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Topics: Donald Trump, Pope Francis
Jess Hardiman
Topics: Donald Trump, Pope Francis
Pope Francis' funeral was filled with well-known faces at the weekend, as notable names from across world gathered to pay their final respects.
US President Donald Trump was among the mourners, having attended the ceremony alongside wife Melania.
And it wasn’t long before his appearance sparked backlash online after some people noticed his outfit looked a little different to those of guests around him.
Instead of wearing the traditional black that many choose to stick to for funerals, Trump wore a blue suit with matching blue tie.
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His wife, meanwhile, was dressed head-to-toe in black, with her face partially covered by a lace veil.
It turns out she nailed the dress code - especially with one detail - but the same can't be said for Trump, with fashion expert Shakaila Forbes-Bell saying his attire was a ‘clear’ message to the world.
Speaking exclusively to Paddy Power Games, Forbes-Bell said: "If we agree that clothes constitute a powerful form of non-verbal communication, then the message displayed by Donald Trump's attire at the funeral of Pope Francis is loud and clear. This is a man who has, and will continue to, dance to the beat of his own drum.
"For the monumental ceremony, the dress code was traditional, with the Vatican advising women to wear a long black dress, closed-toe shoes and a veil, while men were asked to wear a dark suit accompanied by a black tie. Trump instead chose a rich blue suit paired with a matching tie and an American flag pin.
“While no one could credibly argue that Trump’s suit was ‘bright’, among the sea of black and navy fits from the likes of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Jill Biden, Trump’s fashion choice stuck out like a sapphire-blue thumb.”
Forbes-Bell explained more about the history of death and wearing the colour black as she explained: "The association between death and black dates back to Ancient Rome. From a psychological perspective, black - signifying the absence of light - adequately reflects the hollowness and seriousness of mourning.
“In so many ways, funerals are a great equaliser. Their dress codes require individuality to be stripped away, reminding us of our shared humanity - and that, sadly, death escapes no one."
She went on to claim a 'pattern is emerging' when it comes to Trump's fashion choices.
"The president’s decision to avoid the customary black sparked debate because it feels pointed, yet familiar. At President Jimmy Carter’s funeral in January, Trump donned a much darker navy suit but similarly skirted tradition by pairing it with a light blue tie. It’s not hard to see a pattern emerging," she said.
“To some, these decisions may seem inconsequential, while others question: could this be a symbol of what the next four years will look like? A subtle reminder to say goodbye to the comforting traditions we’ve become accustomed to - traditions that once bound us - and instead expect to be unsettled by the unexpected.”