The second Trump term has brought a seismic shift in power dressing, replacing the quiet decorum of the Biden years with loud American bling. Donald Trump’s heavy, shoulder-padded Brioni suits and the broader aesthetic of his circle—bedazzled cowboy hats, MAGA caps, and expensive logos—signal a culture where prestige is unchained from taste. As one conservative influencer described the atmosphere, ‘It’s Republican Coachella and Donald Trump is our Beyoncé.’
Fashion in this new era is deliberately brash. Elon Musk’s preposterous flight jacket, Melania Trump’s strange hat, and Lauren Sánchez’s inauguration-day lingerie exemplify a look that is, as the kids say, ‘a lot.’ While critics may sneer, dismissing this aesthetic as vulgar ignores its blockbuster appeal: 77,284,118 voters clearly liked what they saw. To mock it, the article argues, plays directly into Trump’s hands.
The Trump look has undergone a ‘glow-up’ for the second term, with more smiles, celebrities, and beautiful people in Washington. The messaging is simple: big parties, hamburgers, fireworks, and winning are fun. Trump’s suits are square and oversized, avoiding dandyish touches, while the ‘broligarchy’ of Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg sport gym-pumped physiques and aviator shades. Women like Kellyanne Conway and Megyn Kelly embody a retro femininity rooted in California blondes, with ‘Republican blowouts’ bigger and bouncier than Democratic-era bobs.
This vision of gender is strictly enforced even before legislation: men are men, women are women, and women never get wrinkles or go grey. The dominant looks for women are ultra-ladylike tailoring with an emphasis on the waist for daytime, and bare-shouldered ballgowns for evening—both with a mid-century flavour. Ivanka Trump, the most fluent fashion speaker of the tribe, wore a 1950 Dior-inspired skirt suit for the inauguration, followed by a Givenchy-inspired evening gown.
