Vanessa & Ivanka Trump's Furry Coats At Apprentice Event Look So Outdated Today
All the Trump women have majorly transformed over the years, with several evolving from models and socialites to notable political figures. First daughter Ivanka Trump and her former sister-in-law, Vanessa, are two family members who were heavily associated with the fashion sphere before Donald Trump's political career. Vanessa graced magazine covers and walked the runway in Australia Fashion Week before pausing her career for motherhood, while Ivanka launched her own clothing line in 2014 and has since gone on to serve as an advisor to the president.
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Unfortunately, their stylish roots don't mean all of their fashion looks have stood the test of time. Back in 2005, the two attended an afterparty for the season 4 premiere of "The Apprentice" wearing fur coat outfits that are seriously outdated today. Vanessa paired a brown satin dress featuring ruched detailing with black, pointed-toed heels and a cropped, furry jacket in white. Meanwhile, Ivanka stepped out in a black dress mostly concealed by her chinchilla fur coat, which she paired with peep-toe heels and a shoulder-length haircut.
While the 2020s have seen the popularity of faux fur as a winter statement piece increase, the Trump women's afterparty outfits feel outdated because of the specific styles and furs. For one, the cropped silhouette of Vanessa's piece is reminiscent of the bolero-style jackets that were popular during the '90s, with the length being a weird choice for such a warm textile. Ivanka's choice of chinchilla fur seemingly demonstrates her family's wealth, but doesn't come without its own controversy.
Fur coats aren't completely out of style
The 2020s have seen the fur coat come back in a major way, with popular styles ranging from Parisian chic to '70s retro. In addition to being a major component of the TikTok-popular mob wife aesthetic, celebrities such as Sabrina Carpenter and Suki Waterhouse have sported fleecy outerwear with confidence and style. In this way, it's a little surprising that Vanessa and Ivanka Trump's fur-centric looks from 2005 manage to feel so outdated today, but it's the style details that spelled their fashion downfall.
The most iconic fur coats range from jackets to full-length, with longer styles being particularly popular in the 2020 resurgence. Not only does Vanessa's white number fall outside what's currently in style, but the length teeters between cropped jacket and bolero-style shrug, marking a confusing choice for a piece oriented towards warmth and luxury. Even if the bolero is rumored to be coming back in style, we can't defend this choice.
Despite the revival, the inclusion of real fur in the fashion industry remains a divisive practice, with the use of chinchilla fur, like Ivanka wore, being particularly questionable. While the pelts of the small rodents are highly sought-after because of the fur's density, their small size requires 150 to 300 chinchillas be killed for a single coat. Chinchillas are also an endangered species, with the creatures being nearly trapped to extinction. If the ethical concerns behind Ivanka's coat weren't enough, the overall outfit feels like a boring choice meant to signal wealth over style.