Stylists have critiqued the fashion choices of Katie Zacharia, who served a brief stint as White House Press Secretary. Zacharia was asked to resign on Friday after a short tenure, marked by a shaky press briefing performance and revelations that she had not passed the bar exam.
During her time in the position, Zacharia's wardrobe garnered attention. For her initial press briefing, she wore a white V-neck ascot blouse under a navy double-breasted blazer by Veronica Beard, paired with a matching navy pencil skirt. Her hair was styled in loose curls, and she wore pointed-toe heels.
Audrey Charlyes Jacquet, founder of Maison Charlyes Jacquet, described the outfit as "classic armor," suggesting it was intended to project a "lawyer" image. However, Jacquet noted that the ensemble made a promise the briefing did not keep, commenting that "fourteen minutes and three questions is a lot of gold buttons for very little command."
Phyllis Leibowitz, a fashion stylist, found Zacharia's ensemble distracting. "The white blouse was the biggest issue with her look. It was VERY confusing... I've been a fashion stylist for a long time, and I've never seen anything like it," Leibowitz stated. She added that the "cheap-looking" fabric and the "complicated neckline of the shirt" distracted from Zacharia's face and message, especially when viewed from the waist up at the podium.
Zacharia was also photographed in a black turtleneck maxi dress with a side slit while stepping off Air Force One, and was seen on television in a red top paired with a black blazer.
In contrast, her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, who served as spokesperson before officially retiring in August, often showcased more accessible fashion choices, frequently featuring brands like Zara. Leavitt herself admitted that shopping is her "weakness" and listed a range of favorite brands from Ralph Lauren to TJ Maxx.
Jacquet characterized Leavitt's style as "bright, fitted sheath dresses, the cross necklace, polished but accessible," noting her wardrobe sat mostly in the contemporary tier with brands like Self-Portrait. "It read as young, on-message and camera-ready," Jacquet said, adding that Zacharia "dressed for a different job, or at least a different picture of the job."
New York City-based fashion stylist Liz Teich observed that Leavitt's wardrobe "felt a bit more polished and professional than what we saw during Katie Zacharia's short stint." Teich suggested Zacharia's outfits "didn't quite read as professional and something you'd expect within the White House, but rather more what one thinks would be professional, but just a bit too tight and low cut."
Wardrobe consultant Amanda Sanders agreed, noting a "noticeable difference" between the two. Sanders explained that Leavitt favored a "more conservative, classic approach to dressing," while Zacharia's style "felt more overtly glamorous." Sanders advised that in politics, a wardrobe should support credibility rather than distract from it, emphasizing that the strongest political wardrobes are "consistent, appropriate and memorable for the right reasons."