Some Of Melania Trump's Most Dramatic 2000s Looks Had One Thing In Common

Before she was the first lady, Melania Trump's style was a lot more daring and experimental. From the numerous times Melania Trump showed off her killer legs to the occasions where she experimented with bright colors, she hasn't been known to play it safe. In fact, during the 2000s, Melania was at the forefront of a very popular fashion trend, which she achieved with some of her boldest looks: ruffles.

Added at the hemline or bust, ruffles create a daring yet soft silhouette that Melania seemed to be particularly fond of. Two decades later, ruffles are once again having a comeback, making Melania's 2000s outfits trendy again. Speaking to Vogue in October 2025, Summer Away founder Meghna Goyal shared just how fashion has once again shifted towards the trend. "Fashion was all about structure for a while, clean lines, sharp tailoring, minimal shapes. Everything was about being put together," Goyal explained. "Now, there's a shift toward something softer. People want pieces with romantic details that still feel wearable. The ones we are seeing now are lighter, more refined, and placed thoughtfully — framing the neckline, shoulders, or hem instead of covering everything." In 2023, we established that ruffles are back in a big way and adding them to your closet is super easy. And just in case you need some additional inspiration, the FLOTUS' 2000s fashion is a great source.

While Melania Trump is no stranger to completely inappropriate outfits, her 2000s style had plenty of incredible ones, too. In 2003, Melania — who was Donald Trump's girlfriend at the time — attended a Film Society gala. For the night, she went with a strapless white satin dress in a mermaid shape with pink ruffles along the bottom hemline. The simple detail added lots of intricacy to the look, making sure it wasn't just another simple white red-carpet gown.

Similarly, in 2008, Melania walked the red carpet of the Met Gala in a hot-pink mermaid gown with ruffles decorating the bottom half of it. As it was fashion's annual biggest night, Melania went with a slightly bolder and more eye-catching look — and the ruffles undeniably helped take it there. Both examples showcase Melania's love for the fun and feminine detail, and while her style has evolved since, we would kind of love to see the first lady bring back some of her 2000s magic.