First Lady Melania Trump has become known for her iconic style over the years – sporting tons of different designers and daring fashion choices.
However, perhaps one of the most notable parts of her wardrobe is her extensive handbag collection, which ranges from designers like Chanel to ultra-rare Hermès models that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
She is often seen carrying around a trendy bag to complete her look, like her Matte Niloticus Crocodile Hermès Birkin 25 in Black, which is priced on secondhand websites for over $100,000.
Melania, 55, is not afraid to flaunt her personal taste to the world, as it has been said that the mom-of-one has an ‘unrivaled’ collection of purses that can take years to get.
During a 2016 interview with Elle Magazine about her campaign style, she explained that she feels her style has stayed quite ‘consistent’ over the years.
‘My style has stayed pretty consistent over the years,’ she told the magazine at the time.
‘I always wear what I like and what is appropriate for the occasion,’ she explained.
According to personal stylist Cynthia Kennedy, Melania’s handbag collection shows that the First Lady is ‘all about classic luxury’ and ‘high status.’
First Lady Melania Trump has become known for her iconic style over the years – sporting tons of different designers and daring fashion choices
However, perhaps one of the most notable parts of her wardrobe is her extensive handbag collection, which ranges from designers like Chanel to ultra-rare Hermès models that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars
‘She comes across as polished, controlled and timeless, and steers clear of anything too trendy,’ Kennedy told Daily Mail.
‘Her handbag collection says a lot about who she is as a person, and how she wants to be perceived in public, preferring quiet authority over flashy gimmicks.’
Now, Daily Mail is taking a deeper look into Melania’s expensive handbag collection.
Matte Niloticus Crocodile Hermès Birkin 25 in black
Melania’s favorite bag appears to be Hermès Matte Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 25 in black, which she has been seen carrying on a number of various occasions.
The bag is a rarity, as it’s made of one of the luxury brand’s most coveted and expensive materials: crocodile skin.
Online, these bags can be priced on secondhand websites for over $100,000. They take hours to design, and are some of the hardest purses to get your hands on.
According to authenticated resale shop Madison Avenue Couture, it is ‘virtually impossible to be offered an Hermès crocodile or alligator handbag at an Hermès boutique without first spending six figures or more at the store.’
She famously sported the purse when she and Trump departed the White House on inauguration day in January 2021, as Joe Biden entered his presidency
Another bag that Melania seems to love is her Hermès collection is her Matte Niloticus Crocodile Birkin 25 in black, which she has been seen wearing on a number of various occasions, including a 2019 UK State Visit
According to authenticated resale shop Madison Avenue Couture, it is ‘virtually impossible to be offered an Hermès crocodile or alligator handbag at an Hermès boutique without first spending six figures or more at the store’
‘When it comes to the Hermès Kelly and Birkin, these are not handbags that anyone can walk into a store and buy, even if they have the money,’ Kennedy explained to Daily Mail.
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‘They’re reserved for people who have been long-standing clients and have a history of consistent purchases, but even then, there’s still no guarantee,’ she said.
Melania famously sported the purse when she and Trump departed the White House on inauguration day in January 2021, as Joe Biden entered his presidency.
She paired the bag with a black, knee-length skirt and cropped tweed jacket, along with a pair of black gloves and sky-high black Christian Louboutin heels.
The mom also wore the purse in 2019, when she and her husband joined then-British prime minister Theresa May and her husband Philip for a meeting in London, pairing it with a trench coat by Celine.
‘The black croc Birkin is the ultimate power bag: rare, tailored in true Melania style, and unmistakably elite,’ Lisa Springsteel Dupre, founder of Launch Your Collection, told Daily Mail.
‘She repeats it often because it aligns with her polished aesthetic and signals effortless authority.’
Hermès Gold Ostrich Sellier Kelly 28
And, in July 2024, she was seen carrying an ostrich Kelly bag in the same cognac color as she was leaving Trump Tower with her son, Barron, 19
When Melania isn’t wearing her crocodile Birkin 25, she often seems to reach for her Gold Ostrich Sellier Kelly 28, which is another rare get from the brand.
The stunning purse is made from ostrich skin, and features a chic top-handle and gold hardware.
An ostrich Kelly can go for upwards of $27,500 on many luxury resale sites, although it’s unclear exactly how much the First Lady bought hers for.
In July 2024, she was seen carrying the ostrich Kelly bag as she was leaving Trump Tower for a day out with her son, Barron, 19.
‘Hermès bags are symbols of wealth and status, and signify that a person has relationships, history, and credibility within the luxury world,’ Kennedy said.
‘When someone carries one of these bags they’re subtly telling everyone that they’re a part of a very exclusive club.’
Chanel Quilted Lambskin Trendy CC bag in black
In June 2023, she was seen arriving at Trump Tower carrying the gorgeous bag, which she paired with a classic, long khaki skirt and crewneck black sweater
In addition to her love for Hermès bags, she also seems to have a penchant for Chanel.
She’s been frequently seen wearing the designer’s Trendy CC Medium Flap bag in black, and is a limited-edition model that debuted in 2014.
It goes for a pretty penny on many resale sites, with a starting price at $6,000.
In June 2023, she was seen arriving at Trump Tower carrying the gorgeous bag, which she paired with a classic, long khaki skirt and crewneck black sweater.
She completed her simple look with a pair of tan-and-black ballet flats, also from Chanel, which retail for $1,075.
‘Chanel’s structured silhouettes and understated glamour mirror The First Lady’s refined, European‑leaning style,’ Springsteel-Dupre told Daily Mail.
The year before, in August 2022, she toted a slightly larger version of the handbag, which cost $7,000 at the time
‘Chanel’s timeless femininity fits seamlessly into her consistently polished wardrobe,’ the fashion expert added.
The year before, in August 2022, she toted a slightly larger version of the handbag, which cost $7,000 at the time.
Melania donned dark trousers, a white top, and a matching, unbuttoned jacket as she made her way into her and Trump’s Manhattan apartment building.
She paired the look with black pumps, with her highlighted blonde locks in loose, beach-like waves around her face, and shielded her eyes with dark sunglasses.
Louis Vuitton Luggage Collection
Aside from her handbag collection, Melania looks like she has quite the assortment of designer luggage from Louis Vuitton.
She has stepped out on multiple occasions carrying the timeless pieces, which are worth thousands of dollars.
In August 2024, Melania was photographed leaving Trump Tower as her doorman loaded piece upon piece of Louis Vuitton luggage into a car.
The items that the First Lady had packed up was the designer brand’s $2,7000 Keepall Bandoulière 55, the $3,150 Cruiser Bag 45, and the Sirius 55 bag, which is no longer for sale, but sells at resale for well over $2,000.
At the time, many of the luggage pieces also had a pink luggage tag attached to them that read ‘FLOTUS’ in gold lettering.
Earlier that summer, the former model was also spotted toting around the Keepall Bandoulière 55 in Damier Graphite Canvas as she exited her New York City apartment.
In October 2020, one of her aides was also pictured carrying her Sirius 55 bag onto Marine One as she headed out to campaign with her husband, Donald Trump
The items that the First Lady had packed up was the designer brand’s $2,7000 Keepall Bandoulière 55, the $3,150 Cruiser Bag 45, and the Sirius 55 bag, which is no longer for sale, but sells at resale for well over $2,000
At the time, many of the luggage pieces also had a pink luggage tag attached to them that read ‘FLOTUS’ in gold lettering
‘A lot of people carry and wear Louis Vuitton, but that doesn’t make it trend driven,’ Kennedy explained.
‘For her it’s practical, classic, recognizable, and an appropriate choice since she travels frequently, and publicly,’ she continued.
‘It helps solidify her love and preference of established icons over niche fashion moments.’
In October 2020, one of her aides was also pictured carrying her Sirius 55 bag onto Marine One as she headed out to campaign with husband Donald.
Hermès Birkin 30 in dark burgundy leather
Exotic-skinned Hermès bags aren’t the only valuable pieces that Melania has bought from the French designer over the years.
One of her most expensive pieces is the Birkin 30 in dark burgundy leather, complete with gold hardware.
She showed the purse off as she was hand-in-hand with her husband as they boarded Air Force One to go to Mar-a-Lago for President’s Day Weekend in 2019.
One of her most expensive pieces is the Birkin 30 in dark burgundy leather, complete with gold hardware
In January 2020, she carried the bag once again, pairing it with a lilac-colored robe coat from Ralph Lauren
The bag is sold at resale at Madison Avenue Couture for over $30,000 – and she paired the look with a cozy cape at the time.
In January 2020, she carried the bag once again, pairing it with a lilac-colored robe coat from Ralph Lauren.
The bag speaks to her larger collection, which Kennedy says is about ‘exuding an aura of timelessness and dignified authority.’
‘Each and every one of her handbags reinforces a very carefully curated identity that’s elegant, exclusive, and completely and intentionally separated from the world of fleeting trends,’ Kennedy shared.
