The pair have had a few fashion missteps since stepping into their respective White House offices in 2017. Who could forget the time that the First Lady wore the $39 Zara coat that read, “I Really Don’t Care. Do U?” on the back while visiting an immigrant children’s detention center in Texas? Her spokesperson, Stephanie Grisham, said at the time that “There was no hidden message” in the jacket, while the President himself contradicted her, noting that the jacket was sending a message to the media. Either way, it appeared to most that Melania didn’t think her choice all the way through.
But it’s important to note that Mrs. Trump has had a slew of other controversial fashion moments, the most recent being her decision to wear a Pith helmet — a symbol commonly associated with Colonialism — while embarking on a safari in Kenya. Not to mention, she rarely pays homage to international designers while abroad.
Ivanka, too, has been criticized for insensitivity when it comes to her clothing choices. In January of last year, she was taken to task on social media for posting an image of herself in a shiny $5,000 gown in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, while images of children in similar looking foil heat blankets were simultaneously circling the web.
On the whole, the most glaring difference between the Trumps’ and Obama’s style boils down to thoughtfulness. On the day to day, Melania and Ivanka look polished, stylish and work appropriate. But where Obama went the extra mile, showing her goodwill towards her international guests by thoughtfully choosing her designers, or attempting to relate to everyday Americans by mixing “high” and “low” brands (like a Michael Kors skirt and a Gap T-shirt), the Trumps have chosen not to alter the luxury wardrobes they’ve worked with since before holding public office — a statement in and of itself.
Given that the Trump empire was built on optics, and that both Melania and Ivanka have fashion backgrounds and deep pockets, we would have expected the pair to be more conscious of the impression their clothes are leaving. No, it’s not a requirement for them to follow the precedent set by Michelle (or even the royals, who pay homage to host countries during international visits as well), but it couldn’t hurt, right?
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