This bold fashion move saw Leavitt temporarily stepping away from her “White House Barbie” persona, opting for an outfit that might theoretically appeal to the doll’s aesthetic, albeit with some execution missteps. Her shade of pink, known as “sickly pink,” was a far cry from the vibrant Barbie pink, a color famously worn by Imelda Staunton as Umbridge. Despite being an actual shade purchasable online, it didn’t quite hit the mark for the trendy Gen-Z official.

The ensemble featured black bowtie accents and buttons adorned with small bows, lending it a coquettish touch. While this might work on its own, paired with Leavitt’s often controversial public statements, the outfit becomes a puzzling choice, evoking the dizzying presence of Umbridge herself.

Karoline Leavitt’s tenure as press secretary under President Donald Trump’s second term has been polarizing, drawing both criticism and praise for her media interactions. Her approach has been appreciated by MAGA supporters but has left others uneasy. This division even extends to her shopping habits, as reported by the Daily Beast, where a Tuckernuck store employee expressed discomfort over Leavitt’s political stance, which conflicts with their personal values.

Despite the mixed reactions, Leavitt finds support from fashion designer Christopher Cuozzo, who has often collaborated with her. In a conversation with Women’s Wear Daily, he praised her polished appearance, whether in his designs or others. Cuozzo explained that Leavitt relies on him for style guidance, allowing him to suggest colors and ideas while she approves or declines them, leaving design details like lapels and buttons in his hands. Thus, Cuozzo plays a significant role in shaping Leavitt’s evolving style.

As you can see above, Leavitt took a break from embracing her White House Barbie moniker by rocking an outfit that the iconic doll would probably love in theory had the execution been better. For starters, the Trump staffer’s look, which would be better suited for a stuffy school teacher than a trendy Gen-Z press secretary, wasn’t Barbie pink. It was sickly pink, and no, that’s not a term created because the unflattering shade might turn one’s stomach. Sickly pink is an actual shade of pink that can be purchased online. Actor Imelda Staunton even wore it while playing Umbridge in the “Harry Potter” movies. But, honestly, the shade isn’t the most unflattering part of the outfit. 

The jacket’s black bowtie accents, paired with matching buttons, also adorned with tiny bows, give it a coquettish appeal, which isn’t bad on its own, but alongside the inelegant statements Leavitt frequently delivers from the podium, it’s a rather dizzying statement (kind of like Umbridge).

It’s no secret that Karoline Leavitt isn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea. Since assuming the role of White House press secretary at the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, Leavitt has regularly been criticized for the way she addresses the media in an attempt to shield her boss from accountability (MAGA supporters, of course, love her for the same reason). And while it’s unclear how the White House staffer’s divisive personality affects her personal life, it may have an impact on her shopping habits. According to the Daily Beast, retail workers at Tuckernuck, a brand famously preferred by Republican women, aren’t exactly impressed by the political allegiances of their patrons. “I have a hard time, you know, with Karoline [Leavitt],” one such store worker admitted. “Her kind of day-to-day is very much against my morals and values.”

That said, not everyone shies away from associating with the press secretary. Fashion designer Christopher Cuozzo sang Leavitt’s praises while discussing their frequent collaborations with Women’s Wear Daily. “I think she’s very well-dressed whether she’s in my garments or someone else’s,” he gushed. “She presents herself very well.” Cuozzo also revealed that Leavitt often allows him to take the reigns where her sense of style is concerned. As he explained, “She’ll look to me for colors and ideas. I’ll send her that and some products that have been modeled by my clients for inspiration. She will say, ‘Yes. No.’ but she leaves the design to me — lapels, buttons and linings.” Basically, Cuozzo is at least partially responsible for Karoline Leavitt’s style transformation.