First lady Melania Trump is returning to the East Wing bolstered by lessons from four years in an unelected job she has privately acknowledged was a whirlwind of responsibilities of which she was largely unaware.

Melania Trump wore a custom look -- a strapless white gown with a geometric black trim and a small slit -- to the inaugural ball Monday night, completing her series of the day's outfits with a show-stopper from her own stylist. The first lady completed the look with a black choker and white heels.

Her sharply tailored look for the inauguration and a black and white gown for the evening’s balls show she intends to strike a severe, unflappable note.

The former model attended her husband’s second inauguration wearing a deep navy ensemble designed by Adam Lippes and hat by Eric Javits.

Where in the world is Melania Trump? She made her return to Washington in a sharply tailored outfit exuding international woman of mystery, as her husband once again became president