Melania Trump gives culottes a leg up
The first lady looks great in them, and they’re appropriate
Now that she’s moved into the White House full time, first lady Melania Trump’s style is coming into sharper focus and one thing is apparent: FLOTUS favors culottes and cropped pants in a big way.
In the last six months, Trump has been photographed by media photographers in cropped pants at least six times.
This doesn’t count pictures she posted of herself in pants of varying lengths on Twitter, nor does it count at least three times she’s worn wide-legged palazzo pants (including on election night).
Whether on duty or off, her goto looks often feature chic, highpriced luxury of the trouser variety — skinny or wide-legged, ankle-length or calf-length.
Her departure outfit Wednesday morning with President Trump, on their way to Poland and Germany, was emblematic: FLOTUS prepared for a long, airconditioned flight on Air Force One with a comfy yet on-trend outfit, featuring a black knit top over Maison Valentino windowpane-patterned wide-legged cropped slacks in a blush pink ($1,790), plus a pair of her ubiquitous black spike heels.
Finishing off the look: A black crocodile Hermès Birkin bag. (These bags can cost more than a car, starting at about $12,000 and reaching into six figures.)
Will Kahn, director of fashion market and accessories for Town & Country magazine, has noticed Trump’s choices and thinks they’re appropriate for a woman her age and stature.
“A first lady has limited options of what to wear; she cannot dress casual in public,” he says. “A first lady can’t wear shorts or sweatpants, ever. A cropped pant is about as casual as she can get.
“You see the same type of dressing in royal style stars like Queen Rania of Jordan and Queen Letizia of Spain — lots of culottes paired with easy blouses or little jackets or knits. It’s casual but chic and still feels put together.”
Kate Andersen Brower, author of First Women: The Grace and Power of America’s Modern First Ladies, thinks Trump is imitating former first lady Jackie Kennedy’s style, and like Kennedy, she takes fashion risks. “I think Melania, as a former model, clearly cares a lot about fashion and looks good in anything. She is taking a page from Jackie’s book and wearing what she wants to, regardless of whether it’s on trend or relatable.” She might also be taking a page from the book of her immediate prede- cessor, Michelle Obama, who is statuesque like Trump and can pull off the cropped look with ease. In May 2009, the first year of the Obama administration, Michelle Obama wore cropped white trousers and a patterned asymmetrical top for An Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word in the East Room of the White House.
“Both women are very tall, so it’s a flattering look for both of them,” says Andersen Brower. “And they’re much more accessible than the $51,500 Dolce & Gabbana jacket (Trump) wore at the G7 in May. You can buy a cute pair of cropped pants for well under $100 at the mall.
As it happens, cropped pants over sky-high heels are on trend.
“They are definitely in style,” says Kahn. “Brunello Cucinelli has shown beautiful cropped pants for a few seasons in a row. I think it’s a trend for a more refined and fashionably conservative woman.” The first lady’s outfit for a Super Bowl party at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., consisted of white calf-cropped skinny slacks that emphasized her long, long legs, plus a sheer light blue V-necked sweater and white heels.