Outdated First Lady Outfits That Totally Missed The Mark

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When you're first lady of the United States, getting dressed every morning isn't the easiest task. The eyes of the world are on every single outfit you wear, and there's a huge responsibility to dress appropriately for whatever high-profile event the day may bring. Unfortunately, the intense pressure can sometimes mean the partner of the president misses a trend memo. Just ask the Trump clan, as Donald Trump's famous family have several outdated trends in their designer-filled closets they just won't give up on.

But while there are a few looks that failed to put Melania Trump on trend, she's not the only first lady who's failed to avoid a dated ensemble. The former model is in good (or bad) company with a few other political figures who walked before her, with the likes of Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Jill Biden also strutting their stuff in looks that should have stayed confined to another era.

In 2024, Jill Biden took on a fashion trend so many first ladies have tried before — monochrome dressing. Everyone from Michelle Obama to Melania Trump has worn the color palette style hack, but Jill chose the wrong time to give it a go. She appeared with her daughter Ashley Biden at a Pride event held at the White House that summer wearing a pastel green pantsuit, complete with a perfectly matching satin top. Though the ensemble would have been en vogue a few years earlier, by January, monochrome had been confirmed as an outdated trend to avoid in 2024, making way for more modern 'fits that combined multiple colors like Ashley's rainbow dress.

Melania Trump has had a number of outfits that missed the mark, including when she appeared at the Republican National Convention in 2020 alongside Donald Trump in a khaki green, structured jacket with large gold buttons and a matching skirt. The outfit's military vibes made her look outdated as the formal style had a big moment in 2017 but had fizzled since. By 20020, more feminine aesthetics were in, as were comfier, less structured garments (including loungewear) as the COVID-19 pandemic forced people to spend more time at home. 

Equally, Melania added a patent waist belt in the same color. Though statement belts returned to the spotlight as spring 2024's biggest accessory trend, including in waist form, they weren't exactly flying off the shelves in 2020 like they did in 2012.

Laura Bush wasn't famous for being the most modern first lady when it came to fashion, and the heavily embellished, old-fashioned jacket and long skirt she wore to the 2006 Kennedy Center Honors did nothing to change our mind. Belted looks were hot at the time, as were square necks and wrap dresses. But Bush wasn't serving any of those popular style choices in her red two-piece, which felt more like a frumpy 'fit resurrected from the '80s than a fresh '00s ensemble.

When Michelle Obama proudly watched her husband, former president Barack Obama, give his first State of the Union address in 2010, she dressed demurely in a maroon and dark purple dress with three quarter sleeves. Though the garment was appropriate for the event, the single string of pearls she wore around her neck instantly dated her whole look.

Jewelry trends in 2010 were all about bold, statement necklaces, with bright colors, quirky metals, and edgy designs taking center stage. But even though Michelle's conservative, classic pearls (which were big in the '50s) were on the larger side, they didn't check any of those modern boxes.

Not having compassion for others has never been on trend, so Melania Trump's controversial slogan jacket from 2018 was instantly outdated. During Donald Trump's first term in the White House, Melania wore a khaki jacket with the words "I really don't care. Do U?" written on the back in a white, paint style font. The worst part was Melania had been visiting displaced families at the Mexico border and many onlookers felt she was sending a message about her passion for the cause — or lack thereof.

In Melania's former press secretary Stephanie Grisham's 2021 book, "I'll Take Your Questions Now: What I Saw in the Trump White House," Grisham claimed Donald wasn't happy about the clothing choice and asked them both (via Vanity Fair), "What the hell were you thinking?" And we have to ask the same.