Why Melania Trump is Obsessed with culottes

Now that she's moved into the White House full time, first lady Melania Trump's style
is coming into sharper focus and one thing is apparent: FLOTUS favors culottes and cropped
pants in a big way.
In the last six months, Trump has been captured by media photographers in cropped pants at
least six times.
This doesn't count pictures she posted of herself in pants of varying lengths on Twitter,
nor does it count at least three times she's worn wide-legged palazzo pants (including
on election night).
Whether on duty or off, her go-to looks often feature chic, high-priced luxury of the trouser
variety — skinny or wide-legged, ankle-length or calf-length.
Her departure outfit Wednesday morning with President Trump, on their way to Poland and
Germany, was emblematic: FLOTUS prepared for a long, air-conditioned flight on Air Force
One with a comfy yet on-trend outfit, featuring a black knit top over Maison Valentino windowpane-patterned
wide-legged cropped slacks in a blush pink ($1,790), plus a pair of her ubiquitous black
spike heels.
Finishing off the look: A black crocodile Hermès Birkin bag. (These bags can cost more
than a car, starting at about $12,000 and reaching into six figures.)
Will Kahn, director of fashion market and accessories for Town & Country magazine, has
noticed Trump's choices and thinks they're appropriate for a woman her age and stature.
"A first lady has limited options of what to wear, she cannot dress casual in public,"
he says. "A first lady can't wear shorts or sweatpants, ever. A cropped pant is about
as casual as she can get.
"You see the same type of dressing in royal style stars like Queen Rania of Jordan and
Queen Letizia of Spain — lots of culottes paired with easy blouses or little jackets
or knits. It's casual but chic and still feels put together."
Kate Andersen Brower, who's written a book about first ladies (First Women: The Grace
and Power of America's Modern First Ladies), thinks Trump is imitating former first lady
Jackie Kennedy's style, and like Kennedy, she takes fashion risks.
"I think Melania, as a former model, clearly cares a lot about fashion and looks good in
anything. She is taking a page from Jackie's book and wearing what she wants to, regardless
of whether it's on trend or relatable."
She might also be taking a page from the book of her immediate predecessor, Michelle Obama,
who is statuesque like Trump and can pull off the cropped look with ease. In May 2009,
the first year of the Obama administration, Michelle Obama wore cropped white trousers
and a patterned asymmetrical top for An Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word in the
East Room of the White House.
"Both women are very tall, so it's a flattering look for both of them," says Andersen Brower.
"And they're much more accessible than the $51,500 Dolce & Gabbana jacket (Trump) wore
at the G7 in May. You can buy a cute pair of cropped pants for well under $100 at the
mall.
As it happens, cropped pants over sky-high heels are on trend.
"They are definitely in style," says Kahn. "Brunello Cucinelli has shown beautiful cropped
pants for a few seasons in a row. I think it's a trend for a more refined and fashionably
conservative woman."
When she and son Barron, 11, moved into the White House on June 11, Trump's favorite casual
look was again on display. She wore nut-brown wide-legged cropped pants by Bally and a textured
white sleeveless top, and carried a different Hermès bag, this one in nutty brown, according
to White House Wardrobe, which tracks her fashion on Twitter.

Why Melania Trump is Obsessed with culottes - An Explanation

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