Melania Trump’s fashion choices and love for diamonds echo America's glamorous former First Lady's style
WASHINGTON, DC: Melania Trump's fashion inspiration has a forerunner in the former First Lady Jacqueline "Jackie" Onassis Kennedy who loved pearls.
Even though Melania loves diamonds her classic style is reminiscent of Jackie’s refined elegance.
Jackie Kennedy’s love for pearls and Melania Trump’s fondness for diamonds
When Melania Trump first arrived at the White House she channeled Jackie Kennedy's style during Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration with a striking baby-blue Ralph Lauren ensemble.
Since then, her fashion choices have continued to evoke Jackie’s iconic looks.
Melania’s wardrobe has consistently echoed Jackie’s signature tight-waisted, tailored outfits, cementing her as a modern parallel to the former First Lady, Daily Mail noted.
While Jackie famously favored pearls, Melania's signature is diamonds.
Melania Trump’s diamond collection
Melania Trump’s jewelry collection has a most famous piece of her Graff engagement ring—a 15-carat emerald-cut diamond gifted by Donald Trump in 2004, which is valued at around $2 million today.
One Trump insider reportedly joked that the diamond was so dazzling that “friends and colleagues have to ‘put sunglasses on.’”
A decade later in 2015, Donald gifted Melania a second Graff ring for their 10th anniversary, a 25-carat diamond, the highest grade diamond in purity, valued at $3 million then and $4 million now.
She wore the ring prominently in her first official portrait as First Lady in 2017.
Besides this, her wardrobe is adorned with many other luxury jewelry which includes a set of pearl earrings from Akie Abe, wife of Japan's then-Prime Minister.
The Van Cleef & Arpels princess-cut diamond studs were notably worn by her during Trump's 2017 Inauguration and at the subsequent Freedom Inaugural Ball in Washington.
Jackie Kennedy’s timeless style was defined by pearls
Jackie Kennedy’s love for pearls was most famously represented by her three-strand faux pearl necklace purchased from Bergdorf Goodman for $35 which is valued at $400 today.
The piece, worn countless times and featured in a memorable photo with her son John F Kennedy Jr, later sold at auction for $211,500 at Sotheby’s.
Jackie's extensive collection included iconic pieces like the Diamond Sunburst Brooch bought at Wartski in London, which she bought by selling diamond brooches gifts given by her in-laws.
Priced at $50,000, Jackie had asked Kenneth Snowman, the distinguished painter and chairman of Wartski, to hold it for her while she arranged the money in 1961 when she was out shopping with her sister, Lee Radziwill.
Jackie Kennedy's response to Iran's Empress with a pair of pear earrings
Jackie Kennedy often wore the Sunburst Brooch in her hair, including at a 1962 State Dinner honoring the Shah of Iran.
Nevertheless, the Empress donned the Persian Seven Emerald Tiara, complemented by a matching emerald and diamond necklace, and a bracelet crafted by America's renowned diamond authority, Harry Winston.
Jackie in return abandoned all the jewellery which she had borrowed from Harry Winston and instead wore a simple pair of pearl earrings and the Sunburst Brooch placed in a 'brioche' hairdo.
The tradition of First Ladies wearing notable jewelry dates back to Elizabeth Monroe, wife of James Monroe, who introduced lavish jewels to the White House.
Elizabeth acquired a stunning tiara in France with large amethysts set in gold filigree.
