The article addresses a reader's concern about how to wear a sheath dress without looking like she adheres to a specific political aesthetic associated with the MAGA movement.
The article describes this aesthetic as involving flowing hair, false eyelashes, enhanced features (cheeks and lips), high heels, and sheath dresses. It suggests this look is a deliberate construction related to specific gender stereotypes. Several examples of women affiliated with the Trump administration are cited.
The article highlights that, while the sheath dress is a part of the overall image, the emphasis on particular beauty choices (makeup, hair) carries more weight in conveying the political association. This is illustrated by examples of women, regardless of dress choice, who are still easily identified with the Trump aesthetic. This look is even given a name in the article: "Mar-a-Lago face".
The article concludes that while the sheath dress is one element, it is the specific beauty choices that contribute most significantly to the overall 'MAGA' look. Therefore, adjusting hair, makeup, and accessories will be more effective in altering the overall impression than simply avoiding the sheath dress itself.
There is a very specific look associated with women who subscribe to the Trump worldview, one that is sort of a cross between a Fox newscaster and Miss Universe. It generally involves flowing tresses that are at least shoulder length, false eyelashes, plumped-up cheeks and lips, high heels and, as you say, a sheath dress. The effect underscores an almost cartoonish femininity that speaks to a relatively old-fashioned gender stereotype; the counterpart to this woman is the square-jawed, besuited guy with a side part.
Simply consider the women of the Trump family, who embody the standard: Melania, Ivanka, Lara and Tiffany, as well as Don Jr.’s new girlfriend, Bettina Anderson, and his former fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle. Also Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, and the former Trump defense lawyer Alina Habba. Indeed, I think one reason people are so fascinated by Usha Vance is that, with her willingness to let her hair go gray and her seeming aversion to makeup, she has become the exception that proves the rule.
In any case, the Trump-approved lady look has stayed so consistent that it has effectively infiltrated everyone’s cerebellum, and we now have an almost Pavlovian reaction to seeing anyone with flowing hair and false eyelashes and lip plumper in a sheath dress.
But here’s the thing: Of all the visual cues on that list, the sheath dress is the least important.
The look of Trump world is increasingly about the beauty choices, more than the clothes. You can see this with Attorney General Pam Bondi, who favors pantsuits, and the White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who seems to vacillate between suits and sheath dresses. No matter what they wear, however, they are never anything but a Trump woman, even before they get to policy. There is actually a name for how they look: “Mar-a-Lago face,” after the Trump golf club that is home to so many of those sporting the look. Which also involves “conservative girl makeup.”
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