Ivanka Trump's Touching Tribute to Late Mother Ivana at Charity Gala
Ivanka Trump made a deeply personal fashion statement while attending a prestigious charity event in support of St. Jude's Children's Hospital on Thursday evening. The former First Daughter, aged 44, chose to wear a stunning beaded white fringe cocktail dress that once belonged to her late mother, Ivana Trump, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 73.
A Sentimental Wardrobe Choice
The intricate Bob Mackie mini dress from the 1990s features a distinctive high neckline, short sleeves, and is completely covered in delicate beaded fringes. The design includes a strategic cut-out section at the midriff, creating a striking silhouette. While the exact value of this vintage piece remains undisclosed, similar gold versions of Bob Mackie dresses are currently listed for sale at prices exceeding $7,000 on luxury platforms like 1stDibs.
Trump complemented the meaningful ensemble with elegant white pointed heels and a sophisticated silver sequined rectangle clutch bag. She styled her signature long blonde hair in an updo, allowing a few carefully arranged locks to frame her face, completing the polished look for the charitable occasion.
Family Reflections and Social Media Tributes
The mother-of-three later took to Instagram to share photographs from the significant evening, including a family portrait featuring her brothers Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., along with their respective partners Lara Trump and Bettina Anderson. In her emotional caption, Trump celebrated the fundraising achievements of the event, noting "Twenty years. Over $50 million raised. Countless children given hope."
She specifically praised brother Eric Trump's "big heart and unwavering commitment to St. Jude's Children's Hospital" before turning her attention to her mother's enduring influence. "Though our mother is no longer with us, her spirit filled the room," Trump wrote. "I felt her especially close, wearing a dress that once belonged to her. Mom would have been so proud of you baby brother! Legacy isn't just what we build, but the love we carry forward."
Historical Connections and Previous Appearances
This marked not the first occasion Trump has chosen to wear this particular flapper-style dress. In 2023, she selected the same garment for music manager Myles Shear's 30th birthday celebration at the exclusive Faena Hotel Miami Beach. The dress holds additional historical significance, as Ivana Trump originally wore the white Bob Mackie creation to a memorable Studio 54 party in 2002, where mother and daughter attended together.
Photographs from that iconic event show the younger Trump in a colorful orange, purple, pink, and brown striped dress standing beside her mother, who dazzled in the now-famous minidress. This recent charity appearance follows Trump's decision to skip the Washington D.C. premiere of stepmother Melania Trump's feature film the previous week, instead attending a high-profile JPMorgan Chase & Co. event in Miami Beach, where she resides with husband Jared Kushner and their three children.
Continuing Fashion Legacy
Trump has previously drawn from her mother's extensive wardrobe for other special occasions. In 2019, she borrowed another iconic Bob Mackie design for fashion designer Misha Nonoo's wedding festivities in Italy. That cocktail dress similarly featured a high neckline and multiple layers of sequined fringe in an elegant white, gold, and black ombre pattern. The garment had originally been worn by Ivana Trump at a glamorous gala event in 1991.
Ivana Trump, who was the first wife of former President Donald Trump, tragically died in July 2022 after sustaining blunt impact injuries from a fall down the stairs in her New York townhouse. Through these carefully chosen sartorial tributes, Ivanka Trump continues to honor her mother's memory while supporting charitable causes close to the family's heart.
