Some people were critical of Ivanka Trump’s attire for Monday’s 2025 Liberty Inaugural Ball in Washington. If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard that Ivanka Trump, her father, who has always been both amusing and controversial, was formally sworn in as president earlier this week. The day marked the start of Trump’s second term as president of the United States. The real estate magnate previously served between 2017 and 2021.
As was to be expected, internet users worldwide closely monitored and analyzed nearly every aspect of Trump’s historic day. Following the presidential inauguration, there was speculation about Elon Musk’s alleged “Nazi salute,” Melania Trump’s hat choice, and lip-readers attempting to figure out what Barron Trump may or may not have said to Joe Biden.
Simply put, nothing went unnoticed on the day of the inauguration, and it appears that even something as trivial as a dress can elicit heated online debate. Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump’s daughter, wore the dress as she advised her father during his first term in office. We will now take this opportunity to express our strong belief that (within reason), no one should ever be chastised or called out for what they choose to wear.
Nonetheless, the internet will continue to do what it does best: provide a safe haven for remarks that care nothing about morality, decency, or anything else. In other words, people will always make comments about celebrities’ hairstyles, clothing choices, speaking styles, and other behaviors. As previously stated, Ivanka Trump’s attire for the Inauguration Day Liberty Ball appeared to enrage some internet users.
Ivanka dressed in a replica of Audrey Hepburn’s dress from the 1954 film Sabrina, drawing inspiration from one of the century’s most significant female icons. Hubert de Givenchy is credited with designing the unique outfit, which adds to its appeal. Givenchy, a French design label, is said to have created Ivanka’s version, a white gown with a short train and black floral embroidery.
In addition, Ivanka donned a chignon, a diamond necklace, stiletto heels, and a pair of black opera gloves that reached her elbows. These accessories nearly identically matched Hepburn’s original. Ivanka looked wonderfully gorgeous in the dress, but as is so commonly the case these days, some people felt compelled to give criticism.
One especially scathing internet user said, “The longer I look at the details, the more laughable this becomes.” Another said: “The texture and the embroidery on Ivanka’s version look cartoonish, and it lacks the same finesse. Hepburn is incomparable.” “Audrey would have despised Ivanka and her family,” another opined. Naturally, this only proves one side of the debate, and it must be acknowledged that many people praised Ivanka’s appearance and choice of outfit for the evening.
Sean Hepburn Ferrer, Hepburn’s son, said that given their close familial ties, it was “no wonder” that Ivanka decided to honor his late mother. “It is no wonder that growing up in a family which knew our mother as a household name she chose to draw inspiration from her, to seek the ultimate elegance and class reference, for an occasion such as this one – the inauguration and the 32nd anniversary of our mother’s passing and, most of all, Martin Luther King’s day,” he told DailyMail. “What a cocktail!” It seems evident that Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, will not be going back to work in the White House during Donald’s second term.