Inside Melania Trump’s in depth designer shoe assortment… and her costliest footwear revealed

Since becoming First Lady, Melania Trump has not only made headlines for her role in the administration, but also for her classic style – and extensive designer clothing collection.

What’s perhaps the most enviable of her entire closet is her shoe collection, which spans across designers from Chanel and Roger Vivier to Christian Louboutin and Valentino.

She doesn’t just play it safe, either, as she’s been pictured in red-and-white zebra print heels and even combat boots throughout her time at the White House.

In fact, for President Donald Trump‘s most recent New Year’s Eve celebrations at their exclusive Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago, the First Lady pulled out a pair of silver glitter Louboutin heels to match her sparkling silver dress.

The shoes seemed to speak for themselves, as she wore minimal accessories, letting the pumps do all the talking. 

And according to California-based personal stylist Cynthia Kennedy, Melania’s shoe choices seem to be highly intentional. 

‘Her collection as a whole says that she sees fashion as a means of control, confidence, and being consistent,’ Kennedy told the Daily Mail.

‘She has a love for luxurious, timeless pieces, sophisticated femininity, and classic power looks, whether she’s in stilettos or flats,’ she explained.

Kennedy said that in the First Lady’s collection, ‘nothing is accidental.’

‘Every aspect of her shoes, handbags, and clothing are a testament to her aesthetic – a person who is polished, calculated, and rooted in the idea of classic elegance, rather than being driven by fleeting trends,’ Kennedy said. 

Now, as the premiere of Melania’s solo documentary is rapidly approaching, the Daily Mail has taken a closer look at her large-scale shoe collection.

Tried-and-true favorite – Chanel ballet flats

When she’s not wearing a pair of heels, it seems like one of Melania’s favorite styles to wear is a ballet flat.

In particular, she seems to love her tried-and-true, beige-and-black cap-toe Chanel ballet flats, which retail for $1,075.

The iconic shoes, which are made from lambskin, are a favorite among celebrities like Meghan Markle, Scarlett Johansson, Morgan Stewart, and Sofia Richie.

Melania has appeared to own the shoes for a while, as she was spotted wearing them back in September 2017, when she and President Trump visited hurricane-hit Florida at the time.

She was seen sporting the cap-toed ballet flats as she boarded Air Force One with her husband to travel down South, pairing them with a polished black jacket and skinny khaki pants.

She completed the look with a pair of black sunglasses, which matched her neutral outfit.

And, according to Kennedy, when Melania sports ballet flats, it sends a ‘very specific message.’  

‘Melania Trump wearing Chanel ballet flats sends a very specific message of luxury without effort,’ Kennedy explained to the Daily Mail.

‘These practical, understated, and comfortable, ballet flats from Chanel, also come with heritage, refinement and status, which show that even in her ‘off’ footwear, she still has high standards when it comes to her wardrobe,’ she shared.

The First Lady was also spotted in the flats while leaving her residence at Trump Tower in New York City in June 2023.

She paired the classic shoes with a black, long-sleeve sweater and khaki, safari-style skirt, along with a large, black quilted Chanel bag, of course. 

In the past, Melania has also been seen wearing ballet flats from another one of her favorite brands, Roger Vivier.

Vivier’s flats often retail for over $800.  

‘Melania’s not dressing down; she’s choosing quiet elegance that’s intentional,’ Kennedy said.

‘She values polish but doesn’t need height or drama all the time to feel put together.’

Melania has a huge variety of Christian Louboutin heels 

Melania’s signature shoe is definitely the So Kate pump made by designer Christian Louboutin, which often retails for nearly $1,000.

The shoes have a 120mm heel, which means that they add about four to five inches in height.

This would make the five-foot-eleven model over six feet tall when she wears the pumps.

The First Lady has been spotted in the red-bottomed shoes multiple times during both terms of her husband’s presidency.

This summer, she seemed to favor the heels quite a bit, as she wore them multiple times.

In June, while attending the opening of Les Misérables at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., she donned a silver-and-gold metallic pair of the So Kate pumps, which she paired with a one-shoulder black gown by Bottega Venetta.

And in May, when Trump signed the bipartisan Take It Down Act at the White House Rose Garden, she opted for a pair of the heels in a brown leather, which she wore with a gray Prada skirt suit.

Just a few weeks before, she wore the shoes in black while attending the unveiling of a US Postal Service stamp of former First Lady Barbara Bush in the East Room of the White House.

According to Kennedy, Louboutins are shoes that bring ‘sensuality and drama’ to her look.

‘High heels are basically part of her visual language,’ Kennedy told the Daily Mail.

‘They show strength, elongation, and control – especially when she’s under the spotlight,’ she said.

‘And because she is someone who is often photographed, they really help her keep a consistent silhouette that feels authoritative and intentional.’

But besides the basic colors, Melania also owns the shoes in a few special, limited-edition versions.

In July 2018, she sported a pair that featured Louboutin’s name scribbled on the top of the pumps, which, according to the brand’s website at the time, were inspired by the Paris neighborhood of Pigalle and places such as the Moulin Rouge cabaret and the Divan du Monde concert hall.

They are made with Kraft paper, which itself comes from Louboutin’s shopping bags and shoe boxes, and is hand-torn before being placed under PVC.

She wore them while departing for a trip to Europe with Trump.

In June 2019, she paired a navy-and-white striped pair of the pumps with an A-line Max Mara dress, as she stepped off Marine One in D.C.

Roger Vivier is also popular with the First Lady

One of Melania’s most-worn shoe labels is Roger Vivier, a French luxury brand.

The designer, whose shoes typically retail anywhere from $800 to $1,000, is known for its signature buckle detailing on the top of the toe.

Over the years, the First Lady has sported the shoe in multiple different models, like heels and ballet flats.

In September, she donned a pair of the brand’s Trompette Quadrata leather ballet flats in brown to meet with Princess Kate Middleton in the UK.

She paired the brown flats with a belted brown suede Ralph Lauren jacket and skinny khaki pants as the two were spotted laughing together while on their way to Frogmore Gardens.

While visiting the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., right before the July Fourth holiday, she sported a white pair of the flats with silver buckles, matching it to her pleated, black-and-white polka dot blouse and cream, knee-length skirt.

She also appears to own the flats in a navy blue color. 

Kennedy commented that even when Melania goes for a more ‘casual shoe,’ like a flat, they’re still ‘classic and restrained.’  

‘You won’t see her in flashy sneakers or outlandish shoes – it’s still just ballet flats, sleek loafers or clean design,’ Kennedy shared.

‘That doesn’t mean she’s about blending in; she prefers to maintain her aesthetic with quiet luxury,’ she said.

‘That says to me that she wants to stick to what works for her image, and that’s consistency and continuity.’

Melania also appears to own a variety of the brand’s pumps and heels, which she wears often.

Famously, she wore a black patent leather pair of the brand’s Trompette pumps while attending the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral, which took place the day after Trump’s second inauguration last January. 

And, to this year’s Easter Egg Roll, she paired her white double-breasted Mackage trench with a pair of block-heeled, gray patent leather Roger Vivier pumps.

Manolo Blahniks are a huge part of her shoe collection

When Melania knows something works, she doesn’t think twice – and that rule applies to her collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes, too.

She often goes for the brand’s BB 105 or 90 stiletto heels, which typically start at $895.  

Melania appears to own them in all different patterns and prints, which she’s not afraid to show off, like the red tartan pair she wore while welcoming the Christmas Tree to the White House in November.

She accessorized the bold shoes with a pair of red leather gloves and a white wrap coat.

The former model wore an equally fun pair to celebrate the Fourth of July, opting for the BB 105 red snakeskin pumps for the White House Picnic on the Fifth. 

To balance the bold pattern, she wore a white shirtdress that skimmed below her knees, designed by Thom Browne.

‘Manolos are the epitome of elegance and refinement,’ Kennedy told the Daily Mail of the brand, which was founded in London in 1970.

‘Brands that are associated with glamour, confidence, and a very traditional concept of luxury that isn’t edgy or experimental, but clearly powerful,’ she said of both Manolo and Louboutin.

Of course, Melania’s collection of Manolo’s also expands to some less-exciting colors, like white, navy blue, and black.

‘Some women feel more themselves in heels, and over time, they can become part of who they are, like a sort of armor or protection,’ Kennedy shared.