Melania Trump's fashion evolution: from model to First Lady

Melania Trump with an escort at her husband’s second presidential inauguration. Picture: Instagram.

Melania Trump with an escort at her husband’s second presidential inauguration. Picture: Instagram.

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You can tell by the way she walks with so much pose that Melania Trump was a top model in her heyday.

Before she entered the White House, Trump already had style, attending high fashion events like New York Fashion Week and securing the Met Gala invitations.

The First Lady of the United States impressed everyone with her impeccable look at her husband’s presidential inauguration in Washington DC on Monday, January 20.

President Donald Trump is back in office for a second term after winning last year’s elections.

His wife looked elegant in a double-breast silk wool coat designed by Adam Lippes.

“The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy and today we had the honour to dress our first lady, Mrs Melania Trump. Mrs Trump’s outfit was created by some of America’s finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world,” said the designer.

She paired it with an ivory blouse underneath and navy stilettos for a more sophisticated look.

She accessorised with black leather gloves and completed the look with a navy and white boat hat, which stole the show.

New York-based milliner Eric Javits designed the hat.

Melania Trump wearing a hat designed by Eric Javits. Picture: Instagram.

“It was my great honour and privilege to create the hat our First Lady, Melania Trump wore for the inaugural swearing-in of our 47th President!

“She has the inner grace, beauty and presence to transform what was a very simple, restrained hat style into what became a ‘wow’ moment. The First Lady’s hat was made with love. EJ,” Javits wrote on his Instagram account.

The First Lady is a known fashion icon with a soft spot for flamboyant hats. In 2018, she launched the Head of State Collection, which featured a white custom-designed hat symbolic of the French state visit to The White House.

The Head of State Collection consisted of statement pieces that the First Lady wore at historic events and could only be bought at auction.

“The important collection features three one-of-a-kind signed items, including the iconic white hat worn during the French Republic's state visit.  A portion of the proceeds will support children from the foster care community,” she said during the January 2022 auction.

U.S. President Donald Trump's wife Melania Trump. Picture: Reuters.

Her style improved significantly over the years. When she was still a model and attended many red carpet events, she would show a bit of cleavage.

But as soon as her husband started campaigning for the presidency, she started dressing modestly. She keeps her chest covered but shows off her beautiful, long legs.

At the Republican National Convention in 2016, she donned a white Roksanda dress with puffy sleeves, giving class and elegance.

Melania Trump waves as she arrives to speak at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. File picture: Mike Segar

At her husband’s first presidential inauguration in 2017, she donned a sky-blue Ralph Lauren dress cashmere dress and matching gloves.

While she looked great, this year’s look was better because not only did she choose an independent designer but she also made a remarkable statement about her love for coats.

President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrives for a church service at St. John’s Episcopal Church across from the White House on Donald Trump's inauguration day. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP

She is known for owning the most stylish coats. One of our favourites is the red double-breasted blazer she wore with a matching pencil skirt last year on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Melania Trump dazzling in red on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention in July last year. Picture: X.

There was also a zebra print coat she wore in October last year at Madison Square Garden. Designed by Michael Kors, that coat left a remarkable impression at a campaign rally in New York City.

Melania Trump wearing a Michael Kors zebra print coat. Picture: Instagram.

Now that she’s returned as America’s First Lady, we expect to see more of her high fashion.