As Karoline Leavitt prepares to exit as the White House press secretary at the end of this month, her 20-month tenure — and her personal style — has received mixed reviews
Taking on a leading role as U.S. President Donald Trump’s official frontwoman last year, Leavitt was the youngest person in the role. A native of New Hampshire, Leavitt studied politics and communications at Saint Anselm College in her home state. After a stint working at a local TV station, she switched tracks
During her interactions with reporters in the James S. Brady Briefing Room, she is known as a sometimes-fiery defender of ’s administration and one of his most die-hard loyalists
Her White House attire has included bouclé minidresses and other looks from Self-Portrait, including one dress that caused a backlash. In April 2025, after Trump hiked tariffs on Chinese goods and touted his focus on Made in America products, Zhang Zhisheng, the consul general of the People’s Republic of China in Denpasar Indonesia, took to Weibo to flag that one of Leavitt’s Self-Portrait dresses had in fact been made in China
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Maintaining a mostly conservative rotation of monochromatic dresses, suits and blazers, Leavitt has turned up in custom pieces from the Boston-based designer Christopher Cuozzo, as well as more affordable pieces from Lichi and the Washington, D.C.-based label Tuckernuck. She has also sported Louis Vuitton‘s “Neverfull MM” tote bag, a two-tone Gucci watch and Jimmy Choo stilettos, as well as a cross pendant on a gold chain.
Leavitt, who now has a toddler son and a 3-month-old daughter with her husband Nicholas Riccio, shares family photos with her 3 million Instagram followers. Before the arrival of her daughter Vi dresses, sleeveless midi-length ones and drop-waisted minidresses. She hasn’t shied away from donning pastels or bold ensembles such as a Barbie pink pantsuit for some White House briefings
Fashion is a form of visual communication in politics and women’s appearances are more scrutinized than men’s are, according to Lori Poloni-Staudinger, the University of Arizona’s dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Studies. Leavitt’s “highly polished, conventionally feminine style, carefully styled hair, and visible religious jewelry, reinforced the youthful but disciplined, combative political identity she brought to the briefing room,” Poloni-Staudinger said
Leavitt has become a point of reference for younger women in similar high-profile positions, who are also balancing pregnancy and work, according to Sacred Heart University professor David Loranger.
For last month’s rescheduled White House Correspondents Dinner, Leavitt opted for a $475 long-sleeve pale blue lace jumpsuit from Nadine Merabi. She had selected a navy semi-sheer shimmery long-sleeve gown for the same event in April, which was cut short after Cole Tomas fired shots inside of the Washington Hilton
Her choice of a one-shoulder gown for a white-tie dinner at Windsor Castle that was hosted by King Charles III during Trump’s state visit to the U.K. raised eyebrows with some critics, since the dress code called for covered shoulders
While her “glitzy, formfitting” eveningwear choices were “particularly daring,” Leavitt’s style has stayed consistent with her “usual preppy Reagan-esque tradwife aesthetic, still incorporating florals, shirtdresses, and the like,” Loranger said
As a woman, Leavitt “expressed herself through her clothing,” and occasionally pushed the envelope by wearing low-cut styles, Anderson said. “But she also is so young. She isn’t even 30 years old,” Anderson added. “It’s a good thing that women can be less worried about how they’re being perceived and be willing to take risks. She did that.”
Liz Lange, who launched an eponymous maternity company in 1998, said that Leavitt “definitely embraced” that era’s signature style by opting for fitted, tailored looks in black, white and pale pink that did not “hide her bump.” The designer said, “She’s a young woman and she looks fantastic – very stylish, sleek and professional.”As for Leavitt’s sway on maternity fashion, Lange said, “The world is so divided, but having been in such a high-profile position during her [second[] pregnancy, I would think she would have influence.”
Leavitt’s brother Michael, a mechanic in New Hampshire, declined to comment Thursday about her decision, saying that he was “just focusing” on his family
Unaware of Leavitt’s career change, Cuozzo said Thursday that while Leavitt wasn’t a spokesperson for his brand, “having someone like that in the national spotlight wearing our women’s suiting has helped us immensely. She’s a good role model for a lot of young kids out there. I wish her well and will be curious to see where she lands next.”
While politicos speculate about who might replace Leavitt in the White House Briefing Room, Leavitt’s coming departure may lead some style watchers to turn more attention to another one of Trump’s more youthful female confidantes, Natalie Harp
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