Bienvenue à Paris! Melania Trump gave a sartorial nod to French fashion as she arrived to the capital city on Thursday ahead of Bastille Day (14 July) celebrations, which she and President Trump are set to partake in. The first lady looked characteristically chic disembarking Air Force One sporting a red skirt suit by Christian Dior. The former model, 47, broke the norm and debuted a new hairstyle wearing her brunette tresses in a sophisticated updo for the occasion.
Melania stunned in a red skirt suit by Dior for her arrival to Paris Photo: Pierre Suu/Getty Images
Hervé Pierre, who designed the first lady's inauguration gown earlier this year, styled Melania for her trip trip abroad. Barron Trump's mother and the French-born designer wanted to pay homage to Dior's 70th anniversary and the "Christian Dior: Couturier du Rêve" retrospective at Les Arts Décoratifs.
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"My job is to make this woman look beautiful and she’s representing the country," Pierre told WWD. "For me, it's about this legacy of this woman. A lot of people have good taste in fashion and it is very easy to find a nice pair of shoes to go with a dress." He added, "The clothes are important, but not only to be pretty like a doll or something. The packaging is very important. You don’t put Chanel No. 5 in a bottle of Clorox."
The couple shared a rare moment of PDA before Melania ventured on her own in Paris Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
Following her arrival to France, Melania shared a rare moment of PDA bidding her husband adieu at Orly Airport as she ventured off on her own to visit patients at Paris' Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital. The mum-of-one spoke briefly in French to children in a ward decorated with images from the iconic French novel The Little Prince. During her outing, Melania met a 14-year-old girl named Ysatis, who is in a wheelchair.
The first lady met with children at a pediatric hospital Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images
"You look very good, very strong ... Soon you'll be walking and running," the first lady told the teen. Recalling her meeting with the president’s wife, Ysatis admitted to the Associated Press, "It was very pleasant and really good. She's beautiful and gorgeous."
Melania was gifted a copy of The Little Prince by Martin Hirsch, director of Paris' public hospital system. "I will keep it, practice my French. It's beautiful," she said. The first lady later tweeted her thanks to the hospital for letting her visit. Sharing pictures form the outing she wrote, "Thank U @hospital_necker for allowing me to visit your wonderful patients & inspirational staff. Continued prayers for good health for all."
After her visit, Melania reunited with her husband at the US Embassy, where she delivered a speech thanking personnel for serving the United States. "I wanted to personally thank you and your families for all that you do for our country," she said. "I know it must be difficult at times to be away from the United States. So again thank you for all that you do on behalf of our great nation." The first couple were later welcomed by their French counterparts — President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron — outside the Army Museum during a ceremony at Les Invalides.
WATCH MELANIA'S SPEECH BELOW