Melania Trump's designer outfits are worth thousands – does she pay for her pricey looks?

As the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump often makes visits as part of her role, and for the promotion of her Be Best campaign. Being a former fashion model, and considered a style icon by some, the 49-year-old’s outfit choices are often watched by many. Melania has worn no shortage of designer clothes over the years, and during her time at the White House with Donald Trump. At times, she’s reworn some garments – but that’s not to say it’s something she does all too often.

So, who pays for her outfits, and is there a reason why she so often wears new items as opposed to pieces she’s sported before?

With her astonishing net worth, it’s unlikely that the cost of clothes would be an object when it comes to her fashion choices.

What’s more, being in the public eye, some designers may be keen to see their work being worn by a First Lady.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the First Lady may qualify for a discount on some clothing brands, due to her prominence in the public eye.

In the past, some first ladies have been allowed to accept designer clothes as a gift, provided that they follow certain protocol.

Melania’s spokesperson has confirmed that she pays for all of her own clothes, in an emailed statement to Bustle.

Melania has repeated outfits a number of times before, such as back in March this year.

Chairing a meeting at the White House to discuss youth programmes with cabinet secretaries, she wore a Emilio Pucci pink suit.

The garment, which featured a longline double-breasted blazer, is thought to cost $4,220.

This previously would have cost roughly £2,978 – now coming in at the £3,192 mark.

It may be that Melania takes particular care in picking out her outfits in order to make a statement.

At the time, Donald took to Twitter to claim the message written on her jacket, which read, “I really don’t care, do u?” was addressing “fake news”.

“Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!” he tweeted.

When asked about how she wore the Zara garment while getting on and off the plane towards a children’s centre in Texas, she said she had purposely picked it again for the second time around, after seeing “how the media was obsessed about it”.

“It was kind of a message, yes,” she said.

How has Melania’s style changed over time – from her fashion career to her days as a First Lady? Express.co.uk takes a look.

Melania Trump: Five facts about the USA’s First Lady

Languages

Mum-of-one Melania can speak more languages than any other First Lady before her: English, French, German, Italian, Serbian and of course her mother tongue, Slovenian.

This also makes her the only First Lady whose first language is not English.

Religion

After Jacqueline Kennedy, Melania is the second First Lady who is a practising Catholic.

She met Pope Francis as part of a foreign tour with her husband and stepdaughter Ivanka last year.

Career

Melania was a successful model, posing for Sports Illustrated, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and GQ.

Her skills aren’t confined to print, and she appeared in a commercial for Aflac, an American insurance company, in 2005.

Family

Melania’s parents are Amalija Knavs and Viktor Knavs, and the couple live together in Washington.

She has one sister, Ines, who is reported to live in New York and work as an artist.

Charity

On May 7 2018, Melania launched her flagship campaign as First Lady, BE BEST, which The White House describes as “an awareness campaign focused entirely around the well-being of children”.

There are three main strands to the initiative: well-being, social media, and opioid abuse.