On the second night of the Republican National Convention, Melania Trump came dressed for battle. She strode alone down the white-pillared colonnade of the White House on the long walk to the podium in an olive green skirt suit with broad shoulders and a military edge, exactingly tailored, caught at the waist with a wide belt and brass buttons. It was a far cry from the usual first lady convention garb, most often a dress or more lunchable suit, chosen with purpose to soften the image of the candidate and, by extension, help frame his — or her — more domestic side. It was a far cry, for example, from the white dress with belled sleeves that Mrs. Trump herself had chosen for her speech at the 2016 Republican Convention; a step away from the full-skirted green coatdress that Dr. Jill Biden wore in her appearance last week; even more removed from the pink and silver sleeveless brocade dress that sent the internet aflame when Michelle Obama wore it in 2012. It was unusual enough, in this context, to demand attention before Mrs. Trump even opened her mouth on Tuesday evening.

Source: New York Times August 26, 2020 11:54 UTC