On the second and final day of the state visit to Britain, Melania Trump once again made a sartorial statement, challenging traditional protocol with her choice of attire.
Her fashion choices for the day were quite specific. During her morning visit to the Royal Library at Windsor Castle with Queen Camilla, the first lady wore a sleek, caramel-toned Louis Vuitton skirt suit crafted entirely from leather. Later, for a walk through Frogmore Gardens with Catherine, Princess of Wales, she transitioned into a sophisticated chocolate suede Ralph Lauren safari jacket paired with elegant beige Loro Piana trousers. This ensemble seemed perfectly suited, perhaps, for navigating not just the picturesque gardens, but also the intricate landscape of international diplomacy.
Much like the striking off-the-shoulder gown she wore to the state banquet, which subtly pushed the boundaries of royal dress codes by exposing her clavicle (a style now permitted but still uncommon at such events), her leather and suede outfits appeared outwardly prim and proper. Yet, beneath their seemingly conventional surface, these materials evoked intriguing, perhaps even provocative, ideas about power dynamics and hierarchy.
These selections sharply contrasted with the “respectable Republican cloth coat” famously lauded by Richard Nixon in 1952, or even the more understated hunter green jacket and matching pussy-bow scarf worn by Princess Catherine during their garden promenade.
These outfits, however, were entirely consistent with Mrs. Trump’s distinctive personal style, often featuring military-inspired and safari-style jackets, and her unconventional approach to her public role, which has seen her presence at the White House being notably intermittent.
Similarly, these fashion choices mirrored Mr. Trump’s own sartorial shift; he exchanged the formal dark suit and royal purple tie worn with King Charles for his characteristic “America First” ensemble — a bright blue suit, red tie, and white shirt — when meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a news conference. This, along with his frequent unscripted remarks, demonstrated a clear, underlying message. In both instances, their attire served as a powerful, non-verbal declaration of their respective agendas.
Ultimately, while Mrs. Trump’s Ralph Lauren jacket neatly bookended her visit — an American brand for her departure, a British Burberry trench for her arrival — the true beneficiary of this high-profile fashion display was likely none of the mentioned brands.
Instead, the spotlight arguably shone brightest on LVMH, the powerhouse French luxury conglomerate.
This is because LVMH’s vast portfolio includes Dior, the creator of Mrs. Trump’s day one suit, as well as Louis Vuitton and Loro Piana. Furthermore, Tiffany, the brand behind the brooch gifted to Queen Camilla, is also an LVMH subsidiary. The conglomerate itself is owned by Bernard Arnault, a prominent figure who, alongside his daughter Delphine (Dior’s chief executive), was notably a guest at Mr. Trump’s most recent inauguration.
Bernard Arnault is, in fact, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, signifying a form of ‘royalty’ all its own.