Hope Hicks went from mimicking Ivanka Trump's style to ripping off Melania Trump's - and it could reveal a building drama inside the White House

As other members of the Trump administration have fallen to the wayside, Hicks has held on and risen through the ranks. She knows how to stay in the good graces of the president — and right now, that looks like trying to copy Melania, not Ivanka.

Advertisement

Hicks isn't someone who will publicly trash members of the Trump administration. Instead, she is more subtle in signaling her allegiance.

Advertisement

For reference, here's a photo of President Trump and Melania Trump arriving in Texas, soon after the first lady faced backlash for wearing stilettos as she ventured into an area that had been devastated by Hurricane Harvey.

Hicks seems to have picked up on the intricacies of both women's tastes. While waiting to board Air Force One at Beijing Airport, her outfit seems to be identical to some of the first lady's favorite travel looks.

Advertisement

So, it shouldn't be that surprising that Hicks' new wardrobe is filled with Melania-inspired, high-fashion looks. Melania's sense of fashion is sleeker than Ivanka's, with more makeup and sharper angles.

As Ivanka's reputation has tanked, perception of Melania has only gotten better. According to a recent CNN poll, the first lady has a 48% approval rating, compared to the president's 38%.

Advertisement

Hicks debuted the new fashion strategy at a state dinner in Tokyo. Instead of the soft dresses that Ivanka is known for, the communications director showed up in a sleek suit that could have come straight from Melania's closet.

Over the same period, Hope Hicks has stopped taking fashion cues from Ivanka — and moved on to Melania Trump.

Advertisement

Republicans' perception of Ivanka Trump has dropped as the first daughter has been increasingly seen as a moderating force. Even President Trump was reportedly frustrated after Ivanka criticized Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, who has been accused of sexual harassing and assaulting teen girls.

While once Ivanka Trump was a conservative darling, the first daughter has fallen out of favor with much of the right, including the president.

Advertisement

However, in recent months, Hicks seems to be undergoing a fashion pivot that could signify that there are bigger factors at play behind the scenes.

While Hicks rarely gives interviews on the record, her polished, Ivanka-inspired fashion tells a story of its own. She fashioned herself as a reasonable outlier in the bombastic and scandal-prone Trump campaign and administration.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Hicks is private and has avoided making enemies. "I have always found Hope to be great to deal with, especially given the volume of requests she must be getting," Maggie Haberman of The New York Times told GQ.

Hicks seemed prepared to fulfill the same role behind the scenes. Trump, early advisors like Corey Lewandowski and Roger Stone, and some alt-right supporters alike are known for their over-the-top antics.

Advertisement

As she continues to attempt to win over skeptics, Ivanka has dressed primarily in accessible styles that most Americans could buy or replicate, including her own line and fast-fashion brands like Zara.

As Ivanka Trump campaigned for her father, her role was to convince more progressive Americans that Trump was a worthwhile political pick.

Advertisement

When Hicks began working on Trump's presidential campaign, she mimicked Ivanka's accessible style — lots of business-casual dresses in pale shades or florals, with heels and long, straight hair.

"Hicks grew close to Ivanka and began dressing like the heiress, who seemed worthy of the emulation," GQ reported. "Ivanka was that rare female corporate leader who is also kind to other women, and she affected an air of competence that seemed to temper the boorishness of the Trump brand."

Advertisement

Hope Hicks began working for Ivanka Trump's fashion brand in 2014, four years after she graduated from Southern Methodist University.