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This woman is sewing her own First Lady dresses and they’re super accurate

Stellar seamstress Paula Van Drisse. (Photo: Facebook/Paula Van Drisse)
Stellar seamstress Paula Van Drisse. (Photo: Facebook/Paula Van Drisse)

A local television reporter has found a thrifty way to wear Melania Trump’s designer clothing: She sews it herself.

Paula Van Drisse is an evening news anchor at KSWO in Lawton, Okla. She’s also an avid seamstress, having learned the craft at age 13, and she makes some of her own clothing. While watching the Republican National Convention in July 2016, Van Drisse was struck by Trump’s white Roksanda Ilincic dress, but short of the $2,190 needed to purchase it, she decided to make it herself. Van Drisse then wore her design on the air, to rave reviews from her fans.

(Photo: Getty Images/Paula Van Drisse/Facebook)
(Photo: Getty Images/Paula Van Drisse/Facebook)

It was the start of a passion project for Van Drisse, who was documents her White House creations on her official Facebook page. “I sew on nights and weekends and each dress typically costs $100 to make and one month to complete,” Van Drisse tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

Her second project: Michelle Obama’s pink silk crepe de chine Michael Kors dress, which she wore in 2012 on the night Barack Obama was re-elected president.

(Photo: Getty Images/Paula Van Drisse/Facebook)
(Photo: Getty Images/Paula Van Drisse/Facebook)

Then came Laura Bush’s red Oscar de la Renta gown, worn at the White House in November 2005…

(Photo: Alamy/Paula Van Drisse/Facebook)
(Photo: Alamy/Paula Van Drisse/Facebook)

…and Hillary Clinton’s violet, beaded lace gown by Sarah Phillips, from the 1993 inaugural ball.

(Photo: Getty Images/Paula Van Drisse/Facebook)
(Photo: Getty Images/Paula Van Drisse/Facebook)

The one outfit Van Drisse has yet to wear on television? A silver embroidered gown á la the one worn by Barbara Bush. “That would be a bit formal for the news,” she says.

(Photo: Getty Images/Paula Van Drisse/Facebook)
(Photo: Getty Images/Paula Van Drisse/Facebook)

And despite the occasional comment about her dresses defining her political views, Van Drisse insists that her focus is historical fashion. “I plan to make more dresses, focusing on this century,” she says. “Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t be able to wear them on air.”

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