Reason why Melania Trump always wears a massive hat in public as latest appearance raises eyebrows
It's no secret that Melania Trump is a fan of a very dramatic hat, as this week's UK state visit has once again proven.
The First Lady, 55, has certainly delivered some stand-out looks over the years and has proven she isn't afraid to push boundaries and ruffle a few feathers when it comes to fashion.
During her and husband Donald Trump's trip across the pond this week, Melania has sported a series of attention-grabbing outfits - from her yellow off-the-shoulder dress at the state dinner to her long Burberry trench coat.
However, the one accessory that royal fans simply could not get over was the purple wide-brimmed hat she arrived in and kept on for most of Wednesday (17 September).
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She paired it with a black Dior two-piece suit, as the American couple got stuck into the first day of their second UK state visit.
If you somehow haven't seen one of the many pictures of the hat that have done the rounds online, take a look below.
And it's not the first time Melania has made a statement with her headwear.
Back in January, she wore a black and white wide-brimmed hat to her husband's inauguration - and it's safe to say it stole the show.
The First Lady donned a sophisticated navy blue trench coat teamed with another wide-brimmed hat, in matching colours, and fans compared it to none other than Beyoncé's iconic 'Formation' outfit.
Both hats cover her eyes from a lot of angles and it turns out there may be a real reason for this.
Dr Naomi Braithwaite, associate professor in fashion and material culture at Nottingham Trent University, said: "It really does hide her eyes; she’s almost hiding behind it."
In political fashion, that kind of controlled visibility is rarely accidental. It softens scrutiny while commanding presence, a tool women in public life have long used to draw or deflect the gaze, Dr Braithwaite added.
Elsewhere, Woman&Home’s Digital Fashion Editor, Rivkie Baum, said the large hat actually adds a sense of elegance.
The expert explained: "Melania Trump regularly opts for an eye-shielding, wide-brimmed hat.
"This glamorous look channels an old-school, Hollywood glamour, falling in line with her penchant for high-end designer looks. An easy way to make a statement, the overall vintage aesthetic is one that works well for her."
While celebrity stylist Marian Kwei suggested that Melania could have worn it as a signal that Trump should be the focus of the visit, as per the BBC.
She said: "The hat with the wide brim that hides her face is pointing to a stance where she wants all eyes on her husband and his agenda while here.”
Finally, body language expert Inbaal Honigman told Tyla that the reason for this extravagant hat in particular is more than meets the eye.
"This is not the first time we observe Melania in a low, wide-brimmed hat," she said on behalf of OLBG. "In body language terms, this serves two functions."
Honigman continued: "Firstly, it creates a safe space around her so nobody can get too close. Secondly, the hat can act as a cloak of invisibility, allowing the First Lady to employ all manner of facial expressions undetected.
"So much of non-verbal communication is executed by facial expressions that it can be more than 50% of body language."
She added: "As the wide-brimmed hat slung low, it hides Melania’s forehead, eyebrows and - to a certain extent - her eyes, therefore making it hard to detect any sense of annoyance or frustration.
"Those emotions are conveyed via the forehead, the eyebrows, and eyes."
Topics: Melania Trump, Fashion, Donald Trump, Beyonce, Style, Life
Madison Burgess