First Lady Melania Trump’s Best Looks

By Jayme Chandler

First Lady Melania Trump graced the White House with her impeccable style throughout the Trump Presidency. Despite being the most stylish First Lady since Jacqueline Kennedy, Melania rarely received praise for her stunning outfits. For the last four years, Melania’s wardrobe consisted of polished, professional, yet fashion-forward pieces. The First Lady perfectly married traditional American political style with modern and high-end looks. Known for pairing skirt suits, long overcoats, and tea-length dresses with her famous 5-inch stilettos, Melania’s First Lady style was sophisticated yet edgy. Although it’s difficult to thoroughly analyze and document her incredible wardrobe history— since it’s so extensive and beautiful— these are some of our highlights.

Melania opened her tenure as First Lady with an absolute showstopper— her Tiffany blue Ralph Lauren inauguration dress. Inspired by Jackie O, from the gloves to the matching heels, to the sleek lines and high collar, this outfit was the definition of perfection. We wish all future First Ladies the best of luck— this look will be difficult for anyone to top.

Sporting Republican red, Melania wore a Valentino dress in the Oval Office in 2017. Flared sleeves, a defined waist, and long in length, this red dress is the epitome of First Lady fashion.

While meeting with President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, in 2018, it was only fitting that Melania came correct in a French designer. She matched a Givenchy tuxedo cape draped over a little black dress and glossy black Louboutin heels. The monochromatic look is nicely balanced with a range of textures from the matte material of the jacket, to the satin on the lapels, the snakeskin clutch, and glossy heels.

While Melania loves classic colors, she isn’t afraid to bring eccentricity to the White House. Looking pretty in pink and puffed sleeves, the First Lady donned a Delpozo Pre-Fall 2017 collection dress to deliver a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2017.

Summery, sophisticated, and comfortable, Melania paired an Altuzzara pencil skirt with a simple white button-down and cream Louboutins while boarding Marine One in 2017. We love this dressed-down look for a summer Friday in the office.

On the final night of the 2020 Republican National Convention, Melania dropped jaws in her highlighter green Valentino dress. The neon color juxtaposed with the classic pleated cut made for a modern classic. We also loved her addition of the simple red belt to give the dress some form and contrast. An instant classic.

Melania stole the show in this pale pink Calvin Klein pantsuit to meet Polish President Andrzej Duda and his wife, Agata, in 2019. We loved Melania’s different approach, as the First Lady typically opts for a belted dress or jacket. The tailored blazer and pants offered a relaxed yet formal look, perfect for the daytime summer state visit.

Melania looked as stunning as ever in a black Christian Dior belted dress and stilettos. Sleek, elegant, and timeless, the First Lady’s all-black aesthetic turned heads at the second 2020 Presidential Debate.

One of our favorite looks of all-time— the First Lady wore a white and navy Dolce & Gabbana dress to meet the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace in 2019. The crisp hat, navy color, and belt, and pure white button dress work perfectly to create a look that was regal, sharp, and sexy. She fit right in with the royal family.

Red leather can be hit or miss, but the First Lady absolutely knocked it out of the park with this Alexander McQueen overcoat at a Georgia Trump rally in 2020. Matching the red leather with zebra Manolo Blahniks, the First Lady brought the heat to the rally stage.

We love how the First Lady can dress it down, but still, look better than ever. Melania opted for a casual look while visiting Texas after Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Sporting Adidas Stan Smith sneakers and a simple white button-down with jeans, we loved her black FLOTUS stamped hat matched with ray-bans.

Inspired by the Christian Dior Bar suit, Melania departed for Paris in 2017 in a Hervé Pierre red ensemble. From the tailored blazer to the matching skirt and heels, Melania channeled Jackie O’s classic American style in the best way possible.

Inspired by India’s exquisite culture on her state visit in 2020, Melania wore a Hervé Pierre white pantsuit with a patterned green and gold sash. Pierre found inspiration for the sash in some old 20th-century documents he found in Paris. The pure white of the outfit spotlights the elegant green sash, which is made of green silk and gold metallic thread.

When welcoming the newly-elected South Korean President, Moon Jae-In in 2017, the First Lady stunned in this summery, yet stately fluttery creped cream Roland Mouret dress.

Dressing head-to-toe in Gucci, Melania attended the state dinner hosted by President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan in 2017. Melania’s gorgeous dress, inspired by traditional Chinese silk and embroidery, featured a high-slit that showed off her pink stilettos.

To the 2016 Presidential Debate, Melania famously wore a pink pussy-bow blouse with matching pants. We love Melania in this powerful yet elegant all-red-hot-pink outfit. We knew then and there that Melania would be an absolute gem as First Lady.

Boarding Marine One for a quick summer getaway in 2018, Melania sported all-white— except for her bright yellow Manolo Blahnik heels. We love a simple white blouse tucked into white skinny jeans, so simple and summery yet so chic. Melania carried a tote with a yellow handle to coordinate with her heels.

Melania honored Belgian designer, Myriam Ullens de Schooten while attending a state visit to the tiny nation in 2017. Sporting a tan blazer and pencil skirt, she finished the look with rattlesnake Manolo Blahnik heels. We love this particular hue of beige and the belted waist on the First Lady. The rattlesnake heels add some definition to the whole outfit while staying on theme.

In the spirit of July 4th, Melania donned red, white, and blue in American designer, Ralph Lauren in 2018. We love the light gingham pattern for summer and the pop of red on her belt and shoes tastefully accents the ensemble. We also love how Melania pulled in the waist to add some needed definition in this long, loose dress.

Melania meant business as she boarded Marine One for Mar-a-Lago for Christmas in 2020. Wearing all-black, the First Lady paired a double-breasted, peplum Azzedine Alaïa overcoat with thigh-high Christian Louboutins boots. We love the slim silhouette of the jacket and the sneaky pop of leather from the boots.

For our all-time favorite look, we chose Melania’s gorgeous white hat and skirt suit look. Melania’s all-white outfit captured everyone’s attention as she greeted French President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, at the White House in 2018. Wearing a belted white Michael Kors blazer and matching pencil skirt, her white wide-brimmed hat may be our favorite accessory of all-time. Looking like Olivia Pope, Melania proved that she’s the most fashionable First Lady since Jackie Kennedy.

Melania left the White House in style, wearing a striking but somber, all-black outfit to mourn the end of the Trump Presidency. Wearing a Dolce & Gabbana dress, Chanel jacket, and Christian Louboutins, she accessorized the look with a gorgeous crocodile Birken Bag and Bottega Veneta sunglasses. We will miss Melania’s impeccable style at the White House. We have no doubt she will go down in history as the most fashionable First Lady.

Photos via Vogue, Pinterest, Harper’s Bazaar, Getty Images, Vanity Fair, Refinery 29, @always.melania, White House Flikr, @flotus, US Today, Daily Mail, US Magazine, Page Six