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- Presidents and first ladies often coordinate their outfits with matching colors.
- Donald Trump and Melania Trump wore matching shades of purple on their second state visit to the UK.
- Wearing matching colors “communicates stability and solidarity,” a stylist told Business Insider.
The outfits that presidents and first ladies wear are more than just clothes — they can also send unspoken messages.
Lauren Rothman, a style strategist and image coach, previously told Business Insider that when high-profile political couples wear matching colors, such as President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump’s coordinating purple looks while visiting the UK in September, it “communicates stability and solidarity.”
“Dressing in coordinating tones signals unity, whether conscious or unconscious,” she said. “They are presenting themselves as a team.”
Photos show how presidents and first ladies have employed this subtle strategy over the past quarter-century.
President George W. Bush and Laura Bush wore matching shades of blue to the inauguration in January 2001.
Her blue suit was created by Michael Faircloth, a Dallas-based designer.
The first lady wore a coral suit that coordinated with George Bush’s tie in July 2001.
The Bushes attended a National Service Organization meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
In August 2001, they wore the same shade of green aboard Air Force One.
The Bushes flew on Air Force One to their ranch in Waco, Texas.
George W. Bush’s red tie paired well with Laura Bush’s red suit in April 2005.
The president and first lady attended the dedication of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
In July 2009, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama each wore black, white, and red.
Obama addressed a reception for US ambassadors in the Grand Foyer of the White House.
Michelle Obama’s gray shirt and silver pin matched Barack Obama’s silver tie in December 2010.
They appeared together at Harriet Tubman Elementary School in Washington, DC, for the signing of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The act supported child nutrition programs and healthy school lunches.
They matched again in July 2014 in slate blue.
They attended the Kids’ State Dinner in the East Room together.
In September 2015, Barack Obama wore a light-mauve tie that complemented Michelle Obama’s pink dress.
They arrived together for the National Medal of Arts ceremony held in the East Room.
Barack Obama wore slate blue again while arriving in India in January 2015, coordinating with Michelle Obama’s dress from Indian-American designer Bibhu Mohapatra.
The black-and-white dress featured a blue floral design.
In July 2017, President Donald Trump wore a blue tie that matched first lady Melania Trump’s stilettos.
The Trumps attended a traditional Bastille Day military parade while visiting France.
Melania Trump wore a red top to match Donald Trump’s trademark red tie in September 2017.
The Trumps wore red while returning from a weekend at Camp David.
The Trumps wore matching black-and-white stripes at Mar-a-Lago in April 2018.
They welcomed Japan’s prime minister at the time, Shinzo Abe, to Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Melania Trump wore a red belt to go with Donald Trump’s red tie in July 2018.
They hosted a picnic for military families on the South Lawn of the White House.
In July 2018, they matched in red again while visiting Europe.
The president and first lady visited Brussels, London, Scotland, and Helsinki on a weeklong trip to Europe.
Melania Trump’s off-white and navy Gucci coat coordinated with Donald Trump’s blue-and-white outfit as they greeted the president and first lady of Poland in September 2018.
The coat retailed for $3,980, Yahoo News reported.
Melania Trump’s yellow Louboutins went well with Donald Trump’s yellow tie on a May 2019 visit to Japan.
Melania’s orange coat was designed by Dries Van Noten.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden wore matching navy jackets in June 2021.
The Bidens wore the matching jackets upon landing in Cornwall, UK, for the G7 Summit.
Joe Biden’s navy suit and red tie coordinated perfectly with the colors in Jill Biden’s printed dress in October 2021.
The Bidens returned to the White House after spending the weekend in Delaware.
The Bidens matched in navy again in October 2021.
Jill wore a navy suit designed by Adam Lippes.
In November 2021, Biden wore a blue-and-pink striped tie that complemented Jill’s three-quarter-sleeve fuchsia dress.
Biden signed an executive order to help improve public safety and justice reform for Native American communities.
In May 2022, they wore matching shades of light blue at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Biden received a briefing at the base, while Jill departed for a trip to Ecuador, Panama, and Costa Rica. Both wore shades of blue.
They coordinated in indigo when Joe Biden explained his decision to withdraw from the presidential race in July 2024.
Joe Biden recorded a video message in the Oval Office addressing his reasons for ending his presidential campaign.
During Donald Trump’s second term, he and Melania Trump coordinated in purple during a state visit to the UK.
Melania Trump wore a gray skirt suit and purple hat by Dior, which Donald Trump matched with a purple tie.
The Trumps’ visit to Windsor Castle featured carriage rides, a military jet flyover, and a state banquet.
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