Nancy Mace's Take On The 2020s Menswear Trend Had Us Doing A Double Take

By Ryane DeFalco
Nancy Mace smiles wearing a tuxedo at the 2023 White House Correspondent's dinner Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Politicians aren't immune to fashion criticism, and representative Nancy Mace learned that lesson the hard way. She fell victim to the fashion police back in 2023 while attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The annual event is known to be formal, and Mace took a chance by putting her own spin on the dress code. She walked the red carpet in a chic tuxedo look that really differs from the Kristi Noem-inspired "cosplay" outfits Nancy Mace is usually seen in.

Mace's outfit included a white blouse, high-waisted leather skinny pants, and a classic black blazer which is perfect for all seasons. She accessorized with black pumps, a sparkly silver clutch handbag, long dangling earrings, and a bow tie around her collar. The structured suit showed off Mace's shape while her pants and heels elongated the look of her legs. Her ensemble was a wise combination of masculine and feminine style, but particularly leaned into the menswear craze that took over in 2020.

Unfortunately, not everyone was a fan of Mace's wardrobe, with one X user writing "the bowtie looks stupid Nancy" under a post where the representative addressed the disapproval. "I love freedom and liberty, including being free to wear a tux," she wrote in response to the backlash, complete with an American flag emoji. "This ain't Gilead," Mace continued in another post, referring to the dystopian setting from the hit series "The Handmaid's Tale" that restricts women from making their own decisions. 

Did Nancy Mace copy Melania Trump's outfit?

Nancy Mace smiles wearing a tuxedo at the 2023 White House Correspondent's Dinner Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Nancy Mace is far from the first woman to wear a suit to a political event. In fact, Mace's outfit was compared to a menswear look worn by Melania Trump. In 2020, Mr. and Mrs. Trump posed together in matching suits on their holiday card. Melania could be seen in a long black suit jacket with her hands in her pants pockets. It was actually Mace herself who made the comparison. In her post on X, Mace included a photo of her outfit side by side with Melania's ensemble from the 2020 Christmas card. The women both looked perfectly comfortable in their respective menswear with matching black heels and soft smiles. Interestingly, Melania Trump's first lady style has changed the second time around, with her embracing menswear in a more obvious way. Mace captioned the photos saying, "Curious... who wore it better? Then vs. now?" One commenter answered, "I don't want to be cruel to you, so no comment."

Mace's later post included a series of photos comprised of notable women wearing suits and bow ties. Included in the post were iconic actor Audrey Hepburn and even Mace's fellow Republican, Hope Hicks. She also included a photo of Princess Diana in a white suit and former first lady Nancy Reagan in a structured red outfit with black stripes. It's clear that Mace has no regrets about wearing a black suit and thinks the classic staple is a fashionable choice for everyone. 

Recommended