CRASH COURSE IN FASHION DIPLOMACY FOR ROSMAH: HERE’S WHAT FIRST LADY MELANIA WORE THAT DAZZLES THE WORLD

Donald Trump has successfully intimidated Middle East into submission. Despite calling for a “total shutdown” of Muslims to the U.S, using the 3 magic words (radical Islamic terrorist) and even signing executive orders banning citizens from 7 Muslim-majority countries, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia insisted on decorating the U.S. president with gold medal and US$350 billion business deal.

Donald the Menace then created havoc in Europe. European leaders wanted him to endorse climate change but Donald talked about terrorism instead. EU wanted him to bash Russia but Donald played dumb. The EU leaders wanted him to reaffirm the US’ commitment to Article V of the NATO treaties but Donald asked them for money before talking about defence.

But it wasn’t 70-year-old President Donald Trump who had stolen the lightning during his first foreign trip – a 9-day overseas trip – since taking over the White House. From black veil to a colourful jacket made by Dolce & Gabbana that retails for more than US$68K a pop, 47-year-old First Lady – FLOTUS Melania Trump – took the world by storm with her fashion.

Overseas trips are historically a chance for first ladies and princesses to engage in fashion diplomacy. Princess Diana was one of the best at such diplomacy, often paying homage to host nations when she traveled. Like Princess Diana, Melania could be using her wardrobe for the same purpose.

{ 19 May, 2017 }

On the day the President and First Lady board Air Force One for their Middle East tour, Melania wore a Hervé Pierre skin-tight orange leather skirt and long-sleeve sweater. Hugging her sexy curves, the skirt featured a high waist and a slit at the knee, showing off her incredible legs. Donald was obviously super proud of his stunning wife.

{ 20 May, 2017 }

On the first stop of their tour, the POTUS and FLOTUS landed in Saudi Arabia as 81-year-old King Salman was waiting patiently on the tarmac for them. Melania wore a US$1,495 black Stella McCartney jumpsuit tailored with an ’80s-inspired oversize gold high-waist belt by Saint Laurent, amplifed with a chunky, chain-linked necklace. Her footwear was US$675 Christian Louboutin.

There was no headscarf from Melania yet Saudi news media praised her outfit as “classy anc conservative”. Later that day, Melania slipped into a magenta Reem Acra gown, complete with flowing cape sleeves, for dinner at the Saudi palace. The First Lady and Ivanka Trump were the only women present at the opulent welcoming ceremony at Murabba Palace.

{ 21 May, 2017 }

FLOTUS Melania visited the American International School in Riyadh on her second day of her visit to Saudi Arabia. Dressed in a Ralph Lauren Collection safari shirt-dress, Yves Saint Laurent  wide brown leather belt, zebra-patterned Manolo Blahnik  pumps and accessorized with gold bangles, Mrs Trump spoke with teachers and greeted by students. She also visited an all-women General Electric service center.

She later changed into a Dolce & Gabbana white pantsuit with heels and a black top for her husband’s first major foreign speech for the Arab Islamic American Summit at the King Abdulaziz Conference Center. Some said her choice of pantsuit was to send a message to the kingdom’s women to fight for their right, the same way she had just as much a right to be in the room as any of the men.

{ 22 May, 2017 }

When the Trumps stepped off Air Force One in Israel and later visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Melania Trump wore a white suit, pairing the US$997 Michael Kors belted white jacket and slimming skirt with red and white Manolo Blahnik zebra-printed stilettos. For her dinner look in Israel, Melania went back to her roots with a sultry, transparent black-laced slip Dolce & Gabbana that covered most of her long legs.

At the Holocaust memorial, Melania wore a US$2,730 white and creme-striped sleeveless dress by designer Roksanda, whom the First Lady famously wore for the Republican National Convention. This time, she wore nude-toned Manolo Blahnik heels and no jewelry. Wearing the same dress, Mrs. Trump boarded Air Force One for her next destination – Italy.

{ 23 May, 2017 }

The first couple touched down in Rome for a date with Pope Francis. Melania wore once again her favourite fashion house – Dolce & Gabbana – a custom-made black coat dress with gold appliqués over a navy knee-length dress. The FLOTUS is a friend with Stefabo Gabbana and in an Instagram post, Gabbana thanked Melania for wearing his creation.

Melania Trump chose to honour her host nation by wearing Italian label Dolce & Gabbana once again in her meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. She wore a black lace sheath dress with a matching veil, raising eyebrows as to why the First Lady chose to cover her head at the Vatican but not in Saudi Arabia. Clearly, she has more respect for Vatican than Saudi.

{ 24 May, 2017 }

For her meeting with the King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium, the First Lady wore a Michael Kors collection ensemble – a US$1,397 blue and white gingham suit dress and matching gingham Manolo Blahnik  pumps.

{ 25 May, 2017 }

The next day, Melania visited the Queen Fabiola Children’s Hospital and the Magritte Museum in Brussels, wearing a beige skirt suit designed by Belgian designer Maison Ullens and a pair of Manolo Blahnik snakeskin 4-inch heels. Melania snapped selfies with some of the young patients at the hospital.

At a dinner hosted by Queen Mathilde of Belgium a few hours later, Melania Trump changed into another black lace Dolce & Gabbana dress, swapping out her stilettos for the Italian house’s embellished floral sandals. She posed with other First Ladies of the world from Iceland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Turkey and France.

{ 26 May, 2017 }

Stepping out of an SUV in Sicily, it was a jaw-dropping moment as First Lady Melania decorated herself by pairing a soft beige fitted dress with a colourful floral appliqué jacket by Milan designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana that comes off the rack at about US$68,600. She also carried a matching clutch to lunch with spouses of the G7 leaders, held at the historic Elephants Palace.

For a performance of La Scala philharmonic orchestra at the Ancient Greek Theatre of Taormina with other G7 leaders and their partners, Melania appeared for the evening in Dolce & Gabbana’s glittering high-neck silver dress and silver shoes. A custom-made dress from Dolce & Gabbana’s normally starts at minimum US$40,000 a pop.

{ 27 May, 2017 }

First Lady Melania Trump concluded her first overseas trip with a rare speech to US military members at a naval base in Italy. Dressed in a black custom-made Dolce & Gabbana dress with button-embellishments, the FLOTUS said she would never forget the women and children she met during her nine days on the road in Europe and the Middle East.

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