Melania Trump's Best (And Worst) Holiday Outfits

Melania Trump knows how to dress for the occasion, whatever it may be. Throughout the holidays over the years, the former model has stepped out wearing seasonally-appropriate 'fits that suit the general levity of the mood. After all, a key role of being the first lady is acting as the host of the White House, managing its many parties, ceremonies, and events. It's a year-round production, but things amp up around Christmas, with Melania there sporting her festive reds, her cheerful plaids, and couture outfits to amp up the cheer. 

However, from time to time, Melania has missed the mark with her festive fashion, leading to the very necessary compilation of her best and worst holiday outfits. Hey, some seasons are hits and some are misses. We also know, thanks to an infamous leaked call, that some holiday tasks are a drag for Melania. Former senior advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff released a taped phone conversation from July 2018 with Melania, where the first lady said: "I'm working ... my a** off on the Christmas stuff, that you know, who gives a f**k about the Christmas stuff and decorations? But I need to do it, right?" Obviously, some of these holiday chores don't spark joy in Melania, so some of her failed holiday outfits may have been a result of this overall feeling of irritation. Only Melania knows, but we still get to be the judges of her holiday 'fits. 

Melania Trump inspected the White House Christmas tree in November 2020 wearing a fabulously vintage-looking holiday ensemble. She stepped out in a houndstooth 3/4 sleeve coat by Balenciaga, with oversized buttons, a high neckline, and a coordinating scarf. She styled the outfit with long, lambskin black gloves and sky-high black suede heeled boots by Alaia. The classical elegance of the outfit — complete with its oversized buttons and high neckline — harkened back to the White House style of First Lady Jackie Kennedy, whose style remains timeless to this day.

Melania Trump has worn her fair share of outfits that had people talking for all the wrong reasons. In other cases, her outfits have just been a snooze, which is disappointing because everyone knows she can do better. She is, after all, famous for her style. In December 2019, Melania lit the National Christmas Tree in the red and white Gabriela Hearst Cassatt coat. Although plaid is typically associated with Christmas, the muted tones were unmemorable and practically faded into the background. Judging from Melania's many lavish outfits with jaw-dropping price tags, it's clear that she has no budget and no limit when it comes to her wardrobe, so when a piece is a dud — as was the case with this coat — it's unfortunate. 

By contrast, when Melania goes bold with her reds, it tends to work in her favor. In November 2018, she and her husband Donald Trump walked out of the White House holding hands to inspect the Christmas tree. For the occasion, Melania walked out in a crimson and green, tartan cape coat by Michael Kors that retails for $3,995. Given the pomp and circumstance of the occasion — Clydesdale horses pull the tree by wagon to the front doors, while the president and first lady examine the tree before it's brought into the Blue Room — a statement coat like this could't have been more appropriate. Add in the fact that she wore black, heeled red-bottom boots, and this outfit was a banger in her book of holiday books.

For the November 2020 National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning Ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, Melania Trump kept things pretty basic in a black and white houndstooth wool tweed coat by Dolce & Gabbana, which retails for $2,550. She paired this with the Manolo Blahnik Bipunta captoe pumps in black, which retail for $695. Although the outfit didn't necessarily look bad on the first lady, it was an odd choice for the occasion. The quirky, festive event typically calls for brighter colors in holiday tones like reds, oranges, and caramels. Meanwhile, outfit was somber and lackluster, looking more suitable for a day at the office rather than a turkey ceremony. 

Melania Trump has undergone a gorgeous transformation over the years, and her official White House Christmas portrait from 2018 shows that it's an ongoing evolution towards excellence. Melania stood next to husband, President Donald Trump, in the White House surrounded by Christmas trees. What shimmered even more than the lights was Melania's white, sequin gown from Céline's spring 2018 line, designed by Phoebe Philo. The turtleneck and fitted silhouette of the dress made it both seasonally appropriate and sexy at once, something that can be hard to pull off, but Melania did it. 

Melania Trump went a little too daring in an art deco style wrap coat by Dior at the White House's annual pardoning of the turkeys in November 2018. She styled the color-block coat with a pair of heeled boots by Christian Louboutin. The coat retails for $9,400, so it's no chump change for such a bold piece of outerwear. While it's not a bad coat, it was too daring and distracting for such a traditional event. 

In December 2017, Melania Trump arrived with Donald Trump to light the National Christmas tree. Matching the poinsettias that lined the stage, Melania arrived in a vivid red bouclé coatdress by Chanel, from the French fashion house's Pre-Fall 2017 collection. The festive, belted jacket was flecked through with gold detailing, adding to the cheerful charm of her look that evening. She finished off her Christmas outfit with a pair of camel-toned heels by Christian Louboutin. 

Melania and Donald Trump spoke with children on the phone on Christmas Eve in December 2018 to track Santa. Although one could argue a phone-centered event would give the first lady leeway on her outfit, one can't deny how underwhelming the her outfit was. Plus, every moment in the White House is a photo-op, and she really missed the chance to wear something dazzling for the holidays. Instead, she wore a black top and skirt, and added a slight jolt of color by wearing a pair of red heels. She looked like she was going to a funeral, rather than doing something fun and whimsical on Christmas Eve.