Bimbo Banter


What Melania’s White Dress Teaches us About Communication


  • Trends
  • July 21, 2016
  • by Laura Barnett

With all the chatter – and even a rejected resignation by the speech writer – related to Melania Trump’s convention speech, I’d like to call your attention to a matter that made a splash on the fashion radar. Stick with me, this is communications-related.

The former model selected a $2190 dress, designed by fellow-Serbian Roksana Ilincic. It reportedly sold out in an hour Monday evening. Not just the white version she wore, but the same style in hot pink as well. While most of us wouldn’t spend $2200 for a dress, that’s a modest price point for Trump when you realize her overall wealth. We’ve also seen Duchess Kate select outfits for herself and her children with a more reasonable price point, as she understands her celebrity status and the media will drive people to buy the outfits.

In recent years we’ve talked more about the power of style when presenting. Since everyone owns a smartphone these days, you must be aware that speaking in public means being recorded in public. Far more people will see you now than ever before, thanks to tools like Facebook Live, Periscope, YouTube, Vine and SnapChat.

When a celebrity is in the spotlight, even more attention is paid to what they say and wear. (Have you noticed how the red carpet show for the Oscars is almost as long as the awards show itself?) Polishing your appearance is crucial in an era when more eyes can see you instantly. Who knows? You may be credited with starting a trend or helping a dress sell out in an hour!



You May Also Like


05.11.18

Finding Their Way?

Wells Fargo has a new, multi-million-dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing consumers that its well-publicized regulatory problems have been settled. (Recap: Wells has been fined over a billion and a half dollars to settle revelations that it opened… more 

Bimbo blog image christmas
12.01.11

BIMBO Nominees for December 2011

Happy Holidays! Take time this month to click through to the Full BIMBO for more examples. You’ll see who described concerned citizens as “insurgents” and of course, more politicians with their feet in their mouths. There’s the bizarre… more 

02.08.17

Influencing Memory: What Matters is What People Remember

If you’re a Spaeth devotee, you know that our fundamental insight is to structure communication to influence what a listener hears, believes and remembers.  A recent article from an editor at Scientific American, describes how much of what… more 


Back to Top