I can’t recall much about the political climate of my elementary school years. However, I can remember the fascination I felt upon looking at First Lady Melania Trump’s clothing.
It was Inauguration Day of 2017, and I, as a third grader, had just arrived home from a half day at school. Perched on the couch in my living room, I remember commenting on the beauty of Trump’s lavish gown. At the time, I couldn’t identify much about it besides its monochrome baby-blue color. (I know the piece was made in cashmere by Ralph Lauren now, the same designer who dressed presidential nominee Hillary Clinton that year, symbolizing some sort of bipartisanship.)
In response to my nine-year-old awe, all my dad had to say was that the outfit undoubtedly cost someone a lot of money.
Almost a decade later, at President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, it’s safe to assume that almost every outfit fell within a similarly large price range. However, none of these 2025 looks managed to leave a lasting impression on me like they did in 2017.
Specifically, I was a bit disappointed by Melania Trump’s outfit. A sharp contrast from the pastel tone of 2017, the First Lady appeared in a virtually black ensemble (apparently, in real life, it’s actually navy blue), with only two minimal bursts of white. The look consisted of a long, neatly buttoned, silk wool overcoat. For shoes, she wore simple black heels.
Perhaps the most notable aspect, Trump’s face was obscured, covered by an oversized boater-style hat. With her hair tucked back cleanly in a low bun, her outfit looked undeniably severe and somber. Being under such an immense spotlight, critics have quickly jumped to conclusions surrounding a deeper meaning. Most popularly, people see Trump’s solemnity as a nod to how the course of her husband’s next term may play out (though the probability of this being an intentional message is quite low).
Disregarding any deeper political significance, Trump looked as if she was entering a funeral, not the inauguration that should have been celebratory for her and her family. Upon closer look, after the initial goth, mourning impression, I most clearly see a garment influenced by the 2023 biopic Oppenheimer. Throughout the three-hour atomic bomb origin story, scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer’s (Cillian Murphy) signature style is his beige suit and, of course, a wide-brimmed hat, both of which bear a resemblance to Trump’s style.
While not many men had notable inauguration outfits this year, Trump wasn’t the only famous figure who was luxuriously dressed. In particular, former First Lady Jill Biden opposed Trump with her monochrome purple look.
The outfit, a Ralph Lauren overcoat and dress, was specifically chosen to make a political statement. The ensemble was entirely a shade of deep purple, meant to send hope of bipartisan cooperation, for the color is a blend of Democratic blue and Republican red. In addition to the body of the outfit, Biden donned gloves and heels, similar to Trump. This made it so that, overall, the two women wore relatively similar ensembles (in terms of form).
Following this monochrome overcoat trend, Vice President J.D. Vance’s wife Usha Vance wore a shade of dusty pink to the ceremony. The second lady of the United States’ look was created by luxury brand Oscar de la Renta and includes a thin belt around the waist. Further, she accessorized with beige gloves and light brown boots, making for an altogether cohesive, neutral-tone palette.
While Vance’s fell on my favorable side, I feel that the odd scarf-esque attachment on the front of the coat degrades the overall look’s quality. The “scarf” is attached to the garment’s neckline and is belted around her middle. Personally, it looks to me like a rectangular, oversized tie and is not the best way to diversify the garment from its basic overcoat form.
Ivanka Trump, President Trump’s 43-year-old daughter, was the last major female figure with a notable look at the inauguration ceremony. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of her mother’s fashion statement, Ivanka Trump’s look takes last place among these four women.
Wearing a dark green skirt suit, Ivanka Trump’s outfit bore a resemblance to that of Vance, just less classic. Her top had a similar neckline that extended down the dress, but hers veered to the side, which resulted in asymmetricity. In addition, her top was cinched with a thin black belt, creating a fitted look. Supplementing the body of the outfit (which included a midi skirt), she wore black gloves and a green ascot hat.
In comparison with the wide majority of political figures and political associates who consistently wear all-black or gray clothing, I respect the unique aspects of Ivanka Trump’s outfit. The look gives off an air of professionalism, yet it simultaneously sets itself apart from traditional business wear.
However, in execution, I find the look to have fallen short. If I squint from about two feet away, I actually do like the outfit. But upon closer inspection… I cannot say the same.
For one, her top looks like a robe or karate uniform, partly due to its asymmetrical nature. And, even though her hat (on the opposite side of her body) somewhat offsets this, the cap worsens the overall look. This has more to do with my slight opposition to obscurely shaped hats than the general ensemble, but I believe that she would’ve been better off just keeping her hair down (or at least unobscured). The cap, in my opinion, looks like a deflated kickball.
Altogether, I was slightly disappointed with this January’s inauguration looks. Obviously, I’m aware that the event wasn’t meant to be a fashion show. However, I don’t see any harm in making a chic statement anyway. (Granted, some of the aforementioned women did use their clothing to symbolize their feelings and opinions, something that I do respect.)
For future presidential events and inaugurations, especially as female representation ideally increases in our government, I hope to see political figures play around with their outfits more. Not to say that I expect anything exceptionally unusual, but a broader range of colors, styles, accessories, and even designers would be fun to spot.
After all, who says that the leaders of our country can’t make statements while making fashion statements?
