Katie Zacharia's fashion faux pas: Stylists reveal what the ex-press secretary got wrong during her five days in office

Stylists have detailed Katie Zacharia's fashion missteps during her short tenure as White House Press Secretary.

The 41-year-old was quickly asked to resign on Friday, following a shaky performance during her first press briefing and revelations that she never passed the bar exam despite describing herself as an attorney.

During her limited time in the position, she gave America a glimpse of her political wardrobe.

For the awkward press briefing, the mom-of-four opted for a white ascot-tie V-neck blouse under a chic $795 navy double-breasted blazer by Veronica Beard paired with a matching navy pencil skirt.

She wore her long blonde tresses in loose curls and accessorized with a pair of pointed-toe heels. 

Luxury fashion expert Audrey Charlyes Jacquet, founder of Maison Charlyes Jacquet, described the look as 'classic armor.' 

'It borrows from military dress and tries to say "lawyer" before she opens her mouth. The problem is that the suit made a promise the briefing didn't keep. 

'Fourteen minutes and three questions is a lot of gold buttons for very little command,' the stylist told the Daily Mail.

And it seems the look was universally disliked.

Fashion Stylist Phyllis Leibowitz shared that she could not take her eyes off Zacharia's ensemble, for all the wrong reasons.

She said that the white blouse was the biggest issue with her look, stating: 'It was VERY confusing. As soon as I saw her at the podium, I had a visceral, guttural reaction.

'I've been a fashion stylist for a long time, and I've never seen anything like it, in fact I'm not even sure I know how to describe it properly.'

Leibowitz explained that the 'cheap-looking' fabric distracted from Zacharia's speech, adding: 'Because it was bright white, it distracted from her face.' 

'She has a fab figure and I thought her navy suit fit really well in full length photos, but up close the complicated neckline of the shirt was too distracting paired with those big gold buttons on the blazer. 

'When she stood at the podium, there was just too much going on. I style women very differently when they are only going to be seen from the waist up, you want to be able to focus on her face and what she has to say.'

Elsewhere, Zacharia was photographed stepping off Air Force One in a black turtleneck long-sleeve maxi dress with a side slit and ruched detailing before also appearing on TV in a bold red top which was shrouded with a black blazer. 

But how did her style compare to that of her predecessor, 29-year-old Karoline Leavitt?

Leavitt, who officially retired from her post as spokesperson back in August, regularly flaunted her accessible fashion choices with Zara being one of the go-to brands for the mom-of-one.

Earlier this week, she continued to turn up her influencer charm by welcoming questions from her 3.1 million Instagram followers.

Asked about her style, she admitted shopping is her 'weakness' before reeling off a list of her favorite brands that included a broad range from Ralph Lauren to TJ Maxx.

Jacquet told the Daily Mail: 'Karoline Leavitt dressed like the campaign never ended: bright, fitted sheath dresses, the cross necklace, polished but accessible. 

'Her wardrobe sat mostly in the contemporary tier, labels like Self-Portrait, where a dress costs a few hundred dollars, not a few thousand. It read as young, on-message and camera-ready.'

She added: 'Katie Zacharia dressed for a different job, or at least a different picture of the job.' 

New York City-based fashion stylist Liz Teich told the Daily Mail that Leavitt's wardrobe 'felt a bit more polished and professional than what we saw during Katie Zacharia's short stint.'

She continued of Zacharia's few appearances: 'She seemed to aim to fit the mold of a typical woman in Trump's orbit with her wardrobe, hair and makeup, which often appeared overdone. 

'Her outfits also didn't quite read as professional and something you'd expect within the White House, but rather more what one thinks would be professional, but just a bit too tight and low cut.'

Teich concluded: 'Trump clearly has a type, and hopefully we'll see someone with the skills, credentials and professional style to fill the role next.'

Wardrobe consultant Amanda Sanders agreed, saying that there was a 'noticeable difference' between the pair.

She explained that while Leavitt 'favoured a more conservative, classic approach to dressing,' Zacharia's 'felt more overtly glamorous.'

'Neither woman needs to dress like the other. But there is a difference between looking fashionable and looking appropriately styled for the role you hold. 

'In politics, your wardrobe should support your credibility, not distract from it... The strongest political wardrobes are consistent, appropriate and memorable for the right reasons.'

Sanders finished by stating: 'I would not tell [Zacharia] to abandon glamour or femininity. I would tell her to edit, refine and elevate...

'As a stylist, my job is never simply to put someone in a beautiful outfit. It is to make sure the entire look communicates who they are, what they represent and how they want to be perceived.'