Tommy Hilfiger Publicly Rejects Sophie Theallet’s Crusade Against Melania Trump

Last week I reported on an irritatingly presumptuous “open letter” tweeted by fashion designer Sophie Theallet in which she preemptively refused to design clothes for Melania Trump and called upon other designers to make the same refusal.

Honestly, I take no issue with Theallet refusing on principle to provide services, which we should note, she has not even been asked to do. I have issues with anyone being a such a self important gasbag about it. This is probably why I have very few leftist friends.

Sadly, Melania Trump will now be forced to buy her clothes off the rack at T.J. Maxx or possibly Walmart. After reading this letter, certainly no enterprising fashion designer could possibly be willing to suffer through the fame and compensation associated with designing clothes for a First Lady who is also a supermodel wife of a billionaire. It’s unthinkable.

It seems that few, if any, designers joined Theallet’s public crusade against Donald Trump’s wife. Designer Tommy Hilfiger was the first to respond publicly, and he took an opposing view.

As it turns out, not everyone agrees with Sophie Theallet’s stance on dressing — or rather, not dressing — future First Lady Melania Trump. The designer revealed last week that she would not dress Trump and encouraged other designers to follow her lead.

“As one who celebrates and strives for diversity, individual freedom and respect for all lifestyles, I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next first lady. The rhetoric of racism, sexism and xenophobia unleashed by her husband’s presidential campaign are incompatible with the shared values we live by,” Theallet wrote. Designers stayed mum following her demand — until Nov. 21 at the Angel Ball, when Tommy Hilfiger suggested designers not “become political about it.”

Not getting political about making fancy clothes. What a concept. Hilfiger dismissed Theallet’s attempted black listing pretty thoroughly.

“I think Melania is a very beautiful woman and I think any designer should be proud to dress her,” Hilfiger said. “Ivanka is equally as beautiful and smart, although she wears her own clothes. I don’t think people should become political about it. Everyone was very happy to dress Michelle [Obama] as well. I think they look great in the clothes. You’re not gonna get much more beautiful than Ivanka or Melania.”

Hilfiger’s comments were clear but his tone subdued. One clothing boutique was less gentle with Theallet.

Angela’s, a designer boutique in Rye, N.Y., is angry about Theallet’s open letter to designers. Owner Angela Guitard sent Theallet an e-mail Monday morning calling the designer’s move “a slap in the face” to herself as a U.S. citizen, and said she would not carry her collection in her store.

“As an independent store owner unbiased to all, I keep my opinions to myself about politics, especially when it is unwarranted. I am disappointed by your e-mail and the ignorant said content of it. Clearly you are now inflicting your impudent political opinions on others and using social media for promotion. It is disrespectful and unprofessional on many fronts,” Guitard wrote.

I knew capitalism would render Sophie’s tantrum irrelevant.

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