Melania Trump steals limelight in fluoro 'green screen' Valentino dress

The first lady's colour choice has already launched a thousand green-screen memes

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to U.S. first lady Melania Trump before delivering his acceptance speech as the 2020 Republican presidential nominee during the final event of the Republican National Convention on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., August 27, 2020. Reuters

Ivanka Trump (R), daughter and Advisor to the US President, introduces US President Donald Trump and US first lady Melania Trump ahead of his acceptance speech for the Republican Party nomination for reelection during the final day of the Republican National Convention. AFP

Second lady Karen Pence, Vice President Mike Pence, Barron Trump and US first lady Melania Trump. AFP

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive on South Lawn of the White House. AP

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for his acceptance speech to the Republican National Committee Convention. AP

U.S. President Donald Trump walks back into the White House with first lady Melania Trump after delivering his acceptance speech. Reuters

First lady Melania Trump (R) waves next to US President Donald Trump as they leave after he delivered his acceptance speech. AFP

President Donald Trump appears on stage with first lady Melania Trump after he gave a speech from the South Lawn of the White House on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention. AP

First lady Melania Trump (2nd R), Barron Trump (R) and Tiffany Trump look on as US President Donald Trump kisses grandson Theodore James Kushner. AFP

First lady Melania Trump (2nd R), Barron Trump (R) and Tiffany Trump look on as US President Donald Trump gives a thumbs up to grandson Theodore James Kushner after he delivered his acceptance speech. AFP

Tiffany Trump, US President Donald J. Trump, first lady Melania Trump, and Barron Trump stand on stage. EPA

Melania Trump stood out from the crowd on Thursday while her husband, President Donald Trump, accepted the Republican Party nomination for a second term.

Eyes were drawn to the 50-year-old first lady because of the bold colour of her dress, and fashion spotters have already figured out that it was a Valentino sleeveless plissé cape-back gown that is currently on sale on the Saks Fifth Avenue site. It was Dh21,000 but is now Dh10,890.

The polyester dress is from the Italian brand's spring 2020 ready-to-wear collection, and is bright neon green. Many noted that the dress, with its flat appearance and bold lime hue also mimics a green screen, which means it will now inevitably launch a thousand memes:

It's common knowledge in the broadcasting world that wearing green on TV is not a good idea, because you're often likely to be sitting in front of a green screen, in which case your jacket will disappear into the background through a technique called chroma keying.

This is why, even on St Patrick's Day, you will never see a meteorologist deliver the weather news while wearing a Granny-Smith-coloured jacket, because they are standing in front of a green screen.

Really, any flat colour can be used just like a green screen, but green is chosen because it's distinct to all natural human skin and hair tones and so is an easy colour to separate out.

On Wednesday night on the third night of the Republican National Convention, Melania chose a bright pink Jason Wu dress with a black bow detail. Wu is a Taiwanese-Canadian designer based in New York.

Whatever your politics, there's no denying that Melania is often a very fashionable woman. But one truly questionable style decision was the Alexander McQueen suit she wore for her own speech at the Rose Garden on Tuesday night.

The overtly military aesthetic of the khaki green skirt suit caused plenty of chatter online, with many joking that the outfit had an air of a draconian leader.

It was costumey and derivative in a way not dissimilar to the time she chose to wear a pith helmet, an incredibly loaded item of clothing, while in Nairobi in 2018. The helmet is considered by many a "symbol of colonial oppression".