First LadyMelania Trump’s unveiling of hernew official White House portraitelicited mixed reactions from the media, but none so harsh as the oneVogue Magazinehad.
The influential fashion magazine likened Melania’s appearance to a “freelance magician” rather than a public servant, arguing that the photo was too dramatic and “theatrical” for what should be a professional portrait.
HighlightsVogue harshly critiqued Melania’s White House portrait, comparing her to a ‘freelance magician.‘The dramatic portrait featured Melania in a black Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo, a choice the magazine called “theatrical.“The photo elicited mixed reactions online, with some supporting and others criticizing the First Lady.
The black-and-white imageseesthe former model striking a power pose behind a desk, leaningslightly forward with her hands on the table while wearing a black Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo jacket.
“Trump looked more like she was guest starring on an episode ofThe Apprenticethan assuming the role of first lady of the United States,” the magazine wrote.
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Vogue Magazinewrote a scathing critique of Melania Trump’s new official White House portrait, saying she looked like a “freelance magician”
Image credits:White House
ForVogue, the main point of contention isMelania’schoice to wear a tuxedo instead of a, in their opinion, more appropriate and sober blazer.
According to the magazine, the First Lady’schoice of attirestemmed from bothher life as a wealthy model and her husband’s stint as a reality television star.
“It’s perhaps unsurprising that a woman who lived in a gold-encrusted penthouse, whose fameis so intertwinedwith a reality-television empire, would refuse to abandon theatrics,”Voguewrote.
Image credits:Cleyton Ewerton / Unsplash
The publication nevertheless praised the new portrait for being “toned down”whencompared to her previous2017photo. During her first tenure, theFirst Ladyposed in full color, wearing a luxurious black outfit accessorized withdiamond-encrustedrings.
Vogue’swords of praise weren’twithout their dose of venom, describing Melania’s face in the old portrait as “airbrushed into oblivion.”
For Vogue, the recent portrait is the latest in a long series of “messages” the First Lady has sent over the years via her fashion choices
Image credits:BBC / The Apprentice
The magazine then pointed out how theformer modelmade it a habit of sending political messages through her clothing in the past.
The first example they cited was how, in 2018,Melaniawore a Zara jacket that read “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” on the back while en route to visit children held in a migrant detention center in McAllen, Texas.
Image credits:melaniatrump
“Now, attempting a no-nonsense businesswoman approach in her situationally inappropriate tuxedo, it seems that Melania Trump still struggles with sartorial messaging,” the magazine said.
AsBored Pandapreviously reported, Melania’s new portrait drew mixed reactions from netizens and official publications
Image credits:Getty Images / Unsplash
“She has positioned herself firmly behind that ultra-shiny table, keeping a bit of a boundary between herself and the viewer,” Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw, the Faculty Director for the Department of History of Art at the University of Pennsylvania, told theBBC.
“Staying a little mysterious, a little enigmatic, and a littleinscrutable,” Shaw added.
Her supporters, on the other hand, praised the portrait, feeling it was classy and elegant.
“Class is back in the White House!” read one comment, while a second said, “Serious business and gorgeous too. Love it!”
Others, however, felt that the First Lady looked too serious and evena little bitintimidating. “Terrible picture of her. She looks mean and not happy!” one user wrote.
“I’m guessing she doesn’t have a soft side to her. If she does, she never shows it. It would be nice if she did.”
Netizens debated the portrait, with some agreeing with Vogue, while others felt the criticism was overblown
“There’s nothing wrong with the picture. People are just people,” one user wrote.
“Yeah, likeheror hate her, thepicis just fine.Why get so invested in a pic?” another replied.
“I don’t like either portrait because she looks artificial in both. But criticizing her for striking a strong pose? For not smiling?” a reader asked.
“She is artificial. Just like that whole repulsive family,” another stated.
“It looks straight out ofHouse of Cards.”
“She looks mad all the time,” one user asked, as others took to social media to share their thoughts on the portrait
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