Melania Trump, Carrie Symonds, Carrie Lam – what can we tell from the style statements of 6 women in politics?

One of the public’s favourite pastimes is dissecting the wardrobes of women in seats of power, passing equal scrutiny on both the wives of leaders or those in office themselves. And whether interpreting the political statements inherent in a fancy frock is fair play or just fun and games, the subtext is fascinating – here’s our take on six women who know that their fashion statements are exactly that.

Melania Trum p

You’d think America’s first lady would hold an edge, having worked as a fashion model before becoming a resident of the White House. While she favoured unstructured, figure-skimming satin numbers in her younger days, her style has since become more focused on interesting silhouettes, whether it is body-conscious tailored dresses or balloon-sleeved A-line day frocks.

While in that respect her style is often on point, many of her sartorial decisions have stirred up controversy. A military-green parka emblazoned with the words “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” was deemed callous on her visit to the US-Mexican border last year, while her fondness for expensive designer garb – a US$1,380 Balmain lumberjack shirt for gardening or a US$51,000 Dolce & Gabbana coat at the G7 Summit – is a constant talking point.

Those who follow FLOTUS fashion note that while her predecessor Michelle Obama used her style platform to promote up-and-coming American designers, Melania Trump’s style decisions are driven more by personal preference.

Peng Liyuan

The former folk singer and wife to Xi Jinping is often cited for her fashion sense, which is widely praised for being occasion-appropriate, but also for promoting lesser-known Chinese designers, and for incorporating design details that are a nod to the culture’s rich fashion history.

Dressing conservatively while winning over the fashion set is no easy task, but Peng does the job well in daywear such as the grey skirt suit with a chic bow-embellished neckline she wore to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in March 2019. She often defaults to a mandarin-collared ensemble for more formal occasions, but don’t mistake this for a crutch – Peng shows the versatility of this style statement in various ways.

In late 2017, at a state dinner alongside the American first lady, who sported an ostentatious mink-cuffed Gucci embroidered cheongsam, Peng stole the show with a simple dark burgundy sheath topped with a sheer, embroidered overcoat: elegance personified.