The Inappropriate Kaitlan Collins Outfit She'll Never Live Down

Kaitlan Collins has established herself as a reliable primetime anchor and competent White House correspondent, with the Alabama native cultivating a chic and professional fashion lookbook along the way. In addition to looking glamorous at star-studded events like the Grammys and the Vanity Fair Oscars Party, Collins has repeatedly proved herself to be the queen of pantsuits. Even so, the CNN figure isn't immune to a style misstep, having worn quite the inappropriate outfit to the Ford's Theatre Annual Presidential Gala back in June 2024.

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Collins stepped out at the Washington, D.C. event wearing a black two-piece set consisting of a halter-style top, a flowy skirt, and a small flower pattern across both pieces. The ensemble fit the summery season, feeling like it would be perfect for a beachside dinner or charity picnic, but wasn't nearly formal enough for the gala. Additionally, the top featured a subtle peplum detail at the waistline that didn't read well on the red carpet, emphasizing the slight color difference between the top and bottom pieces instead of adding structural interest to the overall outfit.

Collins' fashion faux pas is especially clear when compared to other attendees, who stepped out in a variety of floor length gowns and satin materials. For example, Bernadette Peters presented the 2024 Ford's Theatre Lincoln Medal while wearing a sparkly, off-the-shoulder number with a small train, while Nancy Pelosi accepted the honor in a metallic, three-quartered sleeve jacket worn over a demure, ankle-length gown. Overall, Collins stuck out like a sore thumb.

While Kaitlan Collins always has her finger on the pulse when it comes to news, the journalist clearly hasn't always been able to say the same about fashion. In addition to her blunder at the 2024 Ford's Theatre Annual Presidential Gala, Collins has worn some questionable CNN outfits. At the same time, the journalist has spoken about how her sense of style has transformed since the early days of her career. 

"When I started covering the White House, I was not sure what to wear on TV," Collins said during an "Absolutely Not with Heather McMahan" interview. "I was kind of figuring out what my style was." She added that comfort remains a major style factor for her, explaining that she doesn't want her clothing to take priority over her work. The reporter shared a similar sentiment when speaking to Marie Claire in 2024, illustrating how it's come to inform her fashion philosophy. 

"An outfit should allow you to focus on what really matters and the work that you're doing," Collins said. "In that sense, [fashion] is like a supporting character to you and your job. To me, that's power dressing." There are definitely elements of the CNN anchor's Presidential Gala ensemble that seem comfortable, including the choice of a two-piece set and and the breeziness of the skirt, but the overall look didn't effectively balance comfort with the demands of the dress code. In the context of Collins' striking transformation, this is a fashion misstep she'll have trouble living down.