Melania Trump is no stranger to making fashion statements and last night’s presidential debate was no exception.
The wife of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump came dressed in a hot pink $1,100 Gucci “pussy bow” blouse, an industry term used to describe a shirt that ties at the neck. Her wardrobe decision was particularly notable following the release of a video on Friday that depicted her husband making derogatory statements toward women including his penchant to “grab women by the pussy.”
A campaign spokesperson told CBS reporter Sopan Deb that the look “was not intentional.” Regardless, debate viewers took to Twitter to discuss the style, including feminist writer Roxane Gay who wrote “Interesting move Melania.” Others who quipped “Coincidence? I doubt it” and “I swear, I think she’s secretly trolling him.”
Melania Trump wearing a “Pussy-Bow” blouse from Gucci… not sure if that’s iconic or mortifying.
— Court Kim (@TheCourtKim) October 10, 2016
MELANIA TRUMP WORE A SHIRT LITERALLY CALLED “PUSSY BOW.”
she’s the real winner.— katie lee. (@katieleecle) October 10, 2016
Melania Trump was wearing a pussy-bow top tonight. Was that intentional? #debatenight pic.twitter.com/ZeQei5Hd3D
— Emily Trillmore (@WhitleyGilbert4) October 10, 2016
According to Brandwatch, there have been more than 10,000 mentions of the blouse on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram since last night. 91.7 percent of the mentions are positive, and 51.7 percent were shared by women. Negative comments were tied to Trump’s comments from the video.
“The reason for the overwhelming positive sentiment is the irony and humor most people found in the blouses proper, style name, ‘pussy bow,'” said Kellan Terry, senior data analyst at Brandwatch.
Gucci did not respond to comment about any impact on sales, but select sizes are sold out on Net-A-Porter. In July, the Roksanda Illincic dress Melania wore to the Republican National Convention immediately sold out on Net-A-Porter’s website. Her speech at the RNC garnered 375,000 tweets, largely due to her likely plagiarism of Michelle Obama’s speech to the Democratic National Convention in 2008, but dress-related mentions were largely positive.
Melania wasn’t the only one having a sartorial moment last night. During the town-hall event, in which select undecided voters were given the floor to ask questions of the candidates, audience member Ken Bone stood up to inquire about energy policies. The internet was soon abuzz over Bone’s calm, collected demeanor, and his “power outfit: the red cardigan, the white tie, the black-rimmed glasses,” as CNN noted.
Several tweeters posted images for a “Ken Bone Halloween kit” and commented on his appearance on CNN this morning, wearing the same outfit from the debate. He had initially set out to wear an olive suit last night, he told reporters, but it split at the seam as he was leaving for the debate. Bone was mentioned 28,000 times on Twitter between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. EST on October 9, according to data from Amobee Brand Intelligence.
Halloween 2016. #bonezone pic.twitter.com/9lnEeddSrY
— Allie Goertz (@AllieGoertz) October 10, 2016
Ken Bone looks like he had himself a night. Strolling onto CNN in the same outfit. #debate2016 #powermovesonly @KFCBarstool @BarstoolBigCat pic.twitter.com/0rL9XMJZWQ
— Kyle Gelling (@kg1182) October 10, 2016
Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Scott Olson
