Ivanka's Fashion Missteps: Outfits That Sparked Controversy

Ivanka Trump’s Dress Sparks ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Comparisons

In a political climate where pop culture frequently intersects with real-world events, some fans of The Handmaid's Tale have drawn unsettling parallels between right-wing politics and the dystopian world portrayed in Margaret Atwood's novel and its TV adaptation. The show depicts women in subjugation, with “Marthas” serving in muted green uniforms, while the “Wives” are dressed in brighter teal, signaling their higher status.

On December 3, 2020, Ivanka Trump appeared in the Oval Office alongside her father and other officials as President Trump signed the Technology Modernization Centers of Excellence Program Act. While the legislation itself was overshadowed by the chaotic political climate of the time, it was Ivanka’s teal dress that quickly caught the attention of social media users.

The dress, which she had worn in a similar shade on previous occasions, was a long, tailored piece with a high neckline and a secretary-style bow tie at the collar. Its design and color choice were strikingly reminiscent of outfits worn by The Handmaid's Tale character Serena Joy, the anti-feminist wife of Commander Fred Waterford, whose role is pivotal in the establishment of the authoritarian regime of Gilead. The association between Ivanka’s attire and the show’s oppressive imagery did not go unnoticed, prompting a flurry of comparisons online.