Posts tagged: worn

Ralph Lauren Collection designed the knee-length, powder-blue dress Melania wore to Trump’s inauguration in 2017, along with the coordinating shrug and gloves.

She accessorized the outfit with pearl earrings and blue, pointed-toe heels.

The full ensemble evoked Jackie Kennedy’s style. From the bright color to the nod to one of America’s most iconic first ladies, Melania’s look was the perfect choice for her husband’s first inauguration.

Hervé Pierre custom-designed Melania’s off-the-shoulder dress for the inaugural ball.

The cream dress had an A-line silhouette, a thigh-high slit on one side, and three-dimensional fabric that curved across the bodice. A thin red belt cinched at the waist for a pop of color.

The dress felt high-fashion, connecting the first lady to her past as a model as she stepped into a new role.

In August 2017, the Trumps visited Corpus Christi, Texas, following Hurricane Harvey to assess recovery efforts.

The pair wore casual attire, with Melania arriving in a white button-down, black jeans, and sneakers. She also added a black baseball hat to her look that said “FLOTUS,” first lady of the United States, on the front.

Melania’s outfit quickly became a source of social-media chatter. Some said her hat called attention to her in the wake of the natural disaster, while others praised her casual outfit.

When greeting Justin and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau at the White House in October 2017, Melania wore a gray pinstripe suit instead of a dress.

The suit featured high-waisted pants, and she paired it with a white button-down and an untied black tie. The outfit was unexpected for a first lady, offering a fun style moment.

In April 2018, the Trumps hosted Japan’s prime minister at the time, Shinzo Abe, and his wife, Akie Abe, at Mar-a-Lago, during which the first lady wore an off-the-shoulder dress from Carolina Herrera.

The dress was covered in black and white stripes, with thicker black stripes on the bodice and the pattern reversed on the midi-length skirt.

She added white heels to her look, and Trump wore a navy and white striped tie that matched his wife’s look. The coordinating outfits were an atypical but welcome choice for the couple.

Melania greeted President Macron of France and his wife, Brigitte, in a black minidress and black pumps at the White House.

The standout feature of her outfit was a Givenchy tuxedo cape, which added a flair of personality to the otherwise simple look.

The first lady changed into a silver Chanel dress for the dinner.

Most of the form-fitting dress was covered in textured fabric, while the top of the bodice and bottom of the skirt were made of a sheer, black fabric adorned with silver embellishments.

The fabrics didn’t blend well, making the dress look too busy. It would have been a better look without the sheer fabric.

In June 2018, Melania visited an immigration facility in McAllen, Texas, where children were living, wearing a green Zara jacket that said “I really don’t care, do u?” on the back.

Critics said the jacket was insensitive to wear for the visit, critiquing both the first lady and the president for the fashion faux pas.

Melania’s former aide, Stephanie Grisham, wrote in her book “I’ll Take Your Questions Now” that the president yelled at Melania for wearing the jacket, though Trump and the first lady both said she wore it to send a message to the left-wing media.

Melania wore a floor-length wrap dress from Ralph Lauren to celebrate Independence Day 2018.

The blue-and-white gingham dress was fun and festive for the holiday, but the oversize red belt tied at her waist overwhelmed the look.

If the first lady had swapped the bow for a thinner belt, her dress would have been more effective.

Melania posed for photos in front of pyramids in Egypt wearing cream trousers, a white blouse, a black tie, and a sand-colored Ralph Lauren blazer. A white-and-black boater hat completed the look.

The outfit may have been innocuously stylish in a different venue, but some social-media users thought the outfit looked similar to one worn by “Raiders of the Lost Ark” villain René Belloq during his visit to the pyramids in the film.

It wasn’t the first time Melania faced criticism for one of her outfits on her visit to Africa. During her tour of the pyramids and the Great Sphinx, Melania told reporters, “I wish people would focus on what I do, not what I wear,” following backlash for wearing a white pith helmet.

“You know what? We just completed an amazing trip,” she added. “We went to Ghana, we went to Malawi, we went to Kenya, here we are in Egypt. I want to talk about my trip, not what I wear.”

Donald and Melania Trump arrived at the White House on the evening of December 27, holding hands as they walked across the lawn.

While the president was in a suit, Melania wore a green jacket, light-brown pants, and matching shoes.

The pants might have been a better choice for a daytime look, as it was difficult for some to tell if the first lady was even wearing bottoms at first glance in the dark. The addition of sunglasses to her nighttime look was also an odd choice.

Melania’s outfit would have worked better during the day or with different pants.

In April 2019, the first lady was photographed at the White House in a black-and-white polka-dot dress designed by Alessandra Rich.

The high-neck dress was cinched at the waist with a black belt, coordinating with the dots on the dress, and it hit her mid-calf.

Melania wore a cream coat over her shoulders and her signature sunglasses, adding glamour to the feminine look.

During a visit to the UK, Melania attended a state dinner with the royal family in a Dior gown.

A layer of semi-sheer fabric covered the gown’s scooped neckline, forming points on the top of the bodice before transitioning into white fabric. The dress hugged her figure before flaring slightly at her waist.

Melania wore white, elbow-length gloves with the dress. The look was fitting for dining with royalty.

Ahead of a dinner at Winfield House, where the American ambassador to the UK lives, Melania was photographed in a red Givenchy gown.

Melania’s floor-length dress was sleeveless and featured a built-in cape, a silhouette Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, often favors.

During another visit to the UK in December 2019, Melania stepped out in a high-neck, cape coat from Valentino. The coat was mustard yellow, and Melania paired it with a pink dress and coordinating pumps.

The jacket was a big statement in and of itself, so the look would have been more effective if the first lady had worn a more neutral color with it than bright pink.

Melania’s black Dior sundress was fairly simple. The midi-length dress featured a V-neckline and a white, dotted pattern.

The white lace belt from Alaïa and white Christian Louboutin pumps she wore with the dress made the look cohesive, and she also added sunglasses to the outfit.

The look balanced Melania’s personal style and traditional first lady attire.

Melania appeared alongside Trump in a hot-pink midi-dress from Jason Wu at the 2020 RNC.

The dress featured a boat neckline and a flared skirt, and two black bows sat on the waistline, which appeared to be cinched with elastic. Melania wore black pumps with the dress.

The bows on the dress could have been chic, but they looked a bit crumpled throughout the night, particularly because they sat atop the ruched waistline and contrasted so heavily with the pink fabric. The dress would have been a better fit if there had been just one or no bows on the waistline.

Melania wore a cape dress to close out the RNC, choosing a neon-green piece from Valentino.

The ankle-length, high-neck dress was covered in vertical pleats and featured two swaths of fabric flowing out from her shoulders like a cape. She added a thin pink belt and pink pumps to the outfit.

The silhouette was beautiful, but the green color was an odd choice for the RNC. Vanity Fair reported that it allowed social-media users to easily make memes out of the outfit using green screen technology.

If she had worn the dress in a different color, Melania’s look would have been a slam dunk.

Melania oversaw the delivery of the 2020 White House Christmas tree in a gingham coat from Balenciaga.

The loose-fitting coat featured an off-center line of buttons, and the collar formed a scarf that wrapped around one of Melania’s shoulders. Quarter-length sleeves showed off the first lady’s black gloves, just as the knee-length hem spotlighted her black boots from Alaïa.

The look was effortlessly chic.

When Trump left office in January 2021, Melania chose to wear an all-black outfit.

She paired a form-fitting Dolce & Gabbana dress with a cropped Chanel coat, gloves, Christian Louboutin pumps, and dark sunglasses.

The look seemed to nod to Jackie Kennedy, just as her first outfit as first lady did. However, the darker hues spoke to the more somber tone of the day for the Trumps.

Melania also made headlines for changing into a beachy dress before arriving at Mar-a-Lago later in the day.

Rather than wearing another pastel look to mark the beginning of her husband’s second term as president, Melania donned navy and white for the 2025 inauguration.

Adam Lippes designed her coat, which she paired with a white scarf, navy pumps, and a custom boater-style hat from Eric Javits. Boater hats are typically worn in summer, but the wool piece Melania wore offered a winter version.

Although the hat got some negative attention online as people compared it to the one the Hamburglar or V in “V For Vendetta” wore, Melania’s inaugural outfit was a savvy choice. The look set a serious tone, blending professional style with Melania’s personal taste.

Melania also managed to pull attention from Trump with the look, which was a feat considering how many eyes he had on him throughout the day.

Melania opted for another custom Hervé Pierre dress for the 2025 inaugural balls, arriving in a black-and-white dress that felt like a continuation of the fashion story she started with the look she wore during the day.

The strapless dress had an off-the-shoulder neckline, and a zig-zag of black fabric adorned the bodice before framing a slit on one side of the skirt.

A coordinating choker with a brooch completed the stylish gown.

Traditionally, Easter fashion calls for pastel tones and festive prints like gingham, allowing people to have fun with their outfits.

However, Melania arrived at the 2025 Easter Egg Roll at the White House in a simple cream trench coat from Mackage and heels designed by Roger Vivier.

The subdued look was a shift from Melania’s more colorful outfits for previous Easter celebrations at the White House. Likewise, Mackage, a brand founded and headquartered in Canada, was a surprising choice for the first lady, given the ongoing trade dispute between the US and its northern neighbor.

Melania joined her husband at Pope Francis’ funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

She wore a black coatdress designed by Dolce & Gabbana for the occasion, as well as lace gloves and a lace veil from the fashion house.

Wearing an Italian designer was fitting for the occasion since the Catholic Church is based in the country, though Melania also favors Dolce & Gabbana when she isn’t in Italy.

Melania chose a $3,900 Bottega Veneta dress for the show.

The dress had an asymmetrical neckline and gold detailing on the shoulder and waist. Melania paired the designer gown with silver and gold Christian Louboutin pumps.

The dress was pretty, but Melania’s black and white looks for Trump’s second term are starting to feel a bit repetitive. A pop of color could have made the dress stand out more.

Melania appeared alongside Trump at the US Army’s 250th anniversary parade in Washington, DC, wearing another suit from Adam Lippes.

Both her $2,490 jacket and $1,190 skirt were cream-colored, with a subtle navy pinstripe pattern. The double-breasted jacket and pencil skirt had a looser, relaxed fit.

Blue Christian Louboutin heels completed the ensemble.

On September 4, Melania attended a meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education.

She wore a soft gray linen suit that featured white pinstripes. The jacket was oversized, and the pants were wide-legged. The first lady added structure to the look with a fitted white T-shirt and a white belt.

Stilettos completed the chic menswear look.

On September 16, the president and first lady arrived in the UK for a state visit. The following evening, they attended a state banquet with King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and other members of the royal family.

Melania wore a bright yellow dress designed by Carolina Herrera to the dinner. The dress had an off-the-shoulder neckline, a column skirt, and a slit on the side. She added even more color to the ensemble with a wide, purple belt and bright green, dangly earrings.

It was nice to see Melania add some color to her wardrobe in 2025, but the bright hue and belt made the dress look a bit too casual for the event. The silhouette was pretty, but the first lady may have been better off wearing the gown in a more subdued color.

On September 23, Melania accompanied the president on a visit to the UN General Assembly, wearing a white blazer and tailored pants from Dolce & Gabbana.

The suit was a strong choice, as the contrast of the long blazer and cropped pants felt professional and chic, and the cream Christian Louboutin shoes she paired with the look were stylish, too.

However, the camel-colored blouse from Max Mara that she wore with the suit was almost too close to Melania’s skin tone. The look would have popped more with a different colored shirt.

When the president and first lady passed out candy at the White House on Halloween, neither opted to wear a costume. Instead, Melania donned a wool coat from Marni, which nodded to the holiday with orange trim on the collar, pockets, and lining.

She wore the khaki-colored coat buttoned to the collar, and it cinched at her waist with a thick belt — one of her go-to silhouettes. She paired the coat with taupe Manolo Blahnik heels.

While the orange aspects of the look had a subtle Halloween feel, the outfit just didn’t feel festive enough for the holiday, especially when compared to the plethora of decorations covering the White House for the event. Melania would have made a stronger statement in a full orange coat or a black and orange look.

On November 18, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, dined at the White House during his visit to the US.

Melania donned a $3,350 Elie Saab dress for the occasion. The deep-green dress featured a strapless neckline, and ruching on both the bodice and the skirt added texture. A slit broke up the floor-length skirt, and Melania completed the look with black heels and sparkly earrings.

Every bit of Melania’s look seemed designed to welcome Crown Prince Mohammed. The dress was similar in color to Saudi Arabia’s national flag, seeming to nod to the nation. Plus, in November 2024, Elie Saab marked 45 years of his brand with “1001 Seasons of Elie Saab,” a massive fashion show held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Melania celebrated the end of 2025 at Trump’s annual party at Mar-a-Lago wearing a sparkly, silver gown.

Designed by The New Arrivals, the $1,450 dress was sleeveless, with a scooped neckline, hugging Melania’s figure as it flowed into a midi-length skirt. She paired the dress with bedazzled Christian Louboutin shoes and loose waves.

The look was festive and fitting for Florida weather, offering a refreshing change from her more subdued style.

The first lady attended the premiere of her documentary “Melania” in a Dolce & Gabbana skirt suit.

Black buttons lined the center of the jacket, which was cinched at Melania’s waist with a black belt. The column skirt hit her mid-calf, spotlighting her black pumps.

The outfit might have been fine for any number of first lady engagements, but it felt too understated for the premiere of her film.

A black gown with a professional flair may have been more appropriate for the occasion.

Trump invited only Republican governors to the National Governors Association dinner, which was held in the East Room of the White House on February 21.

The event seemed to have a formal dress code, as indicated by most attendees’ ensembles. The president and other men in attendance wore tuxedos, while women, including Usha Vance, wore gowns. Melania, though, went more casual for the event.

She paired silver, patterned Dolce & Gabbana pants with a black blouse that had tie detailing. Metallic pumps and shiny earrings completed the outfit.

Melania’s look may have been a good choice for a girls’ night, but it wasn’t fancy enough for a formal dinner at the White House. A gown with the same texture as her pants would have been a better choice.

After wearing the designer to the dinner at the White House, Melania tapped Dolce & Gabbana again for her State of the Union look.

She wore a deep charcoal suit from the brand, featuring a tailored jacket and wide-legged pants. She kept the look simple, pairing it with a white blouse, black Manolo Blahnik pumps, and stud earrings.

The outfit struck a nice balance between simplicity and luxury.