I came across an article (December 2019) written by Robin Givhan, a fashion journalist for the Washington Post, that criticized Melania Trump for the coat she was wearing during a showing of the White House Christmas decorations. There were comments made that stated that the coat she was wearing was a “distraction” and that she didn’t look comfortable. Givhan even stated, “In a video that is intended to celebrate the warmth and welcoming spirit of the holiday season, that simple flourish exudes cold, dismissive aloofness” (Robin Givhan, Washington Post).
I then went on to find another article (December 2018) written by Robin Givhan… only this time I searched for a fashion article written about Michelle Obama. I was intentionally looking to see whether Givhan had criticized Michelle Obama as harshly as she had Melania Trump – and I definitely found what I was looking for. In the article that covered fashion worn by Michelle Obama, Givhan basically praised Obama for what she wore. She stated, “…the former first lady wore a full-length, draped, shimmery yellow shirt dress with a pair of gold, holographic thigh-high boots. It wasn’t just an eye-catching ensemble. It was fashion. Fashion. Faaaashion!” (Robin Givhan, Washington Post). No criticism at all, just how perfect her look was for a former first lady.
Part of me wonders if Givhan feels this way about their fashion due to politics or if it was actually because she felt that their fashion was the way it was. No one can deny that it seems like most of the world is against Trump and their whole family ever since they have been in the White House, so could that be the case with the article about Melania Trump’s coat? To me, I don’t understand how a coat could disrupt the whole concept of the video showing Christmas decorations. I cannot change someone’s opinion or the way that they feel about something, but it is apparent that media portrays Michelle Obama as a great person who does mostly everything right, while the media portrays Melania Trump as a not-so-good person just because of politics. This is why I feel like Melania Trump was criticized more harshly than Michelle Obama.
Digital Citizenship: Mallory 