Melania vs Ivanka Trump in fashion – what do Donald Trump’s wife and eldest daughter’s wardrobe choices really say, and who dresses better?

Case in point, the president’s unsavoury comments about Ivanka, “Don’t you think my daughter’s hot? She’s hot, right?”, and “If Ivanka weren't my daughter, perhaps I'd be dating her”.

Even in the professional sphere, Ivanka often substitutes for Melania, from reports that Ivanka was getting an office suite in the East Wing – a privilege normally reserved for the first lady – to joining diplomatic visits that are traditionally attended by the presidential wife.

The analogising is naturally extended to their fashion choices, which catch bystanders’ eyes before anything else, and are endlessly scrutinised by editors, bloggers and the world at large. Here, we take a closer look at some of the duo’s most recent and iconic looks, to help you distinguish which Trump is which, and their respective roles in “making American great again”.

Masked style

The first lady posted a photo of herself wearing a medical mask on Twitter to advise the public to wear a cloth mask to combat Covid-19 – despite the fact that her husband earlier declared, “I’m not going to do it”, and his previous suggestion that Americans should wear a scarf to protect themselves. In the middle of May, the first couple were criticised for not wearing masks when greeting representatives who had assisted fighting the country's pandemic in the White House Rose Garden.

Ivanka also subtly defied her father’s mask-wearing rule, as she said in an interview, “I always wear a mask when I am with the president, and everyone is instructed to do so as well”. At a recent meeting with restaurant representatives in the White House, the former fashion business owner put on a blue-dotted floral mask, which echoed her turquoise accessories.