THE fashion designer behind White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s wardrobe has revealed secret messages he hides in her suits.
Christopher Cuozzo designs custom outfits for Leavitt, 27, to wear in the White House briefing room.
Cuozzo, a menswear designer who just recently started in womenswear, has made several suits for Leavitt and her 60-year-old husband, Nicholas Riccio.
The Boston-based business owner said he met Leavitt right after Thanksgiving, just weeks after President Donald Trump won the 2024 election.
Leavitt had been chosen for the position of press secretary, making history as the youngest individual to take on the role, and she realized she needed appropriate attire for the job.
Cuozzo mentioned that even with the high-pressure environment of daily life in the White House, Leavitt and Riccio approached him with warm and amiable demeanors while deciding on the design of their custom outfits.
“I did quite a few suits, actually, some for him, some for her,” Cuozzo told Business Insider.
“They were the nicest, nicest people. Then, when the suits were ready, I shipped them down to DC for them.
“They absolutely loved them, and both of them have been ordering more ever since.”
Cuozzo said the process is a creative one, as Leavitt sends him requests and ideas that he responds to with pictures and sketches.
Leavitt is “not afraid of color,” which Cuozzo said inspired him to dream big with emerald green and bright red suits.
But color isn’t the only detail that Cuozzo takes into account: he said the custom suits sometimes include hidden messages at Leavitt’s request.
“Typically, a suit or really any garment takes about four to six weeks,” he explained.
“Now, there’s all these things that go into it that could add a longer time.
“We often create custom linings by printing photos onto silk, which are then placed inside the suits, a process that typically adds about two weeks to the timeline.”
Cuzzo revealed Leavitt included a patriotic secret lining on one of her custom-made suits.
Get to know Karoline Leavitt
Donald Trump’s press secretary is the youngest White House press secretary ever at 27.
Here are some fast facts about Karoline Leavitt:
- She was raised Catholic in Atkinson, New Hampshire
- She attended Saint Anselm College
- She started her college’s first broadcasting club
- She interned at Fox News during college
- She worked as the assistant press secretary under Kayleigh McEnany
- She won the Republican primary for the US House of Representatives in New Hampshire in 2022
- She’s married to 59-year-old entrepreneur Nicholas Riccio
- She gave birth to her first son, Niko, in July 2024
- She went back to work for Trump days after giving birth
- She had her mic cut off in a CNN interview in June 2024 after criticizing presidential debate moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper
“I’m going off memory here, but I’m pretty confident we did an American flag lining in one of her suits,” he said.
He added that because the linings aren’t visible in the briefings, “I’ve got to get her to flash that jacket open.”
Cuzzo continued to say Leavitt is classy, but focused on serious-looking suits as she briefs reporters from all over the world on Trump’s day-to-day business.
“Classic reigns supreme, so you don’t want anything trendy,” Cuozzo said.
“I don’t envision her wanting to do some very loud plaid suit that’s a bunch of different colors.”
Cuozzo’s suits start at $1,495 but cost more depending on the fabric, but he wouldn’t reveal how much Leavitt’s suits have cost.
