Melania Trump Outfits That Had Us Yawning (We Know She Can Do Better)

Before she was First Lady, Melania Trump was a model. That might help explain why, even while living in the White House, her style tastes veer more toward high fashion. Traditionally, political dressing tends to be formal and refined without too many creative flourishes. But Trump, with her love of the prestigious European fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana and Christian Dior, often turns those expectations upside down. "She has and had already a very personal style in fashion, before she was first lady," Herve Pierre, who often styles Trump, told The Seattle Times. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she's gorgeous. When someone loves to make fashion statements, it helps to be the kind of supermodel stunner that Trump has always been. "She is objectively hot," shared one Reddit commenter. "Literally a supermodel lol. She can wear a potato sack and it would look good on her haha."

But amid the high-fashion moments, there have been a few duds — times when the otherwise sartorially bold First Lady made choices that underwhelmed us. After all, even Trump's outfits that totally missed the mark were interesting. But when she delivers a look that doesn't belong on the best or the worst dressed list, it feels like a let down.

Melania Trump wore graphic black and white for a 2025 holiday appearance in Quantico, Virginia. There's nothing to hate about this ensemble, which features skinny black jeans, stiletto boots, and a white, thigh-length, double-breasted pea coat — there's just not much to love either. A pop of color or a more structural coat might have made it more adventurous. But, as is, the color palette and silhouette are both forgettable. Even her accessories — oversized sunglasses and black gloves — play it absurdly safe. It's a real let down when so many of Trump's outfits have had people talking.

The tan-colored trench coat that Melania Trump wore to celebrate Easter felt like a missed opportunity for an eye-catching dress. After all, typical Easter garb involves bright colors, pretty pastels, and feminine patterns. Instead, Trump gave us close to nothing with this sleek but unremarkable belted coat by Mackage. Maybe she had something cute underneath but it was lost beneath her absurdly bland outerwear. The trench style is sophisticated, on trend, and fits her well. It's just that this snooze of a look flew out of our heads almost as soon as we saw it.

Seeing Melania in the black gown she wore for the 48th Kennedy Center Honors gala, one can hardly believe this is the same woman who shocked the world by wearing a banana yellow dress to a UK state dinner. Her Givenchy gala dress is minimal and modest, with no memorable detailing or shape. In fact, it's so dull she practically blends right into the backdrop. Of course, the dress is elegant, it's just mind-numbingly safe. Not the kind of creative style expression we've come to expect from Trump.

For a stroll during her state visit to the UK, Melania Trump donned khaki capris and a military inspired jacket. From the practical flats to the brown tonal color palette, this ensembles falls far short of her usual glamor. It's not a fashion don't. But the shades of brown are dull, especially against the dun-colored gravel, and there's nothing remarkable about the shape. The suede of the Ralph Lauren jacket does confer some interest through texture, but not enough to make this look stick in our minds. It looks especially flat in contrast to Kate Middleton's autumnal look, which is a masterclass is monochrome dressing.

The drab Celine trench coat that Melania Trump wore for a 2019 visit to Downing Street in Britain was another fashion let down. This isn't just boring because of the humdrum color of the fabric, although that khaki shade leaves plenty to be desired, but also because its paired with black accessories. Pairing two neutrals is safe but it's underwhelming from a woman who has been known to rock head-to-toe red and yellow looks. Finally, the accessories are elegant — the black crocodile bag is from Hermes — but they match too well. Something less classic that a black stiletto, such a chunky sandal or a thick-soled boot, would introduce some much-needed tension to the look.

For a 2018 holiday event at the White House, Melania Trump donned a tight black dress with a high neck. While the Ralph Lauren dress is elegant, it's an awfully unimaginative interpretation of holiday wear, which is usually all about glitter and festive maximalism. A pair of red metallic Christian Louboutin pumps seem to be the only nod to seasonality. Certainly, they don't clash with the dress. Still, the pop of color feels disconnected from the rest of the look, as if the pumps were thrown on as an afterthought. Not bad, but not memorable either.

Melania Trump served a whole lot of nothing with the white Dolce & Gabbana suit she wore to the United Nations in September 2025. The pairing of white with a beige-colored shirt, designed by Max Mara, is surpassed in mundanity only by the silhouette of the garment, which is classic but neutral. The First Lady might have taken the opportunity to embrace a more sculptural, fashion-forward take on menswear, but instead we got the most basic suit imaginable. There aren't even any accessories, like an interesting belt of statement necklace, to spice this look up.

The full-skirted white Thom Browne dress that Melania Trump wore for the 2025 Independence Day picnic at the White House didn't live up to her usual high-fashion standards. Though her pumps offer a patriotic pop of red, this dress is basically a blank canvas. Trump is fearless when it comes to color and prints, so this modest dress falls a little flat — especially considering it was her look for a holiday that's all about spangles.

The look Melania Trump wore for the 2025 FIFA World Cup was classic: a white top and pencil skirt with a navy blazer draped over her shoulders. But the conservative ensemble has a underwhelming business casual energy that fails to live up to Trump's more creative style. It lacks any of the tension or contrast that would make it interesting. Even the Dior sunglasses she's wearing can't save it from the Boredom Hall of Fame. If only she'd added a statement belt or oversized jewelry.