"The president looked and sounded like the leader he is," said White House spokeswoman Hope Hicks, who declined further comment on Trump's wardrobe or whether this sleeker version is the beginning of a new phase.

For presidents, looking the part can be an irritating battle. Former President Barack Obama's closet selection was roundly panned on the few occasions he wore a tan suit, generally in warmer months. One outraged Republican congressman from New York, Peter King, went so far as to call him out, deriding the choice for a "lack of seriousness."

The Sloppy President

Trump too has drawn criticism for dressing sloppy and for looking unkempt. The Washington Post called him out for wearing giant, boxy suits that don't fit. Jezebel said that, while Trump buys suits from masterful tailors, he can "never quite pull them off." Business Insider declared the length of his neckties, which often break fashion code by hanging far below the belt, a "tragic mistake."

Has a new era begun, or was trimmer Trump a one-time thing? Here's a breakdown of his makeover, as seen last night.

The ensemble

The suit Trump wore was a dark navy, one of the most formal colours, and a better fit than usual. With the navy tie, the combination exuded seriousness.


The suit jacket

He also ditched the overlong, flowing jacket for a more modern silhouette that gave him appropriate proportions, said Joseph Abboud, the fashion designer and chief creative director of Tailored Brands. (Abboud once dressed Obama when he ran suitmaker Hart Schaffner Marx.)

The button

Then there's the button. Trump has rarely buttoned his suit jacket in the past, a decision that signals a casual atmosphere or that you're about to sit down. But this time he did it up while speaking before the nation's lawmakers – as one does.

The tie

As for the tie, Trump has stuck with that shiny, fire-engine red number for years. He stuck with solid red ties at his most important speeches – his inauguration, before the Conservative Political Action Conference, during his first press conference as president, and at some of his biggest rallies. But Abboud said that chunky red cloth "feels passé," a relic of swaggering Manhattan money men from the 1980s. "I'm glad he wasn't wearing that," he said.

Last night wasn't the first time Trump has worn a striped navy tie. He donned one when addressing the Central Intelligence Agency and while announcing Neil Gorsuch as his pick from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump's infamous tie situation seems to have been rectified. Evan Vucci


Small hands, small improvements

John Ballay, chief executive of custom menswear service Knot Standard, whose suits were worn by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump for the inauguration, said their father had a "superior look" this time. The sleeve lengths on his jacket and shirt were balanced and he showed the right amount of cuff, Ballay said.

"This was a step in the right direction in terms of appearance," added Abboud. "We want our presidents to be presidential but also look presidential. I think he looked more presidential last night than we've seen in the last 18 months."

Has Trump sought the advice of a stylist? Jim Lo Scalzo

A well-proportioned sleeve can make tiny hands look normal. Andrew Harrer

Bloomberg