Despite her polarizing presence, Melania Trump’s ever evolving wardrobe continues to fascinate and intrigue fashionistas.
But the model-turned-FLOTUS wasn’t always so impeccably chic.
Like the best of us, she has had some fashion faux pas throughout the years.
But the erstwhile Ms Knauss was determined to escape the penury of her homeland.
Two years later, she met Donald Trump at a Fashion Week party.
The then 28-year-old sported dark chestnut locks and quintessentially ’90s pencil brows.
It was the ’90s, after all.
That year, she sat down withABC Newsfor one of her first high-profile interviews.
“He’s very smart,” she stated.
“He knows how to do a business.
He would be a great leader.”
Asked about her aspirations to become a first lady, Melania’s response was eerily prophetic.
“I would be very traditional, like Jackie Kennedy and Betty Ford,” she mused.
However, they appeared to be in the midst of reconciling weeks later.
During this time, Melania’s style shifted once again, appearing less monochromatic and more playful.
“That was part of it.
We were apart for a few months, not long.
We got back together,” she said.
“He was always thinking about it.
But he loved what he did, he had his business.
He was not saying ‘Now is the time.'”
In addition to embracing North American culture, Melania was also adopting the styles of the era.
Testament to her flair for fashion, her transition from ’90s model to Y2k girlie was seamless.
Then again, it’s difficult to fathom present-day Melania endorsing a boujee fit like this.
Chatting toTatler, Donald said that he was in awe of his new wife’s physical appearance.
“They cannot believe her physical beauty.”
But perhaps she had things on her mind other than fashion.
In a 2008Vanity Fairprofile, the outlet noted that Melania was highly attentive of her toddler.
Attending the ACE Awards, one would be forgiven for thinking that she was already the first lady.
Melania rocked a sparkly, figure-hugging black gown and vintage updo, accessorizing the outfit with diamond jewelry.
Her clothing was, however, the only indicator that she may be a future Republican first lady.
Speaking toEllethat year, fashion professor Dincuff Charleston argued that the change in Melania’s wardrobe was palpable.
“Her style has matured,” Charleston said.
I don’t think we’ll ever see her in those babydoll dresses she used to wear."
However, Melania denied that she had altered her fashion sense to suit first lady sensibilities.
“My style has stayed pretty consistent over the years,” she told Elle.
“I always wear what I like and what is appropriate for the occasion.”
Her inauguration outfit echoed Jackie O
In 2017, Donald Trump was sworn into the White House.
Melania later turned heads in her inaugural gown, a cream, off-the-shoulder number by Herve Pierre.
“It had to be really, really right because it was going to be part of history.”
But soon, her compassion for children was called into question thanks to some suspect styling choices.
That year, Donald Trump was facing widespread criticism due to the detainment of child migrants.
while visiting children at a detention center in Texas.
Her choice of attire was deemed heartless by human rights organizations and opponents of the Trump administration.
“It’s obvious I didn’t wear the jacket for the children,” she explained.
“I know many people are anxious and some feel helpless,” she said, perSky News.
“I want you to know you are not alone.”
“She used to wear more form fitting dresses, baby doll dresses, plunging necklines, and miniskirts.
But now we would not see her wearing such styles,” Singla explained.
“She dropped her hemline since becoming the First Lady and she wears more pants and pant suits.
Her look is more polished and professional.”
Such discourse proves that Melania truly is a problematic fave.
That summer, she was snapped on an outing with her son, Barron Trump.
According to sources who chatted toPage Six, Melania would be supporting Donald Trump throughout his legal battle.
Indeed, this outfit would not have looked out of place on an old-school NYC influencer attending Fashion Week.
It was a bold and unconventional outfit for the oft conservatively dressed Melania.
