Lara Trump, 43 years old, wife of Eric Trump, the second son of US President Donald Trump, wore a form-fitting, ankle-length brown cheongsam as she walked with her husband to the state dinner on the evening of May 14 in Beijing.

The dress was adorned with large white, pale pink, and cream chrysanthemums, featuring a classic three-centimeter high collar, short sleeves, and a back slit. She carried a small white handbag, paired with white high heels, and wore her long, golden hair down.

Lara Trump wore a brown cheongsam embroidered with chrysanthemums while accompanying her husband to the state dinner in Beijing on the evening of May 14. *Photo: Reuters*

Peidong Sun, an associate professor of arts and sciences in Chinese and Asia-Pacific studies at Cornell University, commented that Lara Trump's cheongsam was "an elegant choice for a formal event." Sun noted that the chrysanthemum embroidery carries positive connotations in Chinese culture, as the word for chrysanthemum sounds similar to 'ji hua' (lucky flower), symbolizing prosperity and auspicious wishes. According to Sun, the dress's length and tailoring highlighted Lara's 1.8-meter height, creating a "refined and graceful appearance."

Earlier, the US President's daughter-in-law also made an impression with a white polka-dot dress, paired with oversized sunglasses, while accompanying her father-in-law on a visit to the Temple of Heaven, a renowned Chinese historical and cultural site. Sun observed that Lara Trump's chosen style during this trip to China demonstrated an appreciation for traditional Chinese culture blended with modern elegance.

Lara Trump wore a white polka-dot dress while accompanying the US President on a visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on the morning of May 14. *Photo: AP*

Lara Trump was among the few women accompanying Trump on this trip to China, as US First Lady Melania Trump did not participate. Her dresses for this visit to China were all high-necked and calf-length. Sheng Lu, an expert in the fashion and apparel studies department at the University of Delaware, stated, "In the void left by the First Lady, Lara Trump and Trump's assistant, Natalie Harp, became key figures representing American dress style to the Chinese audience."

Lu added that despite US-China trade tensions, the carefully curated images of the Trump family still held strong appeal. They not only reflected a distinct American elite style but also demonstrated their mastery of media. The expert suggested that Lara's attire "was not merely a fashion choice but a diplomatic message intended to convey friendliness towards Chinese culture."

Lara Trump wore a high-necked, calf-length white dress upon arriving at Beijing airport on the evening of May 13. *Photo: AP*

Juanjuan Wu, author of "Chinese Fashion from Mao Zedong to Today," believed that Lara Trump's style in China on this occasion "perfectly aligned with the ideal image of female leaders in global politics."

Hong Hanh (According to WWD, Sun)