Featured Image Credit: Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Melania Trump, Donald Trump, Fashion, Politics
Jen Thomas
Topics: Melania Trump, Donald Trump, Fashion, Politics
While President Donald Trump can be unpredictable at times, his wife, Melania, can always be relied upon for some enormous hats.
The First Lady is renowned for wearing massive, wide-brimmed hats, and has been snapped wearing many of them over the years.
As well as keeping her local milliner busy, it turns out there's a secret meaning behind her bold headwear, other than the desire to be a fashion statement.
Trump was recently criticised by Meryl Streep and Vogue editor Anna Wintour for some of her previous looks, but the fashion icon did give her some credit for having a very definite sense of style.
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Whether that was a backhanded compliment or not, we'll leave it up to you.
As King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in the US for a State visit in a bid to ease tensions between the UK and the US, the First Lady opted for another not-so-subtle number.
She donned a raffia wide-brimmed hat with a cream bow, designed by Eric Javits, according to USA Today.
There may well be a motive for wearing these eye-covering hats, says Dr Naomi Braithwaite, associate professor in fashion and material culture at Nottingham Trent University.
She said: "It really does hide her eyes; she’s almost hiding behind it."
The expert added that it softens scrutiny while commanding presence.
Another expert, Woman&Home’s Digital Fashion Editor, Rivkie Baum, said it works for the First Lady due to the elegance of the style, inspired by years gone by.
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."
Celebrity stylist Marian Kwei told the BBC that the choice may be to keep the focus on her husband.
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.”
Body language expert Inbaal Honigman told Tyla her thoughts about Melania Trump's penchant: "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."
She added: "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 continued: "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."