September 26, 2025/Midnight
Erie, PA. — On Sept. 16, United States President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited King Charles III and Queen Camillia at Windsor Castle in Berkshire England for the state dinner.
As soon as the photos and videos were released, the internet had much to say about Melania’s choice of outfits. Many closed in on her wide-brimmed large purple hat that covered the top of the first lady’s face. An MSN article states that internet users even likened her to Carmen Sandiego, and that her choice of hat is a deliberate attempt for the public not to see her face.
The outfit that really set the internet ablaze was her strapless yellow dress, paired with a pastel pink belt and emerald green earrings. While some of the public reaction pointed to the state banquet dress code being broken, others simply called the outfit a fashion disaster.
State Banquets held by the United Kingdom are white tie affairs, a term that Vogue reports came about in 18th century. It refers to the highest level of formality of an event and is typically marked by the men’s white bowties, white vest, a white shirt with a winged collar, and a tailcoat. In the photos released from the President’s visit, we can see that both Donald Trump and King Charles III are in line with this dress code. According to Who What Wear and Closet Cachete, women are expected to wear a floor-length gown, have the arms covered whether it be with sleeves or gloves, avoid showing too much shoulder, wear colors that are not too eye-catching, and wear hair in an updo style at white tie events. While Melania did have sleeves and a floor-length gown, some other attributes did not completely align with the expected dress code, especially with the colors, exposed shoulders, and her hair being down.
Some theorized that her outfits are meant to garner attention and to bring about discussion. It can be almost impossible to draw one’s eyes away from Melania Trump’s outfit, especially with the one she wore at the banquet, which overshadowed Queen Camillia’s dark blue long-sleeved gown.
In fact, people were far more interested in her choice of clothing than the Presidential visit. Her choice of attire has gained a notable amount of media attention. On the other hand, some people have attributed the fashion choices to her designer. Many designers have backed out of dressing the first lady, leaving the options for top-of-the-line designers scarce. Some have taken some of Melania’s fashion as just being the result of an amateur designer.
CNN also notes that Melania still adhered to the fashion etiquette of wearing designers of the host country when attending international events. To arrive at the London Stansted Airport, Melania wore a Burberry coat, which is a British luxury brand.
Regardless of the reason behind her outfits, it is undeniable that the first lady’s clothing will always be a topic of discussion. All that is left to wonder is what her next outfit will look like?
