Harris wears young black designer Christopher John Rogers

On the investiture days of most US presidents, fashion watchers focus on the incoming first lady. Her outfit is not only widely photographed, but also kept at the National Museum of American History, alongside previous FLOTUS dresses including those of Michelle Obama, Laura Lane Bush and Jacqueline Kennedy.

Dr Jill Biden stuck to the convention of putting American fashion front and center, opting for a deep ocean blue tweed coat and dress from the emerging label of enduring designer Alexandra O’Neill, Markarian.

Today however, there was another topic of discussion. For a while, the fashion world had guessed what Kamala Harris would wear for the historic moment when she was sworn in as the first female vice president of the United States. Would she give a helping hand to an unconditional American designer or would she shine the spotlight on a designer in the making?

There was also speculation about what new President Joe Biden would wear and how his and Harris’ choices would reflect the values ​​of their administration. Nothing is accidental at this level of politics; even an outfit is never just an outfit.

Biden and Harris set the tone with conventional, powerful, and focused choices. They could be interpreted as indicating a more compound governance and regime than that of their predecessors.

Ralph Lauren – a brand famous for its classic All American image – dressed President Biden for the inauguration. The president opted for his signature navy, with a midnight hue suit and overcoat, both by Ralph Lauren.

Kamala Harris’ husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, also chose Ralph Lauren.

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Harris herself opted for a purple outfit from young black designer Christopher John Rogers, underscoring her reputation as a symbolic dresser. Harris accessorized the upbeat purple design with his signature beads. The vice-president chose another black designer, Sergio Hudson, for his evening dress.

Purple was a favored color by suffragists and a symbol of bipartisanship as it is mixed with red and blue, a symbolism that surely played a role in Harris’ choice.

Elsewhere, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also chose shades of purple – a Ralph Lauren pantsuit – as did former first lady Michelle Obama, who wore a deep plum coat.

Today, it’s not the only time Harris has opted for inspired clothing sprinkled with meaning. Throughout the election campaign, there was a distinct strategy behind his style.

She made another important style statement at a Covid memorial event in Washington last night, when she chose a camel coat from black company Pyer Moss. The label was founded by Kerry Jean-Raymond, who pivoted her business to provide PPE and support small businesses during the pandemic.

Harris’s choice of outerwear was respectful, thoughtful, and empathetic. Fashion research platform Lyst noted that within 24 hours of Harris wearing the camel coat, searches for “Pyer Moss coat” had increased by 734%.

Jill Biden’s purple ensemble for the memorial – an ensemble by independent and enduring New York designer Jonathan Cohen – also struck a chord, inspiring a 655% demand for the color purple, with coats being the most popular item. research.

Earlier this week, a viral Tik-Tok video showed Harris at home wearing a pink suit and a pair of socks marked “The future is a woman.” Carolina Herrera’s white suit she wore for her victory speech in November was seen as a symbolic nod to the suffragette movement.

Fashion commentators Diet Prada said on their Instagram: “His eloquence and intellect are found in his sartorial sense, and stepping out the door in such a powerful statement gives us a lot to look forward to.”

People look forward to what she is wearing with a similar infatuation that a celebrity or influencer might attract. There are stylish websites dedicated to tracking whatever she wears.

Her shoe choices have been the subject of countless articles. When she got off a plane to visit the California wildfires in a pair of pragmatic Timberland boots, searches for boots increased 376% in one week, according to Lyst. Her debut on the cover of Vogue – in which she wore Converse – may have divided opinions, but people search for the Chuck Taylor casual shoe an average of five times per minute.

Incidentally, President Biden, with his conventional personal style, is also creating demand for his sartorial signatures. Its choices are defined above all by a controlled aesthetic and reliable American brands; with his dark blue suits and his now iconic Raybans. Luxury website Matches reported that sales of aviator sunglasses were on the rise, according to The Times UK.

The visibility of American design on the day of the inauguration contrasted sharply with the “exit look” of outgoing first lady Melania Trump, who chose a dark all-black outfit made up of her must-have European labels, for her departure from the White House. . She and former President Donald Trump did not attend the inauguration, flying to Florida instead.