Melania Trump, the new First Lady of the United States, attracted attention with her eye-catching outfit at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC, where several heads of state arrived to pay their respects to the late President Jimmy Carter.

Although Melania’s clothing was eye-catching, it didn’t seem appropriate for Carter’s memorial service. He died on December 29, 2024 at the age of 100.

Her coat was a matching shade of black, but printed images of a kissing couple made her large white collar painfully stand out, Glam.com reported.

Other notable appearances at the memorial included former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden and President-elect Donald Trump. Most leaders chose to wear dark clothing, in keeping with normal funeral and memorial customs.

Trump wore a black suit with a cobalt blue tie, looking absolutely dignified.

Melania Trump’s trench coat is part of Valentino’s Fall 2019 collection

Melania’s trench coat is from Valentino’s Fall 2019 collection, which included a partnership with Japanese company Undercover. The long silhouette of the item, which also includes a belt, reached down to the former model’s ankles.

Melania’s hair was styled in a bun and her makeup included the ideal smokey eye for the day. The rest of her appearance was simple. However, some wondered if the future FLOTUS was revealing too much with her ensemble, as the huge epaulettes were an unexpected choice for a memorial ceremony.

Also read: Did Joe Biden sleep at Jimmy Carter’s funeral? Expert refutes seemingly viral claims

Did Melania’s coat carry a hidden message? If so, then for whom?

The striking features and huge collar of Melania Trump’s coat have undoubtedly sparked a lot of curiosity on social media. According to one social media user, Barron’s mother deliberately chose the Valentino trench to make a statement to her social circle during Carter’s memorial service.

“Melania’s coat dress that she wore today is by the designer Valentino. In this collection, Valentino used a print of the sculpture she wears, “The Kiss.” The sculpture was originally conceived of a larger sculpture entitled “The Gates of Hell.” How fitting to wear it in a room full of traitors,” a second user tweeted.

Netizens also commented on Melania’s oversized collar. A third user asked: “(Why) does she look like a pilgrim and why is she so angry?”

“What about (Melania’s) looks? She looks like an Amish horse pulling a buggy!” another quipped.

This wasn’t the first time Melania was reprimanded for a fashion faux pas. Her fashion sense was questioned after she attended the funeral of Carter’s late wife Rosalynn Carter in November 2023.