A children’s wear designer who launched her company in Charlotte watched the inauguration events coverage with delight.
The blue velvet dress and matching wool coat that Ivanka Trump’s daughter wore at a pre-inauguration event Thursday is one of 11 pieces that former Charlotte resident and Saint Michael’s College grad Kate Bowen designed for the festivities.
Accompanying her parents and grandfather, Donald Trump, 5-year-old Arabella Kushner wore the blue ensemble to the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery Thursday. Seeing the outfit on TV was a thrill, said Bowen, in a telephone interview with Seven Days.
“Oh my gosh, I, like, couldn’t breathe for a minute. I was so excited.”
It’s possible that little Arabella will wear another Bowen-designed outfit to the post-inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Saturday.
Bowen founded her company, Petit Peony, when she and her husband were living on a dirt road in Charlotte, having moved to the town in 2013. Two of Bowen’s three young children had been born and it seemed like a good time to pick up a needle and thread.
“I was staying at home and that’s when I took up sewing, sewing my daughter’s clothing and it turned into a business,” Bowen said.
One of the investors in Petit Peony knew Ivanka Trump, herself a clothing designer, and she became a customer, said Bowen.
Bowen lived in Charlotte for three years before moving with her family to Duxbury, Mass., last June.
When Ivanka Trump called to see if Bowen was interested in designing outfits for the inauguration, she jumped at the chance. She flew to New York three times for fittings with Arabella and also designed inaugural rompers and pint-sized coats for her little brothers, ages 3 and 9 months.
In all cases, Ivanka Trump wanted “traditional, classic, tailored pieces,” said Bowen, who declined to say how much the garments cost.
The former Vermont resident, who grew up outside of Albany, N.Y., says she chooses not to mix fashion with politics. Bowen wouldn’t say whether she voted for Ivanka Trump’s dad, newly-sworn-in President Donald Trump.
“I don’t discuss my political views,” said Bowen, but added that she likes what Ivanka Trump stands for.
“I think her taking a leap of faith and reaching out to a small designer says something about her.”
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Tug that forelock.
Oh well, it’s to be expected. I supposed even Hitler commissioned dressmakers to supply Eva Braun.
Congratulations on beautiful, classic designs.
Molly, leaving out the price really takes away from the story. it’s what everyone who reads this wants to know. it’s the elephant in the room. so what if she wont tell you. how about you do a little investigating and give us a ball-park range for what this would cost. she has a company- does she list prices? If not, interview some folks in the industry who can give you an estimate for couture children’s clothing. it is lazy reporting to not give us the price or try and find it out
Oh my gosh! We must investigate the prices Ivanka paid for these clothes!! If not research other couture designers and get a ball park figure! We must know this information before the sun goes down again!! I’m so embarrassed for you. Really? Ivanka paid for her children’s clothes. The tax payers paid for the Obama girls, twice. Plus the First Mother in law or what ever title they want to call her so she could live off taxpayers for 8 straight years. How much were the Obama girls clothes? See if that information is out there. Why not research that as crazy acting as you have the Trump grandkids!
What would you dress your children in on one of the most important days of their young lives? I would expect nothing less from this family on how perfectly dressed the children were at their Grandfathers Presidential Inauguration. I’m sure Chelse Clinton already had something in mind for her child to wear if Hilary had won. She would probably bill the “Clinton Foundation” (wink-wink) just as she did for her wedding. Cause we all know Hilary said she was just about broke when she left the Sec of State’s office. She just forgot all the millions stached in the (wink-wink) “Clinton Foundation” or the almost 10 million earned from speaking engagements. They are so poor I’m not sure how they make it. Then she wonders why she didn’t get elected!