How Melania Trump's First Lady Style Has Changed The Second Time Around

Is Melania Trump channeling Taylor Swift with her basketful of fashion Easter eggs? Or is she taking a cue from Ivanka Trump, whose fashion choices tell us she's no longer interested in politics? Because based on what she's been wearing in 2025, we're wondering if there is more to Melania's wardrobe choices lately; is this another time when one of the Trump women's outfits means more than we realized?

The former model's style has noticeably changed during her husband's second tour in the White House. While her fashion has certainly evolved from the most daring outfits she wore before becoming first lady, they have continued to mature. During her previous run as first lady, her aesthetic felt more trendsetting and high fashion, whereas the most recent stint feels less opulent, yet strong and impactful. One reason could be her age; as we all know, our tastes change in different eras of our lives. Melania was 46 at the beginning of the first White House reign in Donald Trump's presidency, whereas she was 54 when her husband reassumed the top job in January 2025.

More often than not, Melania Trump has been wearing suits for public appearances as she fills the role of first lady for the second time. Among her corporate-coded outfits are impeccably tailored skirt suits, but there's also something we haven't seen her wear with much frequency before: menswear-inspired pantsuits.

In February 2025, she accompanied her husband to a black-tie event wearing coordinating his-and-hers tuxedos. (She wins for most stylish, by the way.) Her Dolce & Gabbana tux felt like much more of a statement than one of the soft gowns she typically wore for black-tie dos in the first term. A month later, in March, she donned a three-piece Ralph Lauren suit, complete with tie, when she attended a U.S. Capitol roundtable. Again, it was a look we aren't used to seeing on the first lady, which is why we question if there's more to her new power-style than meets the eye. While we don't expect a political run in her future, we also know that her fashion choices are usually very intentional.