usha dons a velvety black gown. The caption says: “Incoming Second Lady, Usha Vance, wears a custom noir velvet gown with asymmetric floral accents and a sweetheart neckline for the Vice President’s Dinner.”
Comments on Instagram were critical of the designer behind the clothes, with some of the top comments questioning the designer’s choice and calling their decision to dress the new administration “disappointing and heartbreaking.”
User @Aliceinfoodieland commented “This is the man who falsely lied about immigrants from the Caribbean stealing and eating cats and dogs. Your brand was founded by Oscar de la Renta, a man from the Caribbean & DR. Now your brand proudly supports and publicizes a politician who unleashed discrimination towards Caribbean immigrants. This is so heartbreaking and disappointing. I don’t think I can ever support your brand again heartbroken 💔”
Other users, such as @psnatiraxoxo also commented “THEE Oscar De La Renta would neverrr,” referring to the late Dominican designer who passed away in 2014. The brand is now at the helm of creative directors, Laura Kim & Fernando Garcia– the designers behind MONSE, a brand worn by Michelle Obama during the Democratic National Convention in 2024.
Today Usha wore a peony cashmere coat with a scarf wrap and complementing tea-length dress for the inauguration ceremony.
Oscar de la Renta’s Instragam page also published more photos of the garments worn by the women of the incoming administration, including Ivanka Trump who was photographed in a camel coat with applique flowers and jewels.
And again the same evening she was seen in a crystal and pearl waist gown, worn for the Inaugural Candlelight Dinner.
Revered as a top American designer, Oscar de la Renta as a brand is known for dressing former first ladies and women in politics, such as Laura Bush, Jill Biden, and Michelle Obama, and is famously known as a “bipartisan white house sartorial staple” according to Vogue.
Users on X also shared their disappointment, referring to the unsettling nature of the designer dressing the new conservative administration.
Others commented on how “It’s just funny to me that a brand founded by an immigrant becomes the preferred choice for an administration that’s planning to do conduct massive deportation.” The Trump administration has spoken about ending birthright citizenship, DACA, and starting mass deportations.
But there were plenty of people who liked that Oscar de la Renta dressed Usha and Ivanka.
Oscar de la Renta also the only top American designer to respond to a CNN request for comment regarding first lady fashion, stating in an email that the brand is “always honored when asked to dress the first lady of the United States,” adding “that its mission is to “make her look and feel her best regardless of politics.”