Often said to be the sincerest form of admiration, imitation has backfired for Florida’s first lady, who has faced criticism for trying to mirror Jackie Kennedy’s iconic style.
Casey DeSantis, married to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has been seen donning elegant, formal outfits at prominent events, sparking comparisons to the legendary former first lady.
Her penchant for ball gowns paired with opera-length gloves has led many to speculate that she is channeling Kennedy, a timeless symbol of grace and fashion.
However, detractors have been vocal on social media, expressing disapproval of DeSantis’ sartorial choices, with some suggesting that her efforts to emulate the former first lady fall flat.
“Casey DeSantis dreams of being Jackie O, but she’s more like Jackie No,” one critic remarked, sharing images of DeSantis in long gloves.
Another observer commented, “Casey DeSantis loves capes, formal dresses, and long white gloves. In her mind, she’s reviving First Lady Jackie O’s style. But who wears formal attire while everyone else is in casual clothes on bleachers? She seems to be the ambitious one in that marriage.”
Someone else added: ‘Casey DeSantis is a Jackie Kennedy wannabe. She is obviously tried to capture an era of relevance. Epic fail!’
But it seems that DeSantis has been making a major fashion faux pas with her choice of accessory.
Casey DeSantis, the wife of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has recently been spotted in her finest formal attire to several high-profile events
‘I must bring up the phenomenon of Casey DeSantis wearing opera gloves that are the wrong length and fabric for each of these respective occasions and dresses,’ one fashion lover claimed.
She slammed the DeSantis for ‘two glove-wearing sins’ while trying to dress in a way that reflects ‘traditional America.’
‘One, gloves worn in the daytime should not extend past the wrist,’ the content creator argued.
‘Two, you’re not supposed to wear black gloves with light colors,’ she pointed out.
There have been several events in which DeSantis has worn heavier gloves with a day-appropriate dress.
At the end of March 2025, DeSantis attended the Florida Heroes Reception in a rose-pink dress paired with black, elbow-length gloves, which drew widespread criticism online.
‘The capes and gloves look absurd,’ one user slammed. ‘Feels more like a costume, make-believe.’
She also committed a faux pas at the State of the State address, where she wore the same rose-pink dress but paired it with white satin elbow-length gloves, while everyone else was dressed in casual or business-casual attire.
Critics have taken to social media to share their distaste for DeSantis’s (left) choice of outfits – many claiming the 45-year-old is trying to dress like Jackie Kennedy but falling short
Hayes used a 2023 image of DeSantis at her husband’s inauguration ceremony as an example of gloves being worn correctly
The Daily Mail has since spoken to fashion experts to weigh in on where DeSantis is going wrong.
According to Jo Hayes, a style consultant and founder of EtiquetteExpert.org, there are specific times when gloves are appropriate.
‘Gloves are elegant, timeless and distinctly feminine, they instantly lift an outfit and deliver a major style statement when worn correctly,’ Hayes told the Daily Mail.
The style expert continued, explaining that while DeSantis has ‘hit the mark’ with some of her glove-wearing, there are other occasions that have garnered a raised eyebrow – for the wrong reasons.
‘An opera-length glove (above the elbow) is perfect for a gala event,’ she explained.
‘Think Marilyn Monroe, or, again, Jackie-O at many of her husband’s gala presidential events.’
However, Hayes said that wearing the wrong length, color, or fabric of a glove can look jarring.
‘There are some basic style rules for glove-wearing,’ she said.
The shorter the sleeve, the longer the glove, says one fashion expert
According to Hayes, the shorter the sleeve, the longer the glove.
‘For example, a strapless, sleeveless or very short sleeve gown should be worn with an opera length (above the elbow),’ she explained.
‘Similarly, the longer the sleeve, the shorter the glove,’ the expert added.
As for color, Hayes said the color should either match or be color-coordinated with one’s dress.
‘Or a classic white or beige,’ she said. ‘A color that harmonizes with the dress.
‘Avoid any color clashes that feel jarring to the eye,’ she continued. ‘As for fabric: cotton, or match the fabric with the dress.’
