Melania Trump’s controversial fashion choice sparks intrigue

Melania’s Trump’s jacket choice for her surprise visit to a migrant centre in Texas has baffled the US media. Donald says it is aimed at them.

US First Lady Melania Trump boards an Air Force plane. Picture: Getty

Melania Trump went to Texas to show she cared about migrant children. Her fashion choice carried a baffling counter-message. The First Lady wore a green, hooded military jacket from Zara that read “I really don’t care, do u?” both as she departed and returned to Washington.

The words were printed in white, in graffiti-style, on the jacket’s back. When asked what message the first lady’s jacket intended to send, spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said: “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn’t going to choose to focus on her wardrobe. ” Grisham underscored that message in a tweet with the hashtags #SheCares and #ItsJustAJacket.

Today’s visit w the children in Texas impacted @flotus greatly. If media would spend their time & energy on her actions & efforts to help kids - rather than speculate & focus on her wardrobe - we could get so much accomplished on behalf of children. #SheCares #ItsJustAJacket

— Stephanie Grisham (@StephGrisham45) June 21, 2018

But President Donald Trump offered his own interpretation in a tweet, saying it “refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!”

“I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 21, 2018

Mrs Trump changed into a pale yellow jacket before the plane landed in McAllen, Texas, for a visit to the Upbring New Hope Children’s Centre, which houses 55 migrant children. But even after questions arose about her attire, Mrs Trump was back in the green jacket when she returned to Washington in 80-degree weather.

Like it or not, Mrs Trump’s jacket had her trending on Twitter. One user borrowed an image of the back of the jacket to promote groups working on behalf of immigrant children.

Zara, a Spanish-based company with a large presence in the United States and around the world, had no comment on the uproar. The jacket belongs to the company’s spring-summer 2016 season.

Melania Trump visits the migrant centre. Picture: AFP

The youthful jacket sharply contrasts with the First Lady’s typically bold, foreign-flavoured wardrobe. In public appearances, she has worn designs by Dolce & Gabbana, Del Pozo, Christian Dior, Emilio Pucci, Givenchy and Valentino, often with daringly high Christian Louboutin heels. It’s not the first time the first lady’s fashion choices have caused a stir. Last August, a pair of Mrs Trump’s signature spike heels earned her a round of bafflement as she boarded air force One bound for Texas to tour devastation after Hurricane Harvey. She had changed into white sneakers by the time she and the president landed.

At one of the 2016 presidential debates, Mrs Trump showed up in a bright pink silk blouse with a large bow at the neck, long known as a “pussy bow blouse.” That was just days after reports surfaced that her husband had made lewd remarks years earlier about grabbing women by the genitalia.

On the other side of the political aisle, former first lady Michelle Obama routinely caught grief from some critics for going sleeveless. Her husband, Barack Obama, was the talk of a 24-hour news cycle when he donned a tan suit in 2014 for a media briefing.

AP