2025 inauguration : fashion & table settings

Happy Tuesday! Please remember that this a non-political post and I just wanted to share some fashion, the table setting and menu from yesterday’s inauguration.

 

This first part is just a show-and-tell of some of the pretty ball gowns seen last night with just a little bit of interesting trivia. Did you know Ivanka’s gown was inspired by a very famous dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in 1954?

 

Photo by Remoulade Sauce on X 

I really love all the fashion I’m sharing with you all today. First up, of course is the First Lady, Melania Trump. It’s simple, elegant and so stylish!! This white with black gown compliments Ivanka Trump Kushner’s gown so perfectly!   

   

Photo by Remoulade Sauce on X 

Here’s Ivanka’s Givenchy gown inspired by Audrey Hepburn’s beautiful dress she wore in the movie Sabrina. I just love it!! It’s such a classic style and a wonderful nod to Audrey and Givenchy! (More on Audrey’s iconic dress in a minute…)  

 

Photo by Remoulade Sauce on X 

Beautiful Tiffany earrings worn earlier in the day by Ivanka. 

Photo by Remoulade Sauce on X 

The Second Lady of the USA, Usha Vance, looked equally stunning in this sparkly gown by Reem Akra in the most beautiful blue color.

 

Eric Trump’s wife Lara is seen here in a lovely red gown with sister-in-law Tiffany Trump. Tiffany is expecting and looks pretty in this silver-grey gown.

 

Photo by Remoulade Sauce on X 

First granddaughter and teenager Kai Trump, daughter of Donald Jr, wows the crowd in this Sherri Hill beaded gown.

 

 

Sabrina happens to be one of my favorite movies, so this custom Givenchy dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in the party scene is etched into my memory. You can see how pretty all the details are…

 

 

I found this colorized photo of Audrey and a couple of cute poodles on the internet and it looks like the embroidered design of this famous dress is different shades of brown, but alas, it’s not accurate.

 

Here are a few current pictures of the same exact dress Audrey wore in the movie. As you can see it has yellowed considerably over the last 70 years but still looks as gorgeous as ever!

 

It was sold at auction last year for $125,000. This dress was one of many rescued by Debbie Reynolds when the big studios like MGM sold off most of their costumes and props many years ago.

 

Now on to the table settings! You know how much I love a tablescape, so I wanted to give you all an up-close and personal look at how they set the tables yesterday for the 2025 inauguration.

 

The tablecloths are a patriotic navy-blue color, but with muted tones. This color is the perfect backdrop for the gold flatware and gold-rimmed plates used here for this official event.

 

Lots of pretty white and neutral colored flowers line the length of the main table. I spot mostly roses, a few anemones, and maybe a few ranunculus.

 

Handwritten in pretty calligraphy, the place cards here reflect some pretty famous names!!

 

Here’s an overview of the whole room during the inauguration luncheon yesterday. This is the Statuary Hall in the US Capital building.  

 

And now for my favorite bit of info from yesterday’s big luncheon, the menu!! What did all these illustrious people eat for lunch!?

 

Wonder no more! Crab Cakes (yum), Ribeye Steak and basically a fancy apple pie a la mode! Works for me!!

Some Photos by Remoulade Sauce on X, and Getty Images

 

In case you haven’t heard, I started a new Instagram page in October and named it Claudia Fabiana Home. My former page is still up, but after getting a new phone, I was no longer able to log into this account, so the new profile was born!

 

I hope you’ll follow along with me on Instagram for all the latest projects and décor I will be sharing in 2025.

 

 

 

ciao fabiana

 

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.

 

a favorite Christmas movie

 Christmas in Connecticut  

One of my favorite Christmas movies of all time is Christmas in Connecticut, made in 1945 and Starring Barbara Stanwick who plays a wanna-be domestic goddess and expert on all things home and garden. It’s so relatable to me, and that’s why I love it so much.

Made just after the Second World War, this film starts off with a Navy hero who recovering from being lost at sea, is on bedrest and is absolutely enamored by all the meals and fabulous recipes he reads about in Smart Housekeeping magazine while he’s in the hospital. 

Then the attention quickly to turns to Elizabeth... the fabulous home and garden writer for Smart Housekeeping magazine...

  

This is when we first meet Barbara Stanwyck as Elizabeth Lane, the ever so popular writer of Smart Housekeeping magazine. Liz is a modern-day Martha Stewart who is the most popular women’s magazine writer and personality.

The trouble is she's a columnist for "Smart Housekeeping," THE magazine for all aspiring homemakers in America. Her popular monthly column called "Diary of a Housewife."

She goes on and on writing about cooking, practically brags about her idyllic home life on her Connecticut farm with her husband and darling baby (who don’t really exist). 

For months and probably years she’s been putting on this farce, and doing it quite well, I may add!

The thing is, she really lives in a tiny and humble Manhattan apartment, alone, with less than picturesque views and she can't cook to save her life. 

With the help of the darling restauranteur “Uncle” Felix who inspires every gourmet meal she that writes about, she has no trouble getting away with being this domestic imposter.

 

As you can see, I can totally relate to this role of Elizabeth Lane, right down to the scene where she is forced to show off her flapjack flipping skills!

The most intriguing part of this movie for me is that she’s such a fabulous writer and with her vivid imagination, she pulls off being the popular Elizabeth Lane persona without a hitch.

When I sit down at my own computer keyboard, I'm often inspired by this first scene of Elizabeth at her typewriter. The words and wonderful pictures she paints with her stories are always in the back of my mind.

Here's an example of Elizabeth's writing style, as expressed in this first scene that she appears in...      

“From my living room window as I write...

...I can look out across the broad front lawns of our farm...

...like a lovely picture postcard of wintry New England. In my fireplace, the good cedar logs are burning and crackling. I just stopped to go into my gleaming kitchen...

...to test the crumbly brown goodness of the toasted veal cutlets in my oven.

Cook these slowly.”

It's simple, quite effective and right to the point!

 

Meanwhile, there are undergarments and other laundry drying on the clotheslines outside her slightly dreary NYC apartment. 

The radiator blasts a poof of steam that in her mind translates to a dreamy stone fireplace with “good cedar logs” burning. 

She’s eating a breakfast of sardines right out of the can. I love how the whole scene is beautifully juxtaposed.  

 

So off we go to spend a Christmas in Connecticut! And of course this movie is set during Christmastime, so this is where the fun and love begins…

 

A lot is riding on her made-up charming life and ultimate deceit, and of course, love blooms between Elizabeth and the handsome war hero.

There are moments of light screwball comedy in this movie, but overall, it’s a fun and festive holiday movie.

 

Mr. Yardley- “I remember what you said about the charm of an attractive woman...

...performing her homey little task of flipping flapjacks...

...with the smell of good coffee and sizzling bacon in a sunny kitchen.

I'm homesick for a sight like that.”

 

Felix- “Oh, Lizka, Lizka. You give me goose pimples. Watch now. 

I show you how to flip-flop the flop-flips. On...  up!  Ah.  You see?  

It's easy.  Now you try it. Throw it up. Up!  

Not on the stove.  In the pa...  Now.  

Throw it with this. High, high, high, high.  Oh...  Up! Ah. Up. 

Take this. Throw it up. High, high, high. 

Oh, up! Lizka!

Better you cook on the typewriter.”

Elizabeth- “Oh, Felix, what am I going to do?”

 

“She can't cook, but what a wife!

What a Christmas!

What a Christmas!”

ciao fabiana

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.

 

drama at the table for Halloween

Happy Halloween everyone! Today I’m a part of a lovely fall entertaining hop on Instagram! 🎃 I’m joining a group of talented friends to bring you a few delicious dessert recipes and inspiring fall themed tablescapes. 

 

 

 

This is my Halloween table setting in the breakfast room. I’ve gathered some of my favorite things to create a slightly elegant and spooky vibe for today. I dip dyed the vintage napkins in graphite Rit dye just to add contrast to the table. 

Who doesn’t have tons of extra white napkins sitting around? This is an easy project that can be done any color. 

 

The inspiration for the table was black transferware plates, which I love using on Halloween. Then the black candles, white pumpkin plates, vintage crystal, oak leaf flatware and little white pumpkins all come together.  

 

This room still needed a pop of something, so I went out to the front yard and snipped a few sycamore branches for fun! And why not throw in a glittery spider or two? 

 

My favorite Acorn pewter flatware by Vagabond House is perfect for fall! 

 

I brought in my black and white Serena & Lily bistro chairs to complete the look. 

 

I hope you’ll find plenty of exciting ideas that’ll make entertaining a breeze this autumn. Please be sure to visit all the ladies participating on this fun fall hop. The links are listed below. 

 

Alicia @un.de.once 
. 
Armine @msmodernmanners 
. 
Camila @casitabycamila 
. 
Fabiana @ciaofabiana 
. 
Janet @rosemarythymeblogspotcom 
. 
Yelana @table_with_taste 

 

Looking forward to Halloween night 🎃 How about you? 

 

 

ciao! fabiana

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