Was Melania Trump's bright yellow dress for PM Modi's welcome too casual?
Sometimes the way a woman dresses can convey a lot about the overall mood, especially when it’s the wife of the president of the United States meeting India’s prime minister.
Melania Trump wore a bright yellow crepe gown to welcome Narendra Modi to the White House on June 26. Standing on the steps of the iconic building, the Slovenian model looked straight out of a 70s vintage fashion magazine in the cherry Emilio Pucci dress, that cost no less than $2,160 – that’s over Rs 1 lakh for you!
Donald Trump and she seemed the perfect hosts at the steps of the South Lawn, smiling and waving like they were best buddies with Modi. Yet I can’t help but imagine that there’s more to the cosy lunch in the fancy inner chambers.
Trump’s political message after the meeting was one of bilateral trade and geo-strategic alliance vis-à-vis China, and India has reason to be pleased with the overall message.
However, Melania’s semi-casual look has caught the interest of political and fashion readers regarding how colourful and at the same time, laidback it was. Some think it was apt for an afternoon brunch on an American sitcom, while others compared it to a nighty. Yes, it was extremely bright – especially as compared to what she has worn in the past with other head of state visits – but it could have been chosen as colour-appropriate for the Indian visitor, given how much we gravitate towards the bright stuff.
Rather than a safe pencil dress in a single muted colour - like what she wore on meeting the president and first lady of Panama just a week before – Melania went all out with the American glam girl look.
The fashion decision seems to take many factors into account – full sleeves and a long length to show respect to the PM – and we all remember what happened when Priyanka Chopra wore an above-the-knee-length dress to meet Modi in May.
It also seems to fit in the larger scheme of things, especially with regard to political positioning. The choice of colour – a bright yellow that technically belongs in a crayon box – is significant to India’s association with friendship, happiness and the summer that is unique to our country. A saffron leaning could also be indicated if one really went into it, but let’s leave that for another time.
Meanwhile, the question revolves around her semi- casual style with that large, abstracted flower print. Until now Melania has stuck to safe single tones in her clothing, but this is probably the first time that we see her experimenting with design. Though unique, the print is louder than expected and honestly, if you looked hard enough you could find a rip off at any local cloth store in India.
It would probably have been more appreciated had she worn a dress by an Indian designer, like how Michelle Obama celebrated the likes of Naeem Khan and Bibhu Mohapatra at India-centric state events.
However, Melania Trump’s fashion choice was a carefully crafted public message, and from the way the talks unravelled between Modi and Trump, it seems that the selection was in the right direction.