Melania Trump and Usha Vance wore eye-catching gowns to the inaugural balls.
Jim WATSON/AFP/Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
The 2025 inauguration culminated with the inaugural balls.
The first and second families attended in eveningwear, but some looks were better than others.
Melania Trump and Usha Vance's gowns were stunning, while Tiffany Trump's dress fell flat.
Donald Trump officially became president again on Monday.
His return to office was marked with much fanfare, from the inauguration itself to the three inaugural balls the president stopped by that night — the Liberty Ball, the Commander-in-Chief Ball, and the Starlight Ball.
The first and second families swapped their ceremonial ensembles for evening attire before attending the balls, but some of their looks were stronger than others.
Take a look at the best and worst outfits of the night.
Melania Trump's black-and-white gown was a strong choice for the first lady.Donald Trump and Melania Trump at a 2025 inaugural ball.
Jim WATSON / AFP
Melania Trump wore a custom Hervé Pierre dress for the balls, as she did in 2017.
Much of the strapless dress was white, though it had a zig-zag of black fabric running across the bodice. The diagonal line picked up on the skirt, cutting across to form a slit on one side.
A coordinating choker completed the chic look, which felt cohesive with the navy and white ensemble Melania Trump wore earlier in the day.
Tiffany Trump's gray dress would have been stronger in another color.Tiffany Trump at a 2025 inaugural ball.
Jim WATSON / AFP
Her long-sleeve, empire-waist gown had an off-the-shoulder neckline. The bodice was adorned with sparkly embellishments, while the pleated skirt flowed to the floor and coordinated with a scarf on her neck.
The silhouette was pretty, but the sparkly top and monochrome skirt felt disjointed, and the color sapped energy from the dress.
Ivanka Trump's floral embroidered dress had Hollywood ties, but it was an odd choice for the inaugural balls.Ivanka Trump at a 2025 inaugural ball.
JIM WATSON/AFP/Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Like her stepmother, Ivanka Trump chose a black-and-white look for the inaugural balls.
Her custom Givenchy dress was a recreation of a Hubert de Givenchy gown Audrey Hepburn originally wore in 1954's "Sabrina." It featured a strapless neckline, an ankle-length skirt, and a separate, floor-length train that flowed out behind her and was trimmed in black fabric. Black florals adorned the bodice and lower portion of the skirt, and Ivanka Trump accessorized the look with black gloves.
The dress was beautiful, but the inaugural balls were a strange venue for paying homage to Hepburn. It would have been more fitting at a film opening or the Met Gala.
Usha Vance's sparkly dress stood out.JD and Usha Vance at a 2025 inaugural ball.
The strapless dress cinched at the waist and was overlaid with sheer fabric adorned with sparkly embellishments. The adornments flared above the neckline, creating the illusion that they were floating over the dress.
The look was elegant and modern, twinkling as Vance danced throughout the night.
Lara Trump's red gown was pretty but a bit boring.The Trump family at a 2025 inaugural ball.
Exposed boning gave the corset bodice structure, and the front of the skirt flowed straight down to her ankles. A ribbon sat on her waist, flowing into fabric ruffles covering the back of the form-fitting gown.
The ruffles were the most interesting part of the dress, and the gown would have been stronger if layers had continued onto the front of the skirt to bring volume to the look.
Lauren Sánchez's black gown was one of the best looks of the night.
Jeff Bezos' fiancée attended multiple inaugural balls, wearing two different gowns throughout the evening.
Her standout look of the night was a black strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline and a bodice covered in sparkles. The skirt was ruched around her waist in a crisscross pattern before falling to the floor in a delicate train.
Sánchez's look was glamorous, and the sparkle gave it a hint of a celebratory feel. Later in the evening, she also wore a romantic peach gown.
Phillips 66 and activist investor Elliott face off on a classic conglomerate quandary: Are the pieces of a huge company worth more together or broken up?