Melania Trump's Farewell Outfit Is Turning Heads. Here's Why

While Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump didn't attend Joe Biden's inauguration, they did have a ceremonial exit on Jan. 20, 2021. The former president parted with a few closing words and said, "We will be back in some form... So have a good life. We will see you soon," according to CNN. This came a day after Donald's farewell speech, a video that raised some eyebrows for his contentious and disputable comments.

He and Melania then took their final flight in Air Force One, taking off to their home at Mar-a-Lago in Florida while Frank Sinatra's "My Way" played in the background.

Despite the pomp and circumstance of Trump's last moments as president, it was Melania who stole the show in her last outfit as first lady. In her typical way, she used her wardrobe to make a statement. So what did she say with this last outfit? We've got the scoop.

As Melania Trump left Washington, D.C. for the last time as first lady, she chose an all-black outfit. The outfit was a notable one because Melania didn't wear any American designers. Melania wore a Chanel jacket, a dress by Dolce and Gabbana, shoes by Christian Louboutin, and a Hermès Birkin bag, according to the New York Post. The outlet notes that the bag, made of crocodile, is worth approximately $50,000.

Melania's outfit, as noted by Hello! Magazine, carried a message of its own. There's no denying that she looked incredibly chic and channeled an Audrey Hepburn vibe, circa Breakfast at Tiffany's. Unfortunately for her and this classic film inspiration, she was flying to Florida rather than New York.

At the same time, Twitter couldn't help but notice how somber the all-black look was, giving major funeral vibes. Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, tweeted: "Is it me or does Melania Trump look like she is dressed for a funeral?" Another person tweeted about the Trump family, "They were all crying like it was a funeral." It was certainly a sad day for the Trump family, and Melania's wardrobe clearly gave a somber tone. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris and Dr. Jill Biden's outfits were also causing a stir for the exact opposite reasons.

The fact that wardrobes (and their designers) send a message is nothing new. In notable contrast, on the same day that Melania Trump wore all black and no American designers, Vice President Kamala Harris wore a striking purple outfit. Her coat, according to Harper's Bazaar, was made by Christopher John Rogers, who is a Black American and queer designer. Harris also wore designs from Black designer Sergio Hudson according to Marie Claire — and of course, she wore pearls.

Dr. Jill Biden, on her first day as first lady, also chose an opposite ensemble from Melania. She wore an all-blue outfit, with a tweed coat trimmed in velvet, and zhuzhed up with pearls and Swarovski crystals. The outfit was made by "Colorado-born designer Alexandra O'Neill of the emerging American label Markarian," according to CNN. O'Neill said to CNN: "It is an incredible honor to dress Dr. Biden today. I am so humbled to be even a small part of American history."

While Harris and Biden brought a punch of color to the inauguration, people weren't done talking about Melania's dark ensemble and the deeper meaning behind it. This isn't, after all, the first time she's caused drama through wardrobe choices.

We know now the social ramifications that a wardrobe can make, and Melania Trump has made waves before. There was her green jacket which read, "I really don't care, do u?" when she went to visit a children's shelter in 2018, according to the BBC. There was also the time in 2017 when she wore a $51,500 Dolce and Gabbana jacket while visiting Sicily, according to CNN. Those are some big statements.

In response to the final outfit Melania chose to wear as first lady, a look that included a $50,000 Hermès Birkin bag, one person tweeted a colloquial reference to Marie Antoinette to emphasize how out of touch she was from her people: "Let them eat cake." Another person responded to a tweet from the New York Post, talking about how expensive her final outfit was, and said, "Every outfit in her closet is a high priced outfit...."

Melania's all-black ensemble carries a message: a return to wealthy, upper echelons (though, to be fair, did she ever leave?) and interests that don't necessarily include America.