https://www.scmp.com/rss/326846/feed An in-depth look at the style of first ladies around the world. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Later this month, Indonesian cinema-goers will finally get to see what audiences in Berlin saw in February: Jokor Anwar’s Ghost in the Cell. The horror-comedy, which had its world premiere at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival, has been celebrated by influential trade magazine Variety for rising above mere “escapist entertainment” to channel societal anxieties about corruption and environmental destruction. Yet it is only the latest example of Southeast Asia’s creative moment... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3348980/southeast-asia-seeks-soft-power-outlast-us300-billion-buzz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3348980/southeast-asia-seeks-soft-power-outlast-us300-billion-buzz?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:16 +0000 Nirbhay Rana Nirbhay Rana In 2025, familiar fashion brands around the world shut stores, restructured operations or disappeared. Meanwhile, Shein, the fast-fashion platform long criticised for its environmental and labour footprint, remained highly profitable. Last year, Shein told investors it was expecting a US$2 billion profit in 2025. At first glance, the conclusion appears straightforward: speed and scale are winning, while slower traditional fashion models are losing. However, this reading is dangerously... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3338910/why-shein-doesnt-have-be-model-fashion-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3338910/why-shein-doesnt-have-be-model-fashion-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:30:07 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Just after midnight on New Year’s Day, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the first Muslim and first Asian-American mayor of New York. The ceremony was held in the decommissioned City Hall subway station, where Mamdani took his oath of office with his left hand on two Korans. While Mamdani’s swearing in was a historic occasion, the internet was also buzzing over a separate topic: his wife Rama Duwaji’s boots. With Duwaji – a Syrian-American animator and illustrator – having recently garnered... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3338779/meet-gabriella-karefa-johnson-who-styled-zohran-mamdanis-wife-rama-duwaji-his-inauguration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/icons-influencers/article/3338779/meet-gabriella-karefa-johnson-who-styled-zohran-mamdanis-wife-rama-duwaji-his-inauguration?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 10:00:37 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press On any day during her eight years as first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama said she could go from giving a speech to meeting with a counterpart from another country to digging in her vegetable garden with groups of schoolchildren. And her clothes had to be ready for that. There was too much else to do, including raising daughters Sasha and Malia, and she said she did not have time to obsess over what she was wearing. “I was concerned about, ‘Can I hug somebody in it? Will it get... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3332755/what-michelle-obama-said-about-her-iconic-fashion-picks-chronicled-look?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3332755/what-michelle-obama-said-about-her-iconic-fashion-picks-chronicled-look?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 22:00:16 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa In her latest book, The Look, released last week, Michelle Obama delves into her lifelong relationship with fashion. “During our family’s time in the White House, the way I looked was constantly being dissected – what I wore, how my hair was styled. For a while now, I’ve been wanting to reclaim more of that story, to share it in my own way,” Obama, 61, wrote in an Instagram post in June. She added, “The Look is about more than fashion. It’s about confidence. It’s about identity. It’s about the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3331921/meet-michelle-obamas-long-time-stylist-meredith-koop-who-wrote-foreword-look?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3331921/meet-michelle-obamas-long-time-stylist-meredith-koop-who-wrote-foreword-look?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 22:00:46 +0000 Ishani Sarkar Ishani Sarkar Sanae Takaichi, who recently became Japan’s first female prime minister, is already making waves around the world for her staunch conservative politics – and sense of style. Both were on full display during the 64-year-old’s meeting with US president Donald Trump in Tokyo on Tuesday. Takaichi, of the Liberal Democratic Party, is said to be a strong proponent of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe’s school of politics. Trump, who previously called the conservative and nationalist politician... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3330556/sanae-takaichis-iron-lady-style-how-japans-new-prime-minister-takes-fashion-cues-margaret-thatcher?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3330556/sanae-takaichis-iron-lady-style-how-japans-new-prime-minister-takes-fashion-cues-margaret-thatcher?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:25:55 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press US president Donald Trump, 79, relished the glow of a British royal spectacle on Wednesday, greeted at Windsor Castle on his state visit by King Charles, military honour guards and mounted troops before paying a private tribute at Queen Elizabeth’s tomb. No US president, or any other world leader, has ever had the honour of a second UK state visit. The pomp and pageantry are deliberate, meant to bolster ties with Trump at a time when his America First policies are putting pressure on trade and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3325985/fashion-looks-donald-trumps-uk-state-visit-kate-middleton-melania-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3325985/fashion-looks-donald-trumps-uk-state-visit-kate-middleton-melania-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:00:22 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa Since making a statement with her custom Adam Lippes outfit featuring a navy blue coat and a matching boater-style hat during US President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, first lady Melania Trump’s public appearances have been few and far between. Considered one of the best dressed first ladies, the apparent change in her fashion has also garnered attention. During her husband’s first term, the former model was known to opt for bold yet refined pieces; these days her wardrobe seems... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3313857/what-are-melania-trumps-best-looks-2025-so-far-known-her-fashion-diplomacy-first-ladys-opted-muted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3313857/what-are-melania-trumps-best-looks-2025-so-far-known-her-fashion-diplomacy-first-ladys-opted-muted?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 03:36:08 +0000 The “Kate Effect” has transformed the finances of multiple British fashion brands, as have the Carla, Meghan and Michelle effects in their respective countries. This is a well-known retail phenomenon, whereby well-dressed women in the public eye – such as the Princess of Wales, Meghan Markle, Carla Bruni or Michelle Obama – cause the careers of individual designers to skyrocket, unleashing a stampede for any item of clothing they wear. Melania Trump has many of the same attributes as these... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3297256/fashion-world-finally-ready-accept-melania-trump-it-has-kate-middleton-meghan-markle-and-michelle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3297256/fashion-world-finally-ready-accept-melania-trump-it-has-kate-middleton-meghan-markle-and-michelle?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Feb 2025 21:00:08 +0000 While red baseball caps have become synonymous with President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump made her own millinery-related fashion statement, sporting a navy wide-brimmed hat by an American designer on inauguration day. The hat designed by Eric Javits shielded the first lady’s eyes as her husband was sworn in Monday for the second time. Javits said dressing the first lady has been one of the greatest honours of his career. “My art background gave me an edge in bringing harmony and... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3295582/melanias-big-hat-who-designed-mrs-trumps-inauguration-day-outfit-she-skipped-ralph-lauren?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3295582/melanias-big-hat-who-designed-mrs-trumps-inauguration-day-outfit-she-skipped-ralph-lauren?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jan 2025 03:12:52 +0000 1. Kamala Harris’s fashion evolution from presidential suits to Celine Gowns, chill Converse trainers – and that controversial Vogue cover Explore Kamala Harris’ evolving fashion choices, from powerful pantsuits to stylish gowns, and how they reflect her political journey and personal style. Discover the stories behind her iconic looks as she campaigned for the White House. 2. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris: power and confidence conveyed through fashion choices in the 2024 election... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3285206/donald-trump-kamala-harris-tim-walz-jd-vance-what-are-style-secrets-behind-candidates-campaign-looks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/article/3285206/donald-trump-kamala-harris-tim-walz-jd-vance-what-are-style-secrets-behind-candidates-campaign-looks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Nov 2024 03:46:48 +0000 Media, and fashion media especially, loves dissecting a female politician’s outfits. What does her heel height say? What does the colour of her dress signal about her take on that hot-button topic? As US Vice-President and Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris takes on a gruelling schedule of campaign events, these are some of the questions on the lips of the sartorial set. To fully understand Harris’ wardrobe, you must look to her pre-White House past. Specifically, recall her... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3277927/what-kamala-harris-fashion-choices-really-say-presidential-pantsuits-chill-converse-trainers-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3277927/what-kamala-harris-fashion-choices-really-say-presidential-pantsuits-chill-converse-trainers-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Sep 2024 22:00:09 +0000 Brigitte Macron had big shoes to fill when she first stepped into the Élysée Palace in 2017 – well, size seven ballet flats, to be exact. Few would want to follow in the footsteps of Carla Bruni, the supermodel wife of former president Nicolas Sarkozy. But while Macron may not have initially been as accustomed to the cameras as her predecessor, she has won the hearts of the French fashion world with her sleek outfits, her eye for colour, and her industry-approved tendency to upstage her... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3258730/brigitte-macrons-style-diplomacy-french-first-lady-always-puts-her-most-fashionable-foot-forward-she?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3258730/brigitte-macrons-style-diplomacy-french-first-lady-always-puts-her-most-fashionable-foot-forward-she?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Apr 2024 08:00:26 +0000 Ivanka Trump’s days as a prominent White House adviser are behind her, and she’s got a new image in the works. It’s been eight years since the 42-year-old traded in her life as a sought-after millennial Manhattan socialite to assist her father, Donald Trump, in his successful 2016 run for president of the US. Although working as her father’s adviser in the White House and close confidant brought a new level of prestige to her résumé, the response to policies the administration pushed meant she... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3255363/ivanka-trumps-post-white-house-style-transformation-distancing-herself-donald-trump-shes-ditched?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3255363/ivanka-trumps-post-white-house-style-transformation-distancing-herself-donald-trump-shes-ditched?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Mar 2024 20:00:20 +0000 American style icon Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis has been a fashion inspiration for decades – witness how even today, Ron DeSantis’ wife Casey is said to be channelling her style. Over the years, A-listers from royals Kate Middleton and Princess Diana, to later first lady Melania Trump, to Amal Clooney and even Taylor Swift have been accused of copying her style. Jackie, as she was commonly known, served as first lady from 1961 to 1963, until her first husband John F. Kennedy’s untimely death. A... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3252573/how-style-jacqueline-kennedy-onassis-former-first-lady-wrote-white-house-fashion-rule-book?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3252573/how-style-jacqueline-kennedy-onassis-former-first-lady-wrote-white-house-fashion-rule-book?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Feb 2024 23:00:12 +0000 Now a bestselling author, former first lady and mother of two daughters – Malia, 25, and Sasha, 22 – Michelle Obama made form-fitting silhouettes and striking floral prints a signature of her eight-year residency of The White House. Among the many memorable fashion moments, who can forget the spectacular chain mail Atelier Versace gown she wore to her final state dinner, or the patterned Thom Browne coatdress (a creation fashioned from men’s ties) which she wore for her second Inauguration Day... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3250412/how-style-michelle-obama-fierce-first-lady-bossed-it-her-last-state-dinner-chain-mail-atelier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3250412/how-style-michelle-obama-fierce-first-lady-bossed-it-her-last-state-dinner-chain-mail-atelier?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:00:21 +0000 She has been called her husband Ron DeSantis’ “not-so secret political weapon”, and as the Florida governor’s bid for the White House gains momentum, spotlight is falling on his former news anchor wife, Casey. The “first lady of Florida”, Casey DeSantis, 43, has been said to play a crucial backbench role in response to issues from mental health to disaster relief, and reportedly advises her husband on how to present himself in front of the camera and handle the press. Ever since Ron’s political... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3242328/casey-desantis-copying-jackie-kennedy-meet-florida-first-lady-former-nbc-news-anchor-and-champion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3242328/casey-desantis-copying-jackie-kennedy-meet-florida-first-lady-former-nbc-news-anchor-and-champion?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Nov 2023 20:00:16 +0000 For someone seen in only a handful of published images and with scarcely any clips of her speaking, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy remains one of fashion’s ultimate muses. Tom Ford splashes out US$52m on Jackie Kennedy’s childhood Hamptons home Her style – characterful and elevated minimalism that was both cerebral and approachable – didn’t just capture the aesthetic of the 90s, but carried a timelessness that many have tried to emulate since. To this day, Bessette-Kennedy – who died in a plane crash... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/article/3240864/how-carolyn-bessette-kennedy-still-shapes-fashion-today-john-f-kennedy-jrs-late-wife-cbk-inspired?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/article/3240864/how-carolyn-bessette-kennedy-still-shapes-fashion-today-john-f-kennedy-jrs-late-wife-cbk-inspired?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Nov 2023 02:59:55 +0000 Saudi Arabia is continuing its multibillion-dollar entry into all aspects of global culture, hitting a new milestone on Thursday with the first Saudi designer presenting at Paris Fashion Week. Mohammed Ashi’s haute couture show – his first as part of the official roster after years of dressing top celebrities – is “the peak of my career”, he told journalists at the Ritz Hotel in Paris this week, part of a lavish Saudi PR campaign throughout this fashion season. Ashi forged his own path, having... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3227185/meet-designers-pioneering-saudi-arabias-fashion-revolution-mohammed-ashi-just-became-first-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3227185/meet-designers-pioneering-saudi-arabias-fashion-revolution-mohammed-ashi-just-became-first-show?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Jul 2023 09:46:32 +0000 Once mostly the domain of great-aunt Betty and school captains the world over, the brooch has made a glittering return. What’s more, who wears them and how they’re worn has been resolutely unpinned. You only need to look at Michael B. Jordan accessorising his tuxedo with rare Tiffany & Co. Bird on a Rock brooches at the Oscars, Paul Mescal in a vintage Cartier pin at the Baftas and Emily in Paris dreamboat Lucas Bravo wearing a Chaumet diamond Œillet brooch to the 2023 Asian Film Awards. It’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3223064/how-high-jewellery-brooches-made-glittering-comeback-rihannas-vintage-diamonds-lady-gagas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3223064/how-high-jewellery-brooches-made-glittering-comeback-rihannas-vintage-diamonds-lady-gagas?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jun 2023 02:21:21 +0000 Iranian model Mahlagha Jaberi wore a black dress with a neckline that looks like a noose at the Cannes Film Festival last Friday. The 33-year-old was making a statement about the recent spate of executions carried out by Iranian authorities. Her outfit went viral online, drawing a mix of both support and outrage. Here’s what we know about the controversial moment … Mahlagha Jaberi’s Cannes outfit made a statement Jaberi showed up on the red carpet in a black bodycon dress with straps that... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3222568/iranian-models-noose-protest-dress-cannes-sparks-backlash-mahlagha-jaberi-made-bold-political?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3222568/iranian-models-noose-protest-dress-cannes-sparks-backlash-mahlagha-jaberi-made-bold-political?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jun 2023 06:36:54 +0000 As far as US first ladies go, fashion choices can also be strong statements. But an added bonus for the role is having an expensive designer wardrobe and the current US first lady Jill Biden is no stranger to dressing stylishly for the public eye, even twinning with Queen Letizia of Spain. STYLE has rounded up her 18 most fashionable moments so far … 1. Chartreuse skirt suit at election-night party in Chicago, 2008 At a 2008 election-night party, Biden stood out in a chartreuse skirt suit with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3209580/18-jill-bidens-best-style-moments-ever-us-first-lady-wore-oscar-de-la-renta-her-2023-grammys?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3209580/18-jill-bidens-best-style-moments-ever-us-first-lady-wore-oscar-de-la-renta-her-2023-grammys?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Feb 2023 02:38:56 +0000 Michelle Obama, who turned 59 on January 17, has long been considered a fashion icon. As a former first lady of the United States (FLOTUS), Obama attended a plethora of state dinners, red carpet events and shook hands with the world’s top leaders. Through it all, she has maintained her poise and looked elegant in every endeavour she has undertaken. So here are 21 of her top style triumphs during her time as a FLOTUS and after, too. 1. A memorable fiery-red dress on election night, 2009 In 2008,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3207534/21-michelle-obamas-best-style-moments-ever-jason-wu-donald-trumps-inauguration-and-tom-ford-gown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3207534/21-michelle-obamas-best-style-moments-ever-jason-wu-donald-trumps-inauguration-and-tom-ford-gown?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Jan 2023 16:10:11 +0000 Over the years, Meghan Markle has always appeared elegant, with well-put-together looks that are both appropriate and stylish. But there are also hidden special meanings in her sartorial choices. Here’s how the Duchess of Sussex incorporates sentimental touches to her outfits … 1. Good Morning America interview, 2019 The Duchess of Sussex kept her husband and son close to her heart in a Good Morning America interview taped in 2019. Markle wore a set of zodiac sign necklaces by Canadian... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3207400/9-times-meghan-markles-style-choices-had-secret-messages-paying-tribute-queen-elizabeth-and-princess?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3207400/9-times-meghan-markles-style-choices-had-secret-messages-paying-tribute-queen-elizabeth-and-princess?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jan 2023 16:10:13 +0000 According to The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, a late-night talk show in the US, there is a major backlash under way in Britain over the appointment of the country’s first Asian Prime Minister. This is surely a case of Americans stamping their own culture wars on the rest of the world – because the truth is that the vast majority of Britons are proud that the son of immigrants has risen to the highest office in the land. What is far more controversial is the fact that Rishi Sunak is richer than... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3197629/prada-shoes-designer-suits-rishi-sunaks-stealth-wealth-wardrobe-contrast-his-predecessors-liz-truss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3197629/prada-shoes-designer-suits-rishi-sunaks-stealth-wealth-wardrobe-contrast-his-predecessors-liz-truss?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 31 Oct 2022 03:15:09 +0000 Liz Truss’ journey from Liberal Democrat speechmaker to Conservative prime minister has involved a number of eye-catching moments, not least the colourful outfits she has worn. Whether standing on a podium, striding to and from 10 Downing Street, or hitting the campaign trail, the latest UK leader has made a name for herself with a number of striking ensembles. Truss beat Rishi Sunak to the Tory leadership with 81,326 votes to 60,399 among Conservative Party members on September 5, and has... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3191681/did-liz-truss-thatcher-bows-help-her-win-uk-prime-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3191681/did-liz-truss-thatcher-bows-help-her-win-uk-prime-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Sep 2022 20:15:18 +0000 By Lee Hae-rin South Korea’s Kim Keon-hee is an unusual first lady in many ways. While her predecessors kept low profiles while their husbands were leading the country, Kim seems to care little about deflecting the public’s attention. On occasion, she stands out to the point of overshadowing her husband, as seen in her recent trip to Madrid, Spain. The first lady, who was accompanying her husband, Yoon Suk-yeol, to the 2022 Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) summit, was noted for what she... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3184411/fashion-south-koreas-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-makes-her?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3184411/fashion-south-koreas-first-lady-kim-keon-hee-makes-her?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Jul 2022 09:15:23 +0000 Female presidential candidates nearly always make headlines for their fashion choices but male ones rarely do, a fact that can irritate women running for office. During the current election season in France, however, it has been Emmanuel Macron who has dominated the sartorial coverage. Backstage at an election rally last weekend – after he had won the first round of voting – the current French president reclined on a biscuit-coloured sofa, the top four buttons of his white shirt undone to reveal... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3175023/how-macron-vs-le-pen-fashion-war-mirrors-their-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3175023/how-macron-vs-le-pen-fashion-war-mirrors-their-election?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Apr 2022 03:15:21 +0000 Whenever a royal steps out for an official function or public appearance, everything from their behaviour to their fashion choices ends up closely scrutinised. And while some royals have gotten backlash for their questionable style, it’s not always about what they’re wearing, but the hidden messages behind the outfits. Royals can’t express political opinions publicly, but they may send subtle messages with their clothing. Here are eight times British royals might have been sending sartorial... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3172141/8-times-british-royals-sent-messages-their-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3172141/8-times-british-royals-sent-messages-their-fashion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Mar 2022 19:00:13 +0000 Madeleine Albright, who died Wednesday, knew how to deliver a diplomatic message without even saying a word. She sent signals with her decorative pins and brooches. The first female secretary of state learned the power of her “pin diplomacy”, as she described it to CNN in 2015, when she was serving as President Clinton’s US ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997. After the Gulf War, when the US was seeking the passage of resolutions for tougher sanctions on Iraq, Albright said Iraq’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3171638/when-madeleine-albrights-pin-took-jab-vladimir-putin-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3171638/when-madeleine-albrights-pin-took-jab-vladimir-putin-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Mar 2022 03:45:10 +0000 When Vladimir Putin wore a puffer jacket costing 25 times the average monthly salary in Russia to a pro-war rally in the country on March 18, his choice was about a lot more than just warmth. He paired the US$14,000 Loro Piana coat with a US$3,000 roll-neck jumper by another Italian brand, Kiton, in a move that would mean political suicide in many countries – but which was designed by its sheer cost to cement his strongman status at home. Power dressing for men is an increasingly complicated... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3171364/how-putins-us14000-coat-zelenskys-green-t-shirts-macrons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3171364/how-putins-us14000-coat-zelenskys-green-t-shirts-macrons?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Mar 2022 20:15:21 +0000 There are plenty of perks to being a first lady of the United States, but an expensive designer wardrobe is certainly top of our list. Here are some of the most expensive items worn by Melania, Michelle and co ... In 2009, Michelle Obama garnered criticism for wearing US$540 Lanvin trainers to a food bank. When reporters asked her representatives about the expensive trainers, they said, “They’re shoes”. Obama gave her famous “When they go low, we go high” speech at the 2016 Democratic National... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164549/20-most-expensive-us-first-lady-outfits-melania-trumps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3164549/20-most-expensive-us-first-lady-outfits-melania-trumps?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Jan 2022 19:00:21 +0000 Despite Donald Trump’s financially taxing loss of the 2020 election, his wife and former first lady Melania Trump continued to make plenty of headlines in 2021. From her fashion choices to her collection of luxury gifts, and of course that time she most mysteriously stepped out of the spotlight for a matter of months, we look back at her most memorable moments that made STYLE headlines this year. Too rich for White House duties? The internet has often joked about Melania Trump being a... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3160831/melania-trumps-mysterious-year-wrapped-her-no-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3160831/melania-trumps-mysterious-year-wrapped-her-no-show?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Dec 2021 20:00:13 +0000 US first ladies’ fashion choices have been scrutinised for centuries. Back in the 19th century, Frances Cleveland was criticised for wearing dresses that showed her shoulders (!), while even style icon Jackie Kennedy’s embrace of trousers was deemed “shocking”. But is seems unlikely few presidents’ wives have raised quite as many sartorial eyebrows as Melania Trump – the first lady who once wore that Zara jacket that said, “I really don’t care do U?”, to a child detention centre, of all... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3152078/melania-trumps-5-most-controversial-fashion-moments-her?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3152078/melania-trumps-5-most-controversial-fashion-moments-her?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Oct 2021 19:00:10 +0000 Many US first ladies of yesteryear preferred high fashion designers and custom creations. However, modern first ladies have been spotted wearing more affordable fashion brands. Here are the high street clothes and accessories that Melania Trump, Michelle Obama and other former first ladies wore … Melania Trump’s best on-screen appearances in film, TV and ads Melania Trump Though she often preferred designer brands, former first lady Melania Trump was sometimes spotted wearing affordable... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3150432/affordable-first-lady-fashion-11-times-melania-trump-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3150432/affordable-first-lady-fashion-11-times-melania-trump-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Sep 2021 19:00:12 +0000 With the Bidens running Washington D.C. and the Trumps keeping a low profile in Florida, it’s certainly been an interesting year of changes at the White House. And much like Joe Biden and Donald Trump, their first ladies couldn’t be any more different. Here’s how current first lady Jill Biden is low-key outdoing her predecessor. 6 gifts to Melania Trump from world leaders … but which was the priciest? That Vogue cover It’s every fashion model’s dream to grace the cover of Vogue – and Melania in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3146234/jill-biden-low-key-trolling-melania-trump-winning-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3146234/jill-biden-low-key-trolling-melania-trump-winning-over?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Aug 2021 19:00:17 +0000 Melania Trump has been given plenty of extravagant gifts by foreign leaders in the past, but new records show that she and husband Donald Trump received items collectively worth US$120,000 in 2019. Let’s take a look at some of the finer items. Is Melania leading an entirely separate life from Donald Trump? Czech Republic: white gold diamond earrings View this post on Instagram A post shared by Melania Trump Fan (@alwaysmelania) The former first lady received... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3144122/melania-trumps-diamonds-pearls-and-fine-decor-gifts-which?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3144122/melania-trumps-diamonds-pearls-and-fine-decor-gifts-which?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 19:00:07 +0000 A towering Merlion looks out over a stylised Singapore skyline below a field of hybrid orchids. Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers peek through a vibrant swoop of multicoloured flowers and fluttering butterflies. India’s famed Taj Mahal appears in a splash of water squirted from the trunk of a painted elephant. All these scenes, and many more besides, can be found on the more than 200 custom-designed kimonos created by the Imagine Oneworld Kimono Project for every team competing at the Tokyo 2020... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3144086/olympic-kimonos-showcase-singapore-malaysia-indonesias?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3144086/olympic-kimonos-showcase-singapore-malaysia-indonesias?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Aug 2021 07:45:12 +0000 For Chinese director Zhang Yimou and well-known actor Ni Dahong, track suits were the attire of choice for a red carpet premiere in late April, although as this came just a month after a nationwide boycott of H&M, Adidas and Nike, the decision behind the wardrobe selection was viewed as more than just a fashion statement. With fellow cast members from the sky thriller Cliff Walkers choosing for more traditional suits, blazers and ties, Zhang opted for an Anta track suit with the Chinese flag... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3142815/chinas-domestic-brands-boom-fuelled-nationalism-li-ning-anta?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3142815/chinas-domestic-brands-boom-fuelled-nationalism-li-ning-anta?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jul 2021 05:30:18 +0000 Back in 2013, the late Karl Lagerfeld, creative director of Chanel and Fendi and one of fashion’s most recognisable figures, criticised the dress sense of Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel. When asked by German magazine Focus about Merkel’s personal style, the German-born, Paris-based Lagerfeld said, “Miss Merkel [should dress] according to her special proportions. The proportions were bad, like the cut. The pants were too long.” Lagerfeld was referring to an outfit Merkel wore to greet then US... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3140894/angela-merkels-style-evolution-one-worlds-most-powerful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3140894/angela-merkels-style-evolution-one-worlds-most-powerful?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jul 2021 10:15:10 +0000 A statue commemorating the late Princess Diana will be revealed on July 1 – the date that would have been Diana’s 60th birthday – in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. Due to the current Covid-19 situation and social distancing restrictions in the UK, Buckingham Palace announced that only a small group of attendees will witness the unveiling: Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry; the statue’s sculptor, Ian Rank-Broadley; and garden designer Pip Morrison. It will also be the first time... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3139301/how-meghan-markle-and-kate-middleton-paid-tribute?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3139301/how-meghan-markle-and-kate-middleton-paid-tribute?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jun 2021 22:00:20 +0000 Hosted by G7 member nation the UK this year, the 2021 G7 Summit just took place in Cornwall, England, where leaders discussed pivotal issues ranging from geopolitics, the global economy, climate change, Covid-19 vaccines and trade, as well as relations with China. For his first diplomatic trip since taking the office, US president Joe Biden took his wife Jill Biden along with him to meet several US allies, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the UK’s first lady Carrie Johnson. The... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3138129/what-did-jill-biden-wear-g7-summit-us-first-lady-met?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3138129/what-did-jill-biden-wear-g7-summit-us-first-lady-met?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Jun 2021 04:53:10 +0000 Jill Biden is sending a sartorial message of “love” as she accompanies her husband President Joe Biden overseas. The first lady wore a black jacket with the word “love” outlined on the back in silver beading from French brand Zadig & Voltaire as she and the president met British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife on June 10. She wore the same jacket more than two years ago to kick off Biden’s presidential campaign. “We’re bringing love from America,” she told reporters, explaining her... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3136867/jill-bidens-love-jacket-trip-britain-us-president-joe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3136867/jill-bidens-love-jacket-trip-britain-us-president-joe?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Jun 2021 02:17:00 +0000 Joe Biden will make his first presidential trip overseas this summer. The US president will visit the UK to attend the 47th G7 summit, as well as engaging in conversations with European Union leaders in Brussels and a highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The trip will also include a visit, accompanied by his wife Dr Jill Biden, said to be friendly with Prince Harry – to the British royal family, meeting the queen on June 13. Opinion | 8 reasons to cut Meghan Markle... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3136788/jill-biden-meets-queen-elizabeth-what-did-first-ladies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3136788/jill-biden-meets-queen-elizabeth-what-did-first-ladies?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jun 2021 23:00:00 +0000 Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William have been taking on more royal engagements as Queen Elizabeth slowly delegates duties to her son Prince Charles and her grandchildren. A she steps into her 10th year of marriage to the prince, Middleton’s sartorial choices seem to have matured too. Always elegant and sophisticated, she’s also known to be economical, occasionally repeating outfits and often championing local brands. Kate’s wardrobe has often been praised by royal style... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3136189/kate-middletons-best-fashion-looks-month-luxury-british?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3136189/kate-middletons-best-fashion-looks-month-luxury-british?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jun 2021 22:00:14 +0000 In the last official portrait taken of Queen Elizabeth and Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, for his 99th birthday last year, the queen wore the famous heart-shaped Cullinan V diamond brooch – one of her favourites – as a symbol of her enduring love for her husband. A few days after his funeral, she wore a diamond-encrusted Cartier brooch, believed to be the Nizam of Hyderabad’s floral royal brooch, which was part of a tiara gifted to the queen on wedding day in 1947. Singaporean artist imagines,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3134385/what-are-messages-behind-queen-elizabeths-brooch-choices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3134385/what-are-messages-behind-queen-elizabeths-brooch-choices?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 May 2021 22:00:19 +0000 Shares of Chinese sportswear and apparel companies rose on Friday, as a resurgence of nationalistic sentiment hit sales of leading foreign brands after the West imposed sanctions on China. Chinese consumers and celebrities have boycotted goods made by multinational brands like Sweden’s H&M and other popular companies like Adidas and Nike, as they faced a backlash in China for not buying cotton produced in Xinjiang. The Chinese government also jumped in, saying it opposed external interference... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3127107/anta-li-ning-shares-surge-chinese-consumers-back-domestic-brands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3127107/anta-li-ning-shares-surge-chinese-consumers-back-domestic-brands?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Mar 2021 05:53:16 +0000 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s highly-anticipated tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey finally aired on March 7. “‘Almost unsurvivable’ – sounds like there was a breaking point,” Winfrey commented on screen. Just hours later, the potential damage the CBS special poses to the British royal family was transparently evident from the raft of explosive headlines it has already provoked. While Queen Elizabeth – who made a speech to mark Commonwealth Day that was broadcast hours before the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3124606/did-meghan-markle-dress-wallis-simpson-oprah-winfrey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3124606/did-meghan-markle-dress-wallis-simpson-oprah-winfrey?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Mar 2021 22:00:25 +0000 US Vice-President Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter Ella Emhoff made her catwalk debut in a video exactly four weeks after her outfit at the presidential inauguration went viral. The 21-year-old Emhoff walked the runway for the Proenza Schouler label as part of New York Fashion Week. Who wore it best at Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ inauguration ceremony? The parade was filmed a few weeks ago, with the coronavirus pandemic ruling out a traditional show. Emhoff wore three different looks for Proenza... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3122807/kamala-harris-stepdaughter-ella-emhoff-2021s-hottest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3122807/kamala-harris-stepdaughter-ella-emhoff-2021s-hottest?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Feb 2021 00:10:11 +0000 The backdrop of flowers, teapot and US flag said it all: Jill Biden will be no Melania Trump as America’s new first lady. Where Donald Trump’s ex-model wife cut a flashy but often distant figure, Jill’s appearance on a Zoom “virtual tea” party last week with military spouses affirmed her image as a down-to-earth, traditional FLOTUS. “It’s hard for me to believe it’s only been two weeks since the inauguration and already I’ve had so much to do,” she said. What gifts did Melania Trump get from Xi... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3121726/how-do-melania-trump-and-jill-bidens-flotus-styles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3121726/how-do-melania-trump-and-jill-bidens-flotus-styles?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:00:18 +0000