Melania Trump's Fashion Designer on the First Lady: "She's Really a Miraculous Person"

While the Women's March was crowding Independence Ave. and the National Mall on Saturday in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were on the other side of town at the National Prayer Service in the National Cathedral. For the occasion
, Melania wore a dark navy coat dress she designed in collaboration with Alice Roi, who first made a name for herself as a fashion designer in the early aughts.

"I expect to dress her all the time," Roi told WWD, saying that she and Melania have designed other pieces that the first lady has not yet worn. "She knows what she wants even before she sees it," Roi said. "And it's always with really, really good taste. That makes it easy because you don't have to talk somebody out of anything."

Roi described what it was like to see the first lady walking through the cathedral in the coat. "Seeing the architecture of the church and her walking in felt like a cinematic moment, very surreal, a nod to tradition but the patent leather [belt] made it so modern," Roi said. "I sound so designer-y right now talking about patent leather and church and politics — only a designer would do that. It kind of gave me the chills because there was an importance to it."

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The inspiration for the coat came partly from Melania, whom Roi described as "meticulous, impeccable, simple and not glitzy," and certainly not simple in the way of wanting a "big stupid coat, big stupid suit for a first lady." Roi revealed that in private, Melania prefers a somewhat retro style. "At home, she might wear black cigarette pants cropped, with a black shirt with a wavy peplum and black heels, a slight nod to the Fifties."

The "mostly cashmere" coat's design was also inspired by the '60s and movies from the era. "Everything was clean and modern and simple as can be," Roi said. "But the base behind it was the traditional peacoat with a Northeast feel you get from 'The Graduate,' 'Love Story,' and 'Belle Du Jour.' All those films that make you want to stay in the Northeast and be a proper gal."

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The designer also shared what Melania is really like as a person. "At her baby shower at FAO Schwartz, what you bought went to charity and the money that you spent also went to charity," Roi said. "She's almost beaming because she is such a lovely person and extremely thoughtful. She always takes time to do the right things, thank you letters ... I've had many conversations with her about school and children. She's really a miraculous person."