Second Lady Usha Vance has responded with humor after a New York Times fashion column suggested there was political significance behind her maternity clothing choices.
Rather than engaging in a lengthy debate, Vance took a light-hearted approach on social media, joking about the attention her wardrobe had received while sharing details about one outfit that quickly became the center of discussion.
The mother-to-be revealed that the coral maternity dress highlighted in the article cost her just $8.75 after discounts, even sharing the purchase receipt with her followers.
Usha Vance jokes about fashion analysis
Vance posted her response on X after a New York Times article examined the pregnancy style of several prominent women connected to President Donald Trump’s administration.
In her post, she joked that after learning the supposed political meaning behind her inexpensive maternity dress, reporters might next want to analyze her elastic-waist pants and compression socks.
She also encouraged followers to watch an episode of Storytime with the Second Lady, sharing a video in which she appeared alongside Vice President JD Vance while wearing the same coral off-the-shoulder maternity dress discussed in the newspaper.
Later, Vance followed up by posting a screenshot of her purchase receipt.
The image showed the dress originally retailed for $49.99 before being reduced to $12.49, with an additional promotional discount lowering the final price to $8.75.
The New York Times piece, written by fashion critic Vanessa Friedman, looked at the public appearances of Usha Vance, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Katie Miller, wife of White House aide Stephen Miller.
According to the column, the fact that all three women have appeared publicly during their pregnancies has contributed to a broader image of family life within the Trump administration.
The article also referenced a Father’s Day social media post featuring Vance, suggesting her decision to publicly embrace her pregnancy helped present a more personal image of the vice president.
Rather than directly challenging the newspaper’s interpretation, Vance chose to answer with humor while emphasizing the affordability of the outfit that had generated so much attention.
Preparing to welcome baby number four
Earlier this year, Usha and Vice President JD Vance announced they are expecting their fourth child, a baby boy.
In a family statement released in January, the couple said they were excited to welcome another son and shared that both mother and baby were doing well ahead of his expected arrival in late July.
The couple are already parents to sons Ewan and Vivek, along with daughter Mirabel.
Vance has previously acknowledged that this pregnancy has required a different wardrobe than her earlier ones because of her public responsibilities.
During an interview with NBC News in March, she explained that previous pregnancies often involved comfortable clothes while working from home, whereas her current role as second lady has meant dressing up far more frequently.
Although the debate over her maternity wardrobe attracted national attention, Vance ultimately chose to respond in her own style — with humor, transparency and a receipt showing that one of her most talked-about outfits was also one of her least expensive.
