Long before she became the First Lady, Melania Trump was known around New York for her timeless style – and it’s only evolved since she’s stepped into the White House.
When she first married Donald Trump, she seemed to have a penchant for silky, colorful dresses as she attended some of Manhattan’s most exclusive events, like the short, slinky, bright pink dress she Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s hot pink party in 2005.
But now, times have changed, and Melania seems to be all business, donning elegant dresses and pantsuits, as well as expensive yet elevated accessories.
As the First Lady, 55, she’s been known to be a fan of certain designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen and Ralph Lauren.
During President Trump’s inauguration into his first term in 2017, she donned a powder blue, cashmere dress with a wrap overcoat and matching gloves made by Ralph Lauren.
In 2016, she spoke to Elle Magazine about the various challenges of dressing for a campaign, telling the outlet over email that she doesn’t find it to be hard at all.
‘I don’t find it to be challenging,’ she said at the time. ‘I style myself and choose what to wear based on what I feel good in it.’
Now, FEMAIL has rounded up all of Melania’s fashion favorites since being in The White House, from most expensive to least expensive.
Long before she became the First Lady, Melania Trump was known around New York for her timeless style – and it’s only evolved since she’s stepped into the White House
When she first married Donald Trump, she seemed to have a penchant for silky, colorful dresses as she attended some of Manhattan’s most exclusive events, like the short, slinky, bright pink dress she Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s hot pink party in 2005
But now, times have changed, and Melania seems to be all business, donning elegant dresses and pantsuits, as well as expensive yet elevated accessories
MOST EXPENSIVE
Hermès Matte Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 25 Black Bag: $50,000
One of, if not the most, expensive pieces in Melania’s closet appears to be the Hermès Matte Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 25 in Black.
The bag is a rarity, as it’s made of one of the brand’s most coveted materials: crocodile skin.
According to Fashionphile, a high-end consignment boutique, their bags made with crocodile skin typically go for more than three times the traditional leather ones that are for sale.
Online, these bags can be priced on secondhand websites for over $100,000.
It seems to be a staple in Melania’s closet, too, as she has been seen wearing it multiple times over the past few years.
She famously sported the purse when she and Trump departed the White House on inauguration day in January 2021, as Joe Biden entered his presidency.
Melania paired the bag with a black, knee-length skirt and cropped tweed jacket, along with a pair of black gloves and sky-high black Christian Louboutin heels.
One of, if not the most, expensive pieces in Melania’s closet appears to be the Hermès Matte Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 25 in Black
It seems to be a staple in Melania’s closet, too, as she has been seen wearing it multiple times over the past few years
She also wore the bag in 2019, when she and her husband joined then-prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip for a meeting in London
At the time, the couple were headed off to Mar-a-Lago, where they stayed when their days in The White House were over.
She also wore the bag in 2019, when she and her husband joined then-prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip for a meeting in London.
She paired it with her favorite Celine trench coat, but it was the bag, which has gold detail on it, that really made a statement.
Floral Dolce & Gabbana jacket: $51,500
In 2017, Melania pulled out all the stops as she donned a dramatic coat by Dolce & Gabbana that was covered in silk, 3D floral appliques.
Oh, and did we mention that it cost $51,500?
According to Business Insider, just purchasing the jacket cost a deposit of $25,750.
She wore the colorful jacket while visiting Sicily, Italy, during the 2017 G7 Summit, which convenes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
In 2017, Melania pulled out all the stops as she donned a dramatic coat by Dolce & Gabbana that was covered in silk, 3D floral appliques
She wore the colorful jacket while visiting Sicily, Italy, during the 2017 G7 Summit, which convenes leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States
Melania sported the fancy coat, which featured bold red, purple, green, white and blue florals when sightseeing around the city with the other spouses of world leaders.
The jacket also featured bedazzled, embroidered flowers on it.
She paired the coat with a matching clutch bag that had the same exact florals sewn onto it.
At the time, the expensive jacket sparked a lot of controversy, as many pointed out that it was worth more than the monthly salary of many Americans.
J. Mendel gown she wore to a 2018 visit to Great Britain: $6,990
During husband Donald Trump’s official visit to Britain in 2018, Melania donned a Grecian-style, lemon yellow $6,990 gown by designer J.Mendel to a state dinner at Blenheim Palace.
The whimsical gown featured a long, off-the-shoulder cape, and knotted detailing at the waist.
It appeared to be made of chiffon, and Melania matched the look with a pair of yellow Manolo Blahnik heels.
During her husband Donald Trump’s official visit to Britain in 2018, Melania donned a Grecian-style, lemon yellow $6,990 gown by designer J.Mendel to a state dinner at Blenheim Palace
It appeared to be made of chiffon, and Melania matched the look with a pair of yellow Manolo Blahnik heels
Per Today, she chose the color yellow in honor of Queen Elizabeth, whose favorite color was reportedly yellow.
Of course, she accessorized with her $4 million engagement ring and a pair of sparkling diamond studs in her ears.
LEAST EXPENSIVE
Controversial ‘I really don’t care, do u?’ jacket from Zara: $39.99
In 2018, Melania made headlines and sparked outrage across the world as she donned a $39 jacket from Zara that read, ‘I really don’t care, do u?’ on its back while on her way to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border.
The jacket was a military-green, army-style jacket, and the crass words were spray painted on the back in white.
The first lady’s surprise visit to a children’s shelter – where a handful of the 55 children it houses had been taken from their parents – was intended to underline her compassion for children, and came after she lobbied Trump to end separations.
But instead, it was overshadowed by the former model’s choice of jacket.
At the time, her husband claimed that the message was really one that was for the ‘fake news media.’
In 2018, Melania made headlines and sparked outrage across the world as she donned a $39 jacket from Zara that read, ‘I really don’t care, do u?’ on its back while on her way to visit children separated from their families at the Mexico border
”I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO YOU?’ written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares,’ he tweeted at the time.
However, in her 2024 self-titled memoir, Melania, claimed it that the jacket was meant to protest against ‘anonymously sourced reporting.’
‘I was determined… not to let the media’s false narratives affect my mission to help the children and families at the border,’ she wrote.
‘In fact, I decided to let them know that their criticism would never stop me from doing what I feel is right. To make the point, I wore a particular jacket as I boarded the plane, a jacket that quickly became famous,’ she added.
Melania recounts how when the plane door closed, her press secretary’s inbox was ‘flooded with urgent emails from top-tier media outlets regarding the jacket.’
‘It’s a message for the media,’ I said, ‘to let them know I was unconcerned with their opinions of me’ [but] she told me I couldn’t say that. ‘Why not? It is the truth.” Melania wrote about their exchange.
‘I disagreed with her insistence that I couldn’t say that,’ the First Lady wrote. ‘Ignoring my comments, she told a CNN reporter she was friendly with that it was simply a jacket, a fashion choice with no underlying message.’
The mom-of-one wrote that the frenzy over the jacket ‘overshadowed the importance of the children, the border, and the policy change.’ She called it ‘just another example of the media’s irresponsible behavior.’
However, in her 2024 self-titled memoir, Melania, claimed it that the jacket was meant to protest against ‘anonymously sourced reporting’
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers: $50
Although Melania owns her fair share of designer heels, when it’s time to get comfy, she’s been proven to be a fan of Converse shoes, which typically range from around $50 to $100, depending on the style.
She’s been known to wear low-top Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars, which typically are priced anywhere from $50 to $60.
The First Lady appears to own the sneakers in all different colors, too – white, gray and black.
Most recently, she sported a pair of gray Chuck Taylors when she accompanied her husband to Texas to visit devastation from the flash floods.
She matched the shoes with a pair of army-green pants and light khaki coat by Dolce and Gabbana.
In 2017, she wore her white pair of low-top Converse as she visited those who had been impacted by Hurricane Irma.
She paired the shoes with a casual, green button-up shirt and white skinny jeans.
Most recently, she sported a pair of gray Chuck Taylors when she accompanied her husband to Texas to visit devastation from the flash floods
She’s been known to wear low-top Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars, which typically are priced anywhere from $50 to $60
FLOTUS hat: $20
In 2017, Melania stepped out in perhaps the least expensive item she’s ever worn – a black baseball cap that simply read, ‘FLOTUS’ on it, short for First Lady of the United States, of course.
At the time, she was stepping off of Air Force One with her husband, and paired the hat with a pair of aviator sunglasses and crisp white button down.
It’s unclear exactly where she bought her hat, but there are now tons of websites that sell extremely similar versions, some for even less than $20.
You could even customize your own for $12 on Amazon.