10 Ivanka Trump Outfits That May Have Had Special Meanings

As the daughter of Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump has been in the spotlight her whole life. While her fashion choices have always been scrutinized, they were truly being looked at with a magnifying glass once she became one of her father's senior advisors during his first term in the Oval Office. As part of her father's political team, many weren't just looking at her outfits to decide whether they were flattering or on trend, but also whether they were making some type of significant statement.

Just like other women in the Trump clan (Melania Trump, we're looking at you and your "I really don't care, do u?" jacket), there's been speculation that Ivanka has used her outfits not just to convey who she is politically or professionally but to make more specific statements, too. From channeling Old Hollywood glamour and opening up to other cultures to using bold colors to either blend in or stand out, there are plenty of instances of Ivanka showing she knows just how to speak through her clothing choices. 

Whether you were a fan of her look or not, Ivanka Trump's inaugural ball gown definitely caught attention. Not only was the Givenchy dress a statement-maker in general, with its simple black-and-white color palette and floral print, but it was also a replica of a famous Audrey Hepburn gown, which the Hollywood icon wore in the movie "Sabrina." While some might have found the reference to Audrey Hepburn out of place at Donald Trump's inauguration, others thought it was a totally fitting look.

In a talk with Daily Mail, Audrey Hepburn's son Sean Hepburn Ferrer spoke of the ties between his family and the Trump family. He also expressed his thoughts on Ivanka wearing the dress, saying, "It is no wonder that growing up in a family which knew our mother as a household name she chose to draw inspiration from her, to seek the ultimate elegance and class reference, for an occasion such as this one — the inauguration and the 32nd anniversary of our mother's passing and, most of all, Martin Luther King's day. What a cocktail!"

While Ivanka may not have copied Hepburn's styling exactly, she did make sure to keep the look polished and elegant. Clearly, she was aware of Old Hollywood glamour secrets we can still use today. By wearing simple jewelry and black satin gloves, and twisting her hair into a sleek updo, fashion-wise, Ivanka struck the right balance, even if the look itself was polarizing.

It seems that Audrey Hepburn wasn't the only elegant icon that Ivanka Trump was channeling during her father's inauguration week. At the 2025 inauguration, many were taking note of Ivanka's low-key but sophisticated deep-green skirt suit. An extra panel of fabric draped across her front introduced an element of interest and was cinched in with a slim black belt. Black leather gloves and a sleek beret made great accessories, and the beret, along with the deep green of her outfit, gave subtle military vibes. The stand-out part of the outfit, though, was her black Dior purse, often referred to as the "Lady Di" (short for Lady Dior) bag because of its associations with Princess Diana.

This was one of many times that the Trump women's outfits meant more than we realized. While there could be plenty of reasons for the refined and feminine styles that Ivanka opted for during the inauguration, these subtle and muted looks might hint at her future role during her father's second term. Speaking on The Skinny Confidential's "Him & Her Show" of her past in politics, she put it bluntly: "I hate politics." Ivanka added that she "went through years of craziness" while in the role. "It's the world's loneliest position, the enormity of the decisions you're making on a daily basis, how transactional everyone is with you."

She also expressed that this time around, she's looking to take on a more supportive role when it comes to her father: "I think I'm most looking forward to just being able to show up for him as a daughter and be there for him to take his mind off things, to watch a movie with him, or watch a sports game. To know that he can be with me and be himself and just relax and for me to be able to provide that for him in a very loving way as his daughter."

Despite the fact that Ivanka Trump has recently spoken about being there for her father throughout his second stint as president, some were questioning if she was truly in his corner on election night in 2024. Everyone knows that the color red is associated with the Republican Party and blue with the Democratic Party, which is why some were taken aback by Ivanka's choice to rock a blue velvet blazer as she stood on stage and celebrated her father's election-night win. The glam but simple velvet suit was balanced out with a red lip and diamond earrings. While some may have wondered if Ivanka was taking some kind of stand against her father due to her outfit choice, it could have simply been an indicator that she wasn't going to be as politically involved during her father's second term as president.

In an Instagram post from earlier that month, Ivanka Trump reflected on a few life lessons she'd learned as she turned 43. Throughout the post, she discussed a wide range of things, from health to priorities. She also opened up about the importance of relationships and of setting boundaries. "Family and friends are everything," she said. "Nourish these relationships, check in, and let people know you care. As Esther Perel says, 'The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life.'" She finished her post with a clear message: "Trust yourself. Identify your core values and live by them; this may mean setting firm boundaries."

During Donald Trump's re-election, many of Ivanka Trump's outfits were hinting that she was ready to take a backseat when it comes to all the political action. That hasn't always been the case, though. Earlier in her father's political career, Ivanka could be spotted wearing things such as bright-red dresses and crimson pantsuits. Some may not see a reason to read too much into Ivanka wearing the color red. However, wearing bright red can be a great example of power dressing, especially when you take the setting into consideration. Not only does power dressing boost confidence, but it also helps you to stand out (while showing support for the Republican Party, no less). Throughout 2018 especially, Ivanka was rocking shades of scarlet left and right. She donned a bright-red suit while boarding Air Force One with her father and brother for a campaign trip. She also wore a similarly hued satin dress while attending the CEO Summit of Americas in Lima that year.

"The perception of red or the meaning behind it, it's definitely a powerful color, it's associated with a really powerful, high energy type of person," observed Dawnn Karen, a fashion psychologist who spoke to Refinery 29 that year about Ivanka's outfit choice, which she also wore for her father's signing of the Perkin's Act. "It gives her (Ivanka Trump) a sense of I'm good enough to be in this room with these people at these type of powerful events."

Another note to take when it comes to Ivanka Trump's powerful red looks: She knows how to strike a balance. By keeping her makeup simple and going for a more natural type of glam, she avoided the issue of trying to find the best red lipstick to pair with a red dress and maintained an overall sophisticated look.

Just as red seemed to be Ivanka Trump's color of choice in 2018, in 2020, white was the main shade she wore while out in the public eye. While some may not have read much into her sudden preference for white outfits, others thought she might be sending a distinct message with her style choices. The color white can have a lot of different meanings, from suggesting peace to purity and cleanliness. Wanting to communicate all of these things makes plenty of sense, as this was during the height of the pandemic.

While campaigning for her father that year, Ivanka visited a school wearing a white shirt dress that defined her waist and managed to look casual and put-together all at once. To keep safe and accessorize at the same time, she paired it with a pearl-encrusted face mask, adding some glamour to a pandemic necessity. Minimal accessories and nude sandals kept the look low-key.

Ivanka wore another stand-out white look while at a meeting in the White House that year. This time, she wore a simple, solid white funnel-necked dress with minimal accessories and sleek, straightened shoulder-length hair. The pared-down look truly put all the focus on her and proved that she knew the best makeup looks to pair with a white dress.

During Donald Trump's fraud trial in 2023, all eyes were on the Trump family and on Ivanka Trump's fashion choices, as well. At the trial, Ivanka took the stand and supported her father, stating that she had not worked for his company since 2017. While some may have debated what she had to say on the stand, her blue blazer made a statement all on its own. When it comes to color psychology, blue can have a lot of significant meanings. Not only does it denote serenity and calm, but it also has ties to honesty and truthfulness, which means it's probably the perfect color to wear while testifying.

Even though Ivanka Trump may have been simply trying to bolster her appearance as a trustworthy person, her posh azure ensemble was communicating other things, too. Her long Carolina Herrera coat, which she paired with blue suit pants, blue pointed-toe shoes, and a large blue tote were all notably expensive pieces. Altogether, the outfit totaled thousands of dollars. Some took note of the fact that Ivanka wore such an expensive look to testify in her father's financial fraud case.

For some, this may have been one of the Trump family's worst looks. While there are those who may have felt that flaunting wealth while testifying at a fraud case was not in the best taste, the look itself was certainly tasteful. The outfit was overall low-key and styled with attention to detail. Along with her blue outfit, she wore a simple white crew-neck shirt, pearl earrings, and minimal makeup. She styled her hair in soft waves and wore light-pink nail polish, creating a balanced and polished court look.

In 2019, Ivanka Trump was connecting with others and bridging cultural differences with her outfit choices. While in Morocco to promote the U.S. government's Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, Ivanka wore a gray Moroccan-style jacket. The jacket, which she donned while meeting with Princess Lalla Merieym, featured ornate traditional embroidery along the neckline, front opening, and sleeves. She paired the piece with gray slacks and gray pointed-toe heels. She also wore her shoulder-length hair straight and parted down the middle. Simple accessories kept the focus on her stand-out jacket, which had been designed by Moroccan designer Fadila el Gadi, a female designer who runs an institute teaching underprivileged children how to embroider.

Not only did this low-key look display Trump's willingness to absorb Moroccan culture and blend in with it, but the muted tone of the outfit took the focus off her and onto the initiative. By wearing a more subdued hue like gray, there was more potential for the attention to be centered on her message and the efforts she was making to empower Moroccan women, rather than the outfit she was wearing. 

In 2020, Ivanka Trump's fashion choices were getting attention, but for an interesting reason. While attending her father's signing of a technology bill, Ivanka wore a deep-green dress (not too different from the green ensemble she would later wear at Donald Trump's second inauguration). Even though to some, it may have seemed like an innocuous outfit, others thought it had a striking resemblance to another iconic outfit: that of the character Serena Joy from "The Handmaid's Tale." For those who don't know, Serena Joy is one of the villains in a fictional story all about the oppression of women, political and otherwise. Needless to say, Ivanka Trump dressing so similarly to Serena Joy could be seen as some stark symbolism.

Regardless of any potential comparisons to fictional characters, the look was polished and put together. Ivanka kept her hair straight and simple and paired the dress with slouchy tan boots. On her Instagram, she struck an excited tone about the bill that she watched her father sign. "Last week @realDonaldTrump signed the Administration led, bipartisan Technology Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act into law creating the capacity to leverage technology for a more efficient, effective and accountable government!" she wrote, adding, "@POTUS also signed an executive order to improve the federal government's use of Artificial Intelligence. This EO will help ensure our govt has the capabilities & expertise to navigate the impact AI will have on our country, economy, and society."

Just as she had in Morocco in 2019, Ivanka Trump was once again exploring another culture through fashion. At a wedding of billionaire friends in India in 2024, Ivanka was making statements in traditional outfits that were also ultra-glam. Throughout the three-day celebration she attended during her visit to India, she wore multiple attention-grabbing looks that seemed to show her appreciation for the local culture. On the first day, she wore a glitzy gold-and-silver striped gown with obvious Indian influence.

On the second day of the festivities, she wore a white lacy cropped top and skirt with tons of beaded detail, which she paired with bold jewelry. Her necklace, earrings, and headdress all featured large, matching gems. She styled her hair in soft, large curls and kept her makeup glamorous but subtle. This certainly was not one of Ivanka Trump's biggest makeup mistakes. On her Instagram, she added the caption, "The celebration of Anant and Radhika's love continues on our second night in India!"

On the third day of her visit, she donned a glittery yellow sari, which she paired with a large collar necklace. The dress had white floral motifs, and the light, metallic nail polish she paired with the look created the perfect balance.

At the 2025 Interfaith International Prayer service, it seemed that once again, Ivanka Trump was taking advantage of an opportunity to power-dress. At an event where most attendees were in solid blue suits, Ivanka stood out in her bright-red wool coat dress. While the reasoning for opting for such an eye-popping color for the occasion is something only Ivanka herself would know, it was undoubtedly a bold visual statement.

The designer look was crafted by Suzannah London and fit Ivanka perfectly. The bold style also featured a large bow on the chest that was almost as attention-getting as the color of the coat itself. The rest of Ivanka's accessories were understated. She wore black leather gloves and black boots. Her hair and makeup were also low-key, with her hair falling in soft waves and her makeup looking put-together but subtle. Once again Ivanka was opting for simple hair and makeup keeping the focus on the coat dress.