The dressmaking, more than any other aspect of Melania Trump’s opening ensemble, captured interest and sparked conversation. The wide-brim military hat obscured many of her mouth, giving her an image of remoteness and unknown. As Professor Nichola Gutgold, author of Electing Madam Vice President: When Women Run, Women Win, remarked in an email to CNN, “( With ) her face half hidden by her hat, Melania remains aloof. ” This atmosphere of separation, coupled with the ensemble’s structured elements, conveyed a gentle belligerence and a little aggressive edge—an cosmetic that has become emblematic of Trump’s type evolution.
During her first name as first woman, from 2017 to 2021, Melania Trump’s clothing choices slowly transitioned toward a more equipped and proper design. First sweet and nostalgic—recall her Jackie Kennedy-inspired baby-blue Ralph Lauren ensemble at her first inauguration—her clothing evolved into one characterized by organised shadows and military-inspired detailing. Khaki clothes, sharply tailored military suits, and clothes in subdued grays became staples. These options featured cinched waists, painful shoulders, and more hemlines, evoking an image of caution, strength, and control.
This move was no injury. According to Kate Bennett, a former CNN White House correspondent and publisher of Free, Melania: The Illicit Biography, Trump’s clothing options mirrored her maintained public image. “ Her silhouettes became long-sleeved, cinched waists, hard shoulders, longer hemlines, like almost a military-esque vibe, ” Bennett noted. “ I think that ’s because it felt like shield… because she underwent four decades of truly intense scrutiny. ”
The investigation was really unmatched. As the marriage of one of the most controversial political figures in modern history, Melania Trump often found herself the subject of public and media investigation, her every phrase, motion, and outfit dissected. Unlike past first ladies who leaned into relatability or accessibility to counteract such pressures, Trump seemed to respond by retreating further into a private cocoon, using fashion as a literal and metaphorical barrier.
Her hat at the 2025 inauguration epitomized this strategy. It recalled the other iconic broad-brimmed hat she wore during the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron in 2018—a piece that also conveyed control and authority while maintaining an air of elegance. The choice of such millinery, both then and now, underscores her preference for styles that create boundaries between herself and the public.
This intentional use of fashion as a form of armor aligns with the broader themes of her public life: elusive, impenetrable, and unwaveringly private. While her outfits may adhere to the highest standards of craftsmanship, they resist offering any real insight into her thoughts or emotions. Instead, they reinforce the idea that Melania Trump is a figure meant to be observed, not fully known—a paradoxical blend of visibility and concealment.
By the time of her husband’s second inauguration, her style had cemented itself as a deliberate form of self-presentation. Each tailored coat, each structured dress, and each sweeping hat spoke volumes—not about who she is, but about the image she wished to project. Detached yet formidable, she continues to redefine the role of first lady, using sartorial choices to navigate public life on her own terms.
