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Revisiting the Controversial Style of First Lady Melania Trump

Layla Ilchi
·3 min read

First Lady Melania Trump has been a controversial figure during her time at the White House. The First Lady has spent the last four years largely silent amid President Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric and polarizing policies that most recently led to the pro-Trump insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. While the First Lady has not been vocal in her position, many critics have inferred messages through her sartorial choices.

The First Lady began stirring controversy with her style prior to Trump taking office. One of her most widely criticized fashion choices came during the second 2016 presidential debate between Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The now-First Lady chose a fuchsia Gucci pussy bow blouse for the debate, just days after the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape leaked that showed Trump making vulgar comments about sexually assaulting women.

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Many on social media criticized Trump’s fashion choice — specifically because of the blouse’s name — in relation to her husband’s offensive statements (“when you’re a star, they let you do it. Grab them by the p–y. You can do anything.”), but the Trump campaign later stated the choice was not made intentionally in light of the leaked tape.

Although the Gucci pussy bow blouse left a bad impression with many as she entered the White House, her style during her initial year as First Lady went mostly uncriticized, save for some critics pointing out the large price tags associated with many of her looks, such as the $51,000 Dolce & Gabbana floral appliqué jacket she wore in Italy during the G7 Summit in 2017.

Her most controversial look during her time as First Lady came in 2018 when she wore an Army-style Zara jacket that read “I really don’t care, do u?” while she traveled to McAllen, Texas to visit detained children who were separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border, per policies enacted by the Trump administration.

The First Lady was met with immense criticism over the look for its tone-deaf nature amid the president’s harsh immigration policies. Her fashion stylist, Hervé Pierre, told WWD at the time he hadn’t ever seen the jacket, and, when asked about the outfit, her former communications director, Stephanie Grisham, stated “it’s just a jacket. There was no hidden message.”

Trump spoke out about the jacket months later in an interview with ABC during her trip to Africa, a visit that also sparked controversy for her choice to wear a pith helmet, which was criticized for its similarity to the styles worn by colonialists. During the interview, the First Lady said the jacket was intended as a message to the “people and the left-wing media who are criticizing me.” She said the jacket was not intended to be a message to the detained children.

These controversial fashion moments and many others have had a considerable influence on the fashion world’s perception of the First Lady’s style and will undoubtedly be a part of her legacy.

Click through the above gallery to see more photos of First Lady Melania Trump’s style over the last four years.

Read more here:

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Shopify Deactivates Trump Stores After D.C. Riot

WATCH: President Trump Opens the LVMH Factory in Texas

Launch Gallery: Revisiting First Lady Melania Trump's Style

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