Melania Trump is about to become the First Lady of the United States for the second time, returning to the White House with four more years of elegance under her belt. Her statuesque figure, standing tall at 5'10", remains as impeccably maintained as ever, complemented by her cool, reserved demeanor, her tight-lipped smiles, and a wardrobe that is nothing short of perfection—now enhanced with a touch more Botox and fillers. All this, alongside her ever-controversial husband.
Walking down Penn. Ave.
(Video: Reuters)
This comeback allows us to reconnect with the former model who journeyed from Slovenia to the lawns of the White House. Along her path, she ticked off all the quintessential milestones: winning beauty pageants, gracing the covers of prestigious fashion magazines, posing for semi-nude photos she recently declared she doesn’t regret (which were aired on Russian TV as a “victory gift” this week), attending parties with real estate moguls, marrying one, enjoying a million-dollar wedding, having a child together, launching a short-lived jewelry collection, an embarrassing “copy-paste” from Michelle Obama’s speech, numerous coats, renovations, a renewed prenuptial agreement, and heaps of Manolo Blahnik shoes.
At 54, she appears to maintain her physical perfection through discipline, heavy makeup and frequent cosmetic enhancements. Over the years, her face has become the human equivalent of crease-free sheets. It’s a bit intimidating, but undeniably effective. The physical entity known as Melania Trump is an asset—one she ensures remains well-preserved.
There is no doubt Melania Trump’s image could easily be featured in the dictionary under "trophy wife." She embodies everything that exceptionally wealthy men dream of having by their side, alongside a luxury Rolex. Accordingly, she indeed dresses in the most expensive attire, branded just as one would expect from the wife of a Russian oligarch—even if he's American, ginger, and the President of the United States.
However, over recent years, she has proven herself to be more than just a trophy. She was quite regal in her conduct as First Lady during the previous term, yet she allowed herself small rebellions: avoiding the traditional meeting with the Bidens out of spite, refusing to hold her husband's hand in front of cameras, wearing a jacket with the inscription "I really don't care, do you?" during a visit to immigrant children in a detention facility in Texas, and supporting abortion rights.
For her husband’s 2016 victory speech, she wore an asymmetrical Ralph Lauren jumpsuit priced at $3,990 in white—the "color of feminism" as it was dubbed during that election, which she appropriated at the expense of her husband’s opponent, Hillary Clinton. But Melania Trump not only managed to eclipse Clinton in terms of ultimate fashion elegance, she also outshone the First Lady once considered the greatest icon of all time, Jackie Kennedy.
One may not be fond of Melania Trump, and that’s fine. In fact, it seems she herself isn’t particularly fond of others. But one cannot deny her status as a first-rate style icon. She has an unapologetic preference for luxury brands, midi-length pencil skirts, waist-emphasizing suits, and a penchant for committing to a single color for each appearance.
She rejects the notion that leaders’ wives should avoid a sexy appearance and seems to pay no heed to the puritanical suggestion that women over 50 should cover their arms. In general, she appears to have no patience for rules designed to guide her along conventional fashion paths. She truly can wear anything.
Even when she switches to jeans and a t-shirt, she is far from resembling the girl next door—not even the wealthier girl next door. Her jeans would be designed by Ralph Lauren, her bag from Hermès, and her understated flats by Louboutin.
While many American designers were hesitant to collaborate with her, Melania Trump never had trouble finding clothes overseas. Her election day wardrobe this month was dedicated to the French fashion house Dior, which also dressed her in a red suit for the Republican convention in Milwaukee and a gray sculpted wool suit for her husband’s victory speech. In all these, she may not have looked very American, but she certainly looked very much like a fashion icon.
Prediction: Melania Trump is not made from the usual material of presidents’ wives. She didn’t have an easy time during her first term, and the husband everyone loves to hate (but ultimately votes for in droves) did not go out of his way to cushion her media platform. If one were to predict, it’s highly likely she will face quite a bit of criticism in this term as well. Does this really concern her? Probably not.
Applause or a barrage of tomatoes? Regarding fashion taste, distinctive personal style, and the ability to look like a million dollars in any outfit (that costs a million dollars), Melania Trump deserves prolonged applause.
However, her addiction to all things luxurious, lack of stylistic accessibility, and minimal sensitivity to the fact that most of the world hasn’t been granted her genetic and social privilege suggest a realistic possibility of encountering a tomato or two.
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