Melania Trump's Inappropriate Lingerie-Like Dress Will Always Haunt Her

The current first lady is known for her chic yet unexciting style. From Melania Trump's go-to polished but predictable manicure to the bold, wide-brimmed hats she started wearing during Donald Trump's second term, the Slovenian-born former model is all about sticking to what she knows works. However, in the 2000s, Melania loved experimenting with her look and always reminding us that she used to be a model. In fact, most of the times Melania Trump showed off her killer legs happened in the aughts and early 2010s, before her husband shifted careers and went into politics. Now, while we adore looking back at Melania's fashion choices back in the day, there's no doubt in our minds that some of the looks the FLOTUS has worn still haunt her today. And one of the most haunting looks took place in 2005.

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Melania Trump attended Fashion Group International's Night Of Stars in New York City, and for the occasion, she decided to go with a lingerie-like dress, which is most likely on the list of outfits Melania wishes she hadn't worn. The bust portion of it gave off a see-through effect (even though it was lined), and the bottom portion looked cheap and thin — kind of like a nightgown. Rocking lingerie as fashion has been around for decades, but Melania's 2005 interpretation isn't a great example of how to execute the trend.

Today, lingerie and lingerie-like fashion are more common than ever. In fact, if you've been wondering what you should be wearing under your on-trend sheer clothing, cute, delicate, or sultry lingerie is always a great option. Speaking to Vogue in August 2025, luxury lingerie brand Agent Provocateur's creative director, Sarah Shotton, revealed that rocking your lingerie as outerwear showcases major confidence. " ... people are becoming more comfortable with themselves and there's a shift in the way people are seeing themselves and their bodies, there's a 'who cares, it's my body and I'll wear what I want' energy — which I love!"

While Melania Trump explored the lingerie as outerwear trend with her 2005 Night of Stars look, the garment she picked didn't age well. The lingerie-like dress didn't suit a fancy star-studded red-carpet event, and the black material looked wrinkly and cheap. In fact, were it not for her perfectly done hair and makeup, one might think that Melania literally just rolled out of her bed. In this case, her glamorous makeup, hair, and accessories couldn't save the look, proving that pulling off lingerie-like clothing isn't as easy as one may think. Ultimately, the first lady tried, failed, and has since stayed away from the popular trend.