Vnexpress iconVnexpressSep 27, 2026 ~6 min source read

How Peng Liyuan Uses Wardrobe Choices as Diplomatic Signals During U.S. Visits

Across state events in Washington and earlier trips to the U.S., China's first lady has chosen outfits that align color, cut and origin with diplomatic intent while keeping designers and labels private.

How China's first lady Peng Liyuan turns US visits into fashion diplomacy

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Media outlets including South China Morning Post, Vogue and Women's Wear Daily interpreted her outfits as balancing cultural identity, courtesy to hosts and a contemporary, pared-back aesthetic.

Peng's style has moved toward simpler, Eastern-inspired silhouettes compared with more elaborate looks earlier in her public life, a shift noted by outlets such as The Straits Times.

The useful part

Mai &nbspSeptember 26, 2026 | 05:26 pm PT Get VnExpress first in Google Search See more of the news you trust. Make VnExpress a preferred source to prioritise our updates in your Google search results Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, has drawn praise for her fashion choices on her U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump hosted Xi and Peng for tea in the White House's Red Room, with a Western-style menu.

How it works

  • In the language of political fashion, purple, a blend of the red that symbolizes China and the navy blue of the West, signals harmony, connection and easing tensions, according to the South China Morning Post.
  • As on her previous trips, Peng kept to her rule of wearing only work by Chinese designers to promote her country's image, WWD reported.
  • She paired a white Saint Laurent blouse with an oversized bow and tapered black Dolce & Gabbana brocade trousers with a peony motif, a display of high-fashion taste.
  • According to The Straits Times, her Chinoiserie style showed confidence while staying understated.
  • Choosing a gown without Chinese motifs signaled openness to the world, while the fabric and beadwork still carried a strong mark of traditional craftsmanship.

What to take from it

Because the design was pared back, the overall look read as a contemporary, Eastern-inspired design. 24, local time, Trump hosted a state dinner for Xi and Peng at the White House. She never reveals specific labels, and the brands in turn never use her name for commercial marketing.

Example or evidence

  • In Chinese culture, red symbolizes luck, happiness, prosperity and vitality, a positive message in diplomacy.
  • WWD said the choice was seen as a courteous nod to her hosts that also asserted her own identity.
  • Melania Trump's unconventional, tuxedo-inspired look contrasted with Peng's.
  • The same day, Melania Trump and Peng toured the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington.

Details worth keeping

Liyuan turns US visits into fashion diplomacy. Go News Politics Education Environment Traffic Crime Brainteaser. Peng chose a minimalist purple shift dress that matched Xi's tie.

Related coverage

  • Scmp: China's first lady Peng Liyuan is again stepping into the international limelight as she travels to Washington with President Xi Jinping this week.
  • Scmp: First ladies Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump opened a new front in US-China exchanges this week, with their unusually frequent and spontaneous interactions putting a more personal face on ties during the...
  • Dailymail: The 63-year-old, who has been First Lady of China since 2012, looked effortlessly chic as she attended the festivities in Washington, DC, on Thursday evening.
  • Scmp: Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan shared a light moment with Melania Trump on Wednesday as the two women renewed an acquaintance dating back to the Trumps' first term in the White House.

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