Melania Trump’s official portrait unveiled: Highlighting her iconic fashion journey
The White House has unveiled the official portrait of first lady Melania Trump.
In a black and white photo, Melania appears to be wearing a dark suit with a white blouse. She's standing in front of the window of the Yellow Oval Room with the Washington monument.
The picture was snapped by photographer Régine Mahaux.
Melania Trump and fashion
The first lady is known for her fashion choices.
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At President Donald Trump's inauguration, she donned a dark navy coat, dark navy hat with a white stripe, dark navy heels and black gloves. Melania's outfit is fitting for the cold weather currently in Washington, D.C., which has moved the inauguration indoors to the Capitol Rotunda for the first time in 40 years, according to FOX News.
![](https://images.foxtv.com/static.livenowfox.com/www.livenowfox.com/content/uploads/2025/01/932/524/melania-trump-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
First Lady Melania Trump official portrait. (Credit: Régine Mahaux)
Her first inauguration ensemble drew comparisons to Jacqueline Kennedy’s style. Kennedy also famously wore a pillbox hat for her husband’s inauguration in 1961. But dressing the first lady became a point of political contention in 2017, with some designers saying they would not dress the incoming first lady — typically a coveted opportunity. Some social media users pushed to boycott Ralph Lauren at the time.
Melania's fashion controversy
In 2018, Melania went to Texas to show she cared about migrant children. Her fashion choice carried a baffling counter-message.
The first lady wore a green, hooded military jacket from the fast-fashion brand Zara that read "I really don’t care, do u?" both as she departed and returned to Washington. The words were printed in white, in graffiti-style, on the jacket’s back.
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When asked what message the first lady intended to send, former spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said: "It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn’t going to choose to focus on her wardrobe. "
Earlier that year, a pair of Mrs. Trump’s signature spike heels earned her a round of bafflement as she boarded Air Force One bound for Texas to tour devastation after Hurricane Harvey. She had changed into white sneakers by the time she and the president landed.
At the second 2016 presidential debate, Mrs. Trump showed up in a fuchsia silk blouse with a large bow at the neck, long known as a "pussy bow blouse." That was just days after reports surfaced that her husband had made lewd remarks years earlier about grabbing women by the genitals.
Melania's fashion roots
Melania grew up in Sevnica in Slovenia, in the southern Balkans, just over 60 miles from the Italian border.
Her first real taste for fashion came while living in Paris as a young model in the mid-1990s, years before she got U.S. citizenship in 2006.
From designs by Dolce & Gabbana, Del Pozo, Christian Dior, Emilio Pucci, Givenchy and Valentino to daringly high Christian Louboutin heels, the first lady’s touchstones have not only been the Old World, but its most established — and expensive — design houses.
As the wife of a billionaire, Mrs. Trump can afford to spend into the five figures for a garment and seems unconcerned about how that squares with voters in President Donald Trump’s political base.
The Source: The Associated Press and FOX News contributed to this report. The information in this story came from a combination of official announcements, historical context, and media reports. The unveiling of Melania Trump’s portrait was announced by the White House, with details about the photograph credited to photographer Régine Mahaux. This story was reported from Los Angeles.