Melania Trump not only wore flats when she headed to Florida to visit hurricane victims, but the first lady even opted to throw on sneakers while doing a quick outfit change on Air Force One.
The 47-year-old, who was labeled out of touch and disrespectful when she donned stilettos to visit hurricane victims in Houston, appears to have sworn off high heels for her trip to meet with citizens in Fort Myers who have been impacted by Hurricane Irma.
After wearing $750 black and beige Chanel flats to board Air Force One with President Donald Trump on Thursday, Melania changed into a casual button-up shirt, white skinny jeans, and $50 Converse sneakers.
Switching it up! Melania Trump changed outfits on Air Force One on Thursday while on her way to Fort Myers, Florida
The 47-year-old threw on a button-up shirt and white jeans before stepping off the aircraft with her husband, President Donald Trump
Casual accessories: Melania topped off her outfit with a white baseball cap and $50 Converse sneakers
Melania even threw her hair up into a ponytail, topping of her look with a crisp white baseball cap. She also opted to leave her black Hermes Birkin, which retails at a whopping $11,900 to $12,200, on the aircraft.
The first lady was photographed stepping off Air Force One with her husband upon their arrival, and Trump was dressed just as casually in khaki pants, a windbreaker, boots and a USA cap on his head.
Melania stood by Trump’s side as they listed to Florida Governor Rick Scott as he spoke during a briefing on Hurricane Irma at the airport.
Last month, Melania caused an uproar when she donned high heels while to visit areas struck by Hurricane Harvey in Texas—but wore similar shoes on a follow-up trip to the disaster-struck state earlier this month.
Accessories: Melania wore black and beige Chanel flats as she flew from Washington, DC to Fort Myers, Florida with her husband this morning
Price: Flats similar to the ones worn by the first lady today retail for $750 on Chanel’s website
Outfit: Melania, 47, paired her Chanel flats with white capri pants and a black safari-inspired jacket, as well as a pair of sunglasses and her signature blowout
Expensive: The former model completed her latest outfit with a black Birkin bag by Hermes, which retails at a whopping $11,900 to $12,200
Status symbol: The Hermes purse donned by Melania on Thursday is among one of the most coveted, hardest to acquire accessories in the world
On Thursday, Melania paired her Chanel flats with white capri pants and a black safari-inspired jacket, as well as a pair of sunglasses and her signature blowout.
Similar flats retail for $750 on Chanel’s website.
While she seemed to abandon the high heels that earned her severe backlash on her two previous visits, the former model completed her latest outfit with a black Birkin bag by Hermes.
The purse is among one of the most coveted, hardest to acquire accessories in the world. Ordinary people with enough savings to purchase one of the typically struggle to get their hands on it, while a few select A-listers get to sling them around their arms.
Last month, Melania came under fire when she was spotted in a pair of black snakeskin heels while on her first visit to Harvey-stricken Texas, as the hurricane continued beating rain down on Houston, swamping entire neighborhoods and leaving thousands clambering to their roofs to be rescued.
Precedent: Last month, Melania came under fire when she was spotted in a pair of black snakeskin heels while on her first visit to Harvey victims in Texas
Trip: President Trump addressed reporters as he and his wife departed the White House today
On that occasion, she paired the shoes with tailored black capris and a green bomber jacket as she and President Trump departed the White House.
Despite the backlash, Melania donned a similar outfit a few days later during a second trip four days later, indicating that the high heels were apparently here to stay.
Defiant as she emerged from the White House, the first lady strode confidently towards Marine One in her $1590 Ralph Lauren safari shirt dress and a pair of $650 Manolo Blahnik snakeskin pumps.
Clinging to her husband for some support as her stiletto point dug in to the grass on the South Lawn, she turned her back on the wave of criticism she had previously received during her first visit to Harvey-hit regions.
Previously: Last month, the first lady paired her high heels with tailored black capris and a green bomber jacket as she and President Trump departed the White House
Return: Melania Trump was defiant in her choice of wardrobe four days later to visit Texas, opting for the same Manolo Blanhik pump which sparked outrage earlier in the week
Pick: Melania opted for a pair of $650 snakeskin Manolo Blahnik BB pumps that time around
On both occasions, Melania changed when she arrived in Texas in pants, a shirt, sneakers and a hat.
During her first visit, though, her cap had FLOTUS stitched on the front, which offended many given the grave circumstances in Houston where the bodies of victims floated through flood water and where the only way out was by boat or aircraft.
The high heels worn earlier in the day however dominated conversation about the president’s visit to the afflicted state and divided opinion.
‘Who wears high heels to a flood ravaged community?’ was one of the complaints before she changed into her shiny white sneakers.
New outfit: On both occasions, Melania (pictured left on her first visit and right on her second trip) changed when she arrived in Texas in pants, a shirt, sneakers and a hat
There was some criticism on Saturday, with some claiming her outfit was even worse than earlier in the week
Elsewhere, there was resounding approval for the look from her fans. Supporters praised Melania for not giving in to the flack
There was resounding approval from her fans on Saturday who praised her as a ‘troll master’
There was a dose of fresh outrage four days later when she emerged in her second set of pumps.
‘Melania in heels again. Does she know it’s flood week and not fashion week in TX? Maybe she’ll emerge in her white sneakers again?’ said one deflated Twitter user.
Some said the outfit was even worse than her first attempt.
‘Melania in her heels & a dress this time. Trumps are a total fail at optics. A big FU to hurricane victims.’
Elsewhere, there was resounding approval for the look from her fans. Supporters praised Melania for not giving in to the flack and celebrated her as a ‘troll master and ‘bada**.’
‘FLOTUS Melania stayed true to herself & to HELL with the haters, as she boarded Air Force One in high heels! She’s a troll master! Love her!’ Others observed: ‘Melania is trolling with those heels’.
Throughout the day, Melania later gave out food to evacuees at the NRG Stadium and played with children.
Getting stuck in with her husband, the pair lugged cases of water on to the back of trucks and caravans which had lined up at a church in the neighborhood of Pearland later.
Online, she said nothing of the debate on her clothes but shared a photograph of her offending outfit from the morning, writing alongside it: ‘Departing for #Houston and #Louisiana #HurricaneHarvey.’
After Tuesday’s backlash, her spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said: ‘It’s sad that we have an active and ongoing natural disaster in Texas, and people are worried about her shoes.’
Assisting: In Houston, Melania got stuck in with the hard work. She loaded up waiting cars and vans with cases of water at a church in Pearland (above)
Interacting: She also gave out foot to waiting evacuees in Houston while the president took photos with fans