One Of Melania Trump's Tackiest Dresses Wasn't Worth The The Exorbitant Price Tag

By Kelsey Goldbach
Melania and Donald Trump walk down the White House stairs (close up) Alex Edelman/Getty

First Lady Melania Trump has had her fair share of fashion fails. From her variety of bold, wide-brimmed hats to her infamously tone-deaf outerwear choices, Melania has made her mark on first lady fashion history for better or for worse. That said, one tacky ensemble from President Donald Trump's first term stands out from the rest for its unexpectedly high price tag.

Melania and Donald Trump walk down the White House stairs (zoomed out). Melania is wearing a white and blue striped button down dress with a large red bow belt.Alex Edelman/Getty

Despite not being one of Melania Trump's most expensive outfits, the rather plain blue-and-white-striped Ralph Lauren dress she wore to a picnic for military members at the White House on July 4, 2018, retailed for a staggering $2,790 at the time. The dress had picnic vibes to be sure, but it looked cheap, like we could find it at ASOS for $100. To make matters worse, Melania paired it with a large red bow belt that didn't do it any favors. The belt was too thick and heavy for the light dress, and its large, clumsy knot disturbed the balance of the look. To top it off, the out-of-place accessory cinched the dress awkwardly, leading the fabric to wrinkle and bunch up. Yes, the outfit's red, white, and blue Americana allusion was obvious, but it all devolved into tacky and cheap territory quickly.

Melania Trump is no stranger to fashion flops

A side-by-side of two Melania Trump looks from the waist up. Left: Melania sports a pair of large white sunglasses with mirrored lenses, a white dress, and a black blazer perched on her shoulders. Right: Melania is wearing a wide-brimmed purple hat that curves downward, covering her eyes. She is also wearing a high-collared dark grey dress. Wpa Pool & Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Throughout both of her husband's terms as president, Melania Trump has received a lot of attention for her fashion choices. Some are triumphs, like the simple-yet-chic white Michael Kors dress and mirrored-lens Dior sunnies she sported at the FIFA Club World Cup final, which became one of Melania Trump's best looks of 2025. However, others don't exactly fit the brief. Just look at the wide-brimmed purple Dior hat that hid much of Melania's face during her and Donald's September 2025 state visit to the U.K.

Another hat-related fashion fiasco occurred at Trump's second inauguration in January 2025. Melania donned yet another wide-brimmed hat, this time navy with a thin white ribbon. The hat's intense vibe garnered widespread attention online, with many taking to X to shred the first lady's look to pieces. "Melania Trump serving Madam First Lady Hamburglar at the #Inauguration2025," one user posted.

Still, every fashion decision the FLOTUS makes, even the most outrageous ones, may be with the express purpose of making a statement, according to historian Einav Rabinovitch-Fox. "Melania is not known as a great speaker, which made her fashion choices even more important, because many times, that was her form of speech," Rabinovitch-Fox told the BBC in November 2025. "In general, I think that today, first ladies understand the power of fashion, and are trying to build an image for them that represents the country, but also theirs, and their husbands' agenda."