Usha Vance's Most On-Trend Outfits Since JD Took Political Office

Melania Trump once said, "I wish people would focus on what I do, not what I wear." But in the world of political plus ones, like Trump and Usha Vance, what they wear matters. Style has always been a form of messaging for women in proximity to power. It telegraphs intention, values, and affiliation. It's an unofficial language that says so much without so much as saying a word.

In the image-conscious Reagan years, Nancy Reagan turned bold red — later dubbed "Reagan Red" — into her uniform, intended as a "picker-upper" to lift the nation's mood. Her wardrobe reinforced her husband's image and steadied her own. Later, Jackie Kennedy's graceful, French-inspired tailoring signaled an international sophistication at a time when America was trying to rebrand itself on the world stage. At the time, Vogue observed that her wardrobe helped reshape how Europeans saw American women, writing, "Europeans had a whole new image of the young American woman — gentle, informed, attractive."

Now, with JD Vance as Vice President, Usha Vance steps into that same tradition. She may not speak often in public, but her clothes, like those of political spouses before her, are putting in work all the same. Though she's undoubtedly donned some outdated outfits during her short time in the spotlight, most of her looks of late have epitomized a quiet influence: thoughtful, contemporary, and not flashy. To us onlookers, it's clear she's on-trend.

At the Joint Session of Congress, as JD stood behind the podium, Usha Vance stood out in sleek tailoring. She sported a softly slouched, oversized blazer shrugged over a white top, with wide-leg trousers. The bottom half matched the top half in both color and cut: a warm cream with a relaxed fit. The rest of her styling felt equally as composed. A gold chain flickering at her collarbone and a slim ring were her only accessories, paired with a low bun and subtle makeup.

There was nothing ostentatious about this cool March look, but it did speak to the rise in corporate wear that made a comeback as a spring 2025 fashion. Usha clearly got the memo, as she looked fashionably braced for Q2.

At the beginning of 2025, blue replaced hot pink as the color en vogue, with the latter slipping into passé territory — an outdated trend you don't want to be caught wearing the year she took on the SLOTUS role. Usha tapped into the season's tonal shift at the Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball. She stepped onto the stage in a strapless, inky blue gown by Reem Acra — a Lebanese-American designer best known for elevated evening wear and wondrous wedding dresses. Vertical beading gave the dress its movement and structure, and overall, it was a surprisingly dramatic choice from someone who's otherwise remained understated.

In France, Usha Vance reached for blue once again. Whilst visiting the Élysée Palace with JD to meet President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron, she wore a long-sleeved V-neck dress in a slate blue by Favorite Daughter — the label helmed by Hollywood sisters Sara and Erin Foster. The ensemble featured soft pleating at the bodice, a slightly cinched waist, and full sleeves gathered lightly at the shoulder.

It's worth noting that Usha has chosen shades of blue for several of JD's most high-profile appearances. Is this subliminal messaging or simply a color she gravitates toward? For the woman who was once a registered Democrat, the message doesn't feel accidental.

Usha Vance's Oscar de la Renta coat for the inauguration was tailored in a shade between peony and porcelain, softly structured with a generous shawl collar and a subtle flare that nodded to mid-century couture without veering into costume. Belted neatly at the waist and paired with pale gloves and muted suede heels, this look undoubtedly turned people's heads. Yes, it was pink. But it sidestepped the hot saturation of yesteryear's Barbie obsession, opting instead for something more appropriate for the style moment.

The Little Black Dress remains undefeated and perennially on-trend. For the Vice President's Dinner, Usha Vance turned to the enduring classic. Trusting Oscar de la Renta once again, her version was cut in black velvet with a sculpted sweetheart neckline and a slim silhouette that skimmed just above the floor. Proportion, texture, and restraint all worked in Usha's favor here, as three glittering, asymmetrical floral accents added just the right amount of detail. Dramatic, but not overwrought, it was a modern update on designs previously worn by political fashion icons like Jackie Kennedy and Michelle Obama (who has had her own style evolution since leaving the White House).