The First Lady wore Chanel, while Mrs. Macron wore Louis Vuitton
Melania Trump seemed to be making a statement stressing her personal involvement in picking the menu and gold-trimmed table settings
Updated 25 April 2018
AP
WASHINGTON: There were no celebrity guests, Hollywood entertainers or superstar chefs. But as she stepped out of the background to host her first state dinner, Melania Trump sought to sparkle in her moment in the spotlight.
The first lady appeared in a Chanel gown to greet President Emmanuel Macron of France and his wife, Brigitte, as they arrived for the first state dinner of Trump’s administration.
It was a big moment in fashion — and public life — for the former model, who has kept a relatively low profile since Trump took office.
With the opulent affair, Mrs. Trump seemed to be aiming to make a statement, stressing her personal involvement in picking the menu and gold-trimmed table settings. In a nod to France, she wore a black Chantilly lace Chanel haute couture gown, hand-painted with silver and embroidered with crystal and sequins, according to her spokeswoman. Her French counterpart wore Louis Vuitton.
DUBAI: US singer-songwriter and actress Teyana Taylor attended the 41st Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Sunday in a gown by Saudi Arabia couturier Mohammed Ashi.
The gown is from the designer’s Paris-based label Ashi Studio, specifically its Spring/Summer 2026 couture collection.
The all-white look featured a corseted bodice, frayed fabric and slick material offering an experimental wet look to the gown.
Taylor has been on something of a fashion run lately, while promoting Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another.”
Her performance has been widely praised, earning her the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, as well as nominations from SAG-AFTRA, BAFTA and the Academy Awards.
The gown is from the designer’s Paris-based label Ashi Studio, specifically its Spring/Summer 2026 couture collection. (Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Paramount confirmed last week that “Get Lite,” Taylor’s feature directorial debut, will arrive in cinemas next spring. The film is scheduled for wide theatrical release on April 9, 2027.
Set in New York, the story centers on a gifted yet protected dance student whose world expands when he unexpectedly discovers community, connection and purpose within the city’s subway system.
US actor Storm Reid is set to lead the cast and also serve as a producer on the project, alongside US writer Kenya Barris and actor and filmmaker Anni Weisband. Taylor also registers as an executive producer.
The film “Get Lite” marks Taylor’s first feature as a director. While she is best known for her work as a performer, Taylor has previously directed several music videos, including her own projects “Gonna Love Me” and “Rose in Harlem.”
Those works offered early insight into her visual sensibility and interest in storytelling driven by music and movement, paving the way for her transition into long-form narrative filmmaking.
Beyond film, Taylor has also reached a milestone in music, securing her first Grammy nomination in 2026 for her latest album “Escape Room.”
Ashi’s creations have been worn by celebrities and stars including Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Penelope Cruz, Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, and Queen Rania of Jordan.
Ashi became the first couturier from the Gulf region to join the Federation de la Haute Couture in Paris as a guest member in 2023. He was also the first Gulf designer included in the BoF 500 list, the Business of Fashion’s index of people shaping the fashion industry in 2023.
