Ivanka's Fashion Missteps: Outfits That Sparked Controversy

Ivanka Trump’s Silver Gown Stirred Controversy Twice

In January 2017, Ivanka Trump shared a photo on X of herself in a shimmering silver gown, posing with her husband, Jared Kushner. The timing of the post was widely criticized, as it came just two days after her father, President Donald Trump, signed an executive order temporarily banning Syrian refugees and Muslim immigrants from certain countries. The $5,000 iridescent dress, designed by Carolina Herrera, became a focal point for critics who felt it emphasized Ivanka’s extravagant lifestyle at a time when issues of racism, immigration, and human rights were dominating the national conversation.

A year later, during the controversy over the separation of migrant children from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border, the image of Ivanka in the silver dress resurfaced, sparking renewed outrage. As shocking photos emerged of children wrapped in silver thermal blankets, social media users began to draw stark comparisons between the two images. Comedian and writer Orli Matlow, among others, posted side-by-side images of Ivanka’s dress and the detained children. “Who wore it better: Children detained in McAllen, Texas or Ivanka Trump?” Matlow tweeted, underscoring the stark contrast between the privileged few and the vulnerable individuals impacted by the administration's policies.