Jackie Kennedy VS. Melania Trump: Who Is The Best Dressed First Lady?
Two First Ladies, two eras, one eternal debate: who wore it best?
Few roles in American public life carry as much visual scrutiny as that of the First Lady. Every outfit is photographed, every gown analyzed, every handbag, heel, or headband scrutinized by millions. But unlike politicians, who are judged on policy, First Ladies are remembered largely through the images they leave behind. And so the question remains: who is the most stylish First Lady of them all? For most of modern history, the crown belonged to Jackie Kennedy. But today, many argue that Melania Trump deserves serious consideration.
On the surface, comparing them feels almost unfair. Jackie Kennedy was the darling of Camelot, crowned by the press as the ultimate American fashion icon and with a husband on her side who, in the public's eyes, seemed incapable of doing wrong. Melania Trump, on the other hand, emerged in a cultural moment when the very idea of beauty was being questioned, blurred, or dismissed as superficial. And she is standing by a husband who, for many, seems to be unable to do any right. It would be naive to think this does not affect our perception of these women.
But therein lies the heart of the debate: Jackie was shaped by a time of elegance, optimism, and innovation, while Melania carved out her aesthetic in a world skeptical of beauty itself. And that may mean that while both women will forever be fashion icons, Melania’s style deserves even more credit. Let's break it down further.
Jackie Kennedy: The Face of Camelot’s Elegance
To understand Jackie’s power, you have to understand the era. The early 1960s were fashion’s golden age. Haute couture thrived and American women mastered the art of adapting it. Paris became the epicenter for inspiration, and fashion houses were at their most innovative, balancing refinement with optimism.
Jackie Kennedy was the perfect muse. Her lean frame, sharp cheekbones, and understated demeanor allowed her to embody the moment’s ideals. She wore Givenchy, Oleg Cassini, Chanel, and Dior; not just labels, but the very symbols of an era that celebrated elegance as both a luxury and a democratic aspiration.
Her pillbox hats, A-line dresses, pastel suits, and oversized sunglasses didn’t just flatter her, they defined the decade. More importantly, she wasn’t alone. She was part of an entire aesthetic ecosystem. Magazines, designers, photographers, and even furniture makers leaned into this vision of modern American sophistication and the Kennedy’s were the poster image of this American aesthetic. Jackie didn’t just wear the look—she helped author the fashion, politics, and culture that extended far beyond her.
And that’s not to diminish her impact. Jackie Kennedy became an icon because she knew how to edit herself. She mastered restraint by never over-accessorizing, never flashy, always effortless. In that way, she became the eternal reference point for First Lady fashion: timeless, poised, elegant.
Melania Trump: A Woman Against the Current
Melania Trump’s circumstances couldn’t be more different. Rather than stepping into a cultural moment of clarity and optimism, she stepped into one of confusion. The current world of fashion is fragmented. Trends rise and fall on TikTok within weeks. High fashion is often more about shock value than beauty. The industry itself struggles with identity, toggling between gender-neutral silhouettes, fast-fashion imitations, and performative political statements.
And yet Melania marches to the beat of her own drum.
Rather than chasing trends, she leaned into her own aesthetic: sleek lines, bold tailoring, rich fabrics, and unapologetically feminine silhouettes. She's worn Ralph Lauren, Dior, and Dolce & Gabbana, not as a costume of the times, but as a personal uniform.
Her wardrobe at the White House has often been compared to Jackie’s and she has admitted to the inspiration, but in truth, she has always been very different. Where Jackie represented a cultural movement, Melania represented personal conviction. In a society where beauty is often dismissed as oppressive, she doubled down on it. In an era of sneakers at galas and ironic thrift-shop fashion, she wore stiletto heels and perfectly fitted coats.
Yes, even just to plant a tree.
Her high-fashion is not always well received. Critics have often dismissed her as cold, vain, or out of touch. But Melania’s refusal to compromise her aesthetic looks less like vanity and more like courage. One that says “This is who I am, take it or leave it.”
Jackie’s Fashion Was of Her Time; Melania’s Is of Herself
Here lies the main distinction between the two: Jackie was the symbol of a flourishing time in fashion, while Melania is a symbol of resistance against its decline.
Jackie benefited from being at the epicenter of fashion’s prime. The world of style was aligned, the rules were clear, and she was the best student in class. Melania, by contrast, has faced a disoriented fashion industry where the very concept of beauty is under debate. And yet, she's maintained a consistent, coherent vision of elegance; one that, frankly, often surpasses the creativity of the designers around her.
In other words, Jackie wore the best of what her time offered, while Melania has created a standard in a time when there isn’t one.
The New York Factor
Melania’s fashion DNA is rooted in New York high fashion. Before the White House, she spent years as a model in the city, attending galas and absorbing the discipline of couture. This gave her something Jackie never had: an insider’s understanding of the fashion world.
While Jackie projected elegance by selecting from the best designers of her time, Melania actively shaped her look. She leaned into monochromatic coats with matching gloves, statement belts, sharply tailored blazers, and gowns that emphasized her statuesque frame. Her choices were not passive, they were declarations.
It’s worth noting that Melania’s most memorable outfits were not safe. From the cobalt Ralph Lauren dress at the inauguration to the military-inspired coats on foreign trips, she often used fashion to assert strength rather than to soften her presence. Jackie embodied grace; Melania embodies power.
Why Melania Deserves More Credit
Another key difference: Jackie didn’t have to fight her culture. In the 1960s, Americans wanted their First Lady to look elegant, poised, and beautiful. Jackie gave them exactly that.
Melania, on the other hand, has faced a culture where femininity itself is controversial. Legacy fashion magazines have largely refused to cover her, despite her being the most naturally glamorous and fashion conscious First Lady since Jackie. Designers have openly declared they would never dress her. In a time when everyone preaches inclusivity, she's been excluded.
Jackie was shaped by a time of elegance, optimism, and innovation, while Melania carved out her aesthetic in a world skeptical of beauty itself.
And still, she's showed up impeccably dressed. That is why Melania deserves more credit. Jackie’s fashion aligned with her culture. Melania’s defied it.
It would be easy to crown Jackie as the eternal fashion queen, and perhaps she will always hold that place in history for many. But if we look at effort, responsibility, and courage, Melania deserves more admiration.
If Jackie was the icon of a flourishing fashion culture, Melania is the icon of fashion’s resistance against chaos. That distinction matters.
The Iconic Outfits That Defined Them
Jackie Kennedy’s Highlights
Pink Chanel Suit (1963): Perhaps the most famous First Lady outfit of all time, the strawberry-pink Chanel skirt suit with matching pillbox hat that Jackie wore on the day of JFK’s assassination symbolized both grace and tragedy. It remains an indelible image of American history.
Inaugural Gown (1961): A white sleeveless gown with a matching cape, designed by Ethel Frankau of Bergdorf Goodman, established Jackie as the new style authority from her very first night in the White House.
State Dinner in Versailles (1961): Her ivory silk evening gown by Givenchy, paired with elbow-length gloves, charmed European elites and cemented her as a global fashion icon.
Melania Trump’s Highlights
Ralph Lauren Inaugural Ensemble (2017): A powder-blue cashmere dress with a matching jacket and gloves, directly evoking Jackie Kennedy, announced Melania’s fashion seriousness and remains her most universally praised look.
Silver Chanel Haute Couture Gown (2018 State Dinner with France): A sparkling, form-fitting Chanel haute couture gown with sheer panels and intricate embellishment—one of Melania’s most celebrated, couture moments at the White House.
White Michael Kors Suit (2018 State of the Union): Tailored and powerful, the all-white pantsuit became one of her most talked-about choices, interpreted by some as a subtle message of independence.
When Fashion Misfires
Even style icons stumble from time to time, and both Jackie and Melania have had moments that have been critiqued by fashion magazines and fans alike.
Jackie Kennedy’s Controversial Looks
The Leopard-Print Phase (1962): Jackie’s frequent wear of leopard coats and accessories contributed to a massive demand for real leopard fur, leading to criticism once the environmental impact became clear.
Overly Mod Experiments (Late 1960s): After leaving the White House, Jackie sometimes experimented with statement pieces and new trends. Sometimes it worked, and other times it clashed with the public’s fixed image of her refined elegance.
Melania Trump’s Controversial Looks
“I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” Jacket (2018): The olive-green Zara jacket worn en route to visit detained migrant children caused a media firestorm. The message on the back overshadowed her intent, making it her most infamous fashion controversy.
Safari Outfit in Africa (2018): A white pith helmet worn on a trip to Kenya evoked colonial imagery and sparked backlash, overshadowing an otherwise elegant wardrobe during the tour.
The Verdict
So, who was the best dressed First Lady? The answer depends on how you frame the question. If you’re asking who most perfectly represented her time, it’s Jackie Kennedy, without question. She was the face of an era when fashion was synonymous with grace and optimism. And we will forever hold respect and nostalgia for that.
But if you’re asking who had the most style and demonstrated the most independence, creativity, and courage in her fashion, the answer is undoubtedly Melania Trump. In a time when fashion is confused and beauty is contested, she's stayed true to elegance. She hasn't ridden the wave of the times as Jackie did; she's created her own current. And perhaps that’s the most stylish thing of all.
It's clear Jackie struggled to find her footing in fashion after departing the White House and her wedding dress controversy is proof that her fashion wasn’t always self-directed. Melania, by contrast, has carved out a distinct aesthetic and leveraged it as an asset in the White House. On style alone, she deserves credit as the most fashionable First Lady.