The Most Unfortunate Outfits At The 2026 State Of The Union Address

If there was one word to describe the general fashion vibe at the 2026 State of the Union address, it would be "dull" — painfully dull. For whatever reason, most of the attendees at the event stuck to boring colors, ill-fitting outfits, and seemed to totally forget that styling exists. Now, to be clear, we do know that political events demand a certain level of formality, and we've previously criticized inappropriate outfits worn at political events. However, there is a major difference between outfits that fit the status quo and outfits that are devoid of any personal touches. 

Plus, the State of the Union has historically been used to make political statements through fashion. We've had politicians wearing specific colors like purple to signify unity between the Reds and Blues, or white to support the women's suffrage movement. We've even had lapel pins shaped as everything from crayons to Donald Trump's face and assault rifles. Surely, it wasn't too much to expect some outfits that actually looked good? Unfortunately, these outfits were big fashion fails. 

We'd previously declared that Melania Trump had mastered pantsuit looks, but judging by her outfit at the 2026 State of the Union address, perhaps we spoke too soon. The first lady broke every rule of a good-looking pantsuit outfit. The pant legs weren't fitted, there was absolutely no styling, and the outfit was painfully plain. The icing on the cake was that her entire look was bereft of accessories, save for the tiny belt that could only do so much.

Considering Pam Bondi's lengthy list of fashion fails and inappropriate outfits, almost nothing she does surprises us. However, we certainly didn't expect her to launch her newly created Judo-core aesthetic at the 2026 State of the Union. Tan and brown typically work well together, but the placement of the cinch, as well as the belt and how it falls, makes this look seem more appropriate for a dojo.

Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert is a one-trick pony when it comes to power-dressing. She's always in sheath dresses that are too short, too tight, or a combination of both. As with all of Lauren Boebert's too-tight outfits, this one was more suited for a non-professional event, especially when you consider the red hue she chose. The lack of effort wasn't surprising, but it does make us consider starting a petition for Boebert to get a professional stylist.

Kristi Noem was yet another attendee at the 2026 State of the Union address who wore an ill-fitting pantsuit. When it comes to sizing pantsuits, the two key parts that are hard to ignore are the sleeve length and how the pants complement the wearer's legs. Unfortunately, Noem's failed on both counts. The sleeves were past her wrists and the pants seemed more like a hand-me-down. Plus, she had absolutely no contrast in her outfit and wore a black inner blouse beneath the black pantsuit.

There are so many aspects that make Ivanka Trump's State of the Union outfit an unfortunate and terrible choice. The pattern was probably supposed to be textured and trendy but ended up giving a distorted, analog, haunted TV texture. Instead of being fashionable, it was more like a throwback to that one VHS tape you had at home and played too many times. Confusing pattern aside, the outfit does nothing for her shape, which is a shame considering just how much work Ivanka Trump puts in to keep her stunning figure.

Despite the toll reproduction takes on the body, Usha Vance has been absolutely slaying pregnancy. She's got good skin, none of that visible pregnancy fatigue, and seems to have that elusive glow many mothers crave. Unfortunately, Vance's 2026 State of the Union outfit did nothing to take advantage of this. She wore a boring, ill-fitting black blazer over black pants without any pop of color. Paired with her pulled-back hair and super light makeup, the only thing radiant about the SLOTUS was her skin.