The Meanings Behind The Power Dressing at The American Presidential Inauguration
Fashion made a diplomatic statement in Washington, D.C. last week as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn into office
Fashion and politics have always been intertwined.
When previous First Lady Melania Trump visited the New Hope Children’s Shelter in Texas, it wasn’t her words that caught everyone’s attention, but her Dhs143 Zara coat. Emblazoned on the back with the words “I really don’t care, do you?”, the First Lady was met with harsh criticism as she visited migrant children separated from their families at the border. (She took off her jacket before entering the building but the message was made, loud and clear.) A spokeswoman from her office insisted the coat was just that, only a coat. President Trump on the other hand called it a dig against “Fake News Media.” It wasn’t until an interview with ABC news that the First Lady confessed, “it was a sort of message, yes.”
More recently, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made headlines after making a subtle sartorial jab towards President Trump, wearing the same black dress to both of his impeachment hearings. The internet buzzed, calling her look ‘The Official Impeachment Dress,’ which begs to question should we pay closer attention to what politicians wear? The answer quite is, simply, yes.
Yesterday was no different in terms of dress messaging. Down to the button, every minute detail was planned for the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Madam Vice President Kamala Harris.
Lady Gaga ignited the start of the ceremony. In a custom Schiaparelli gown, designed by the house’s American creative director Daniel Roseberry, with a blooming red skirt the Chromatica singer gave a rousing rendition of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’; her dress, said to have rivaled the Capitol’s ornate architecture, sent a message of hope and peace in the form of a stunning gold brooch in the shape of a dove.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden wore a look from New York designer Alexandra O’Neill of Markarian. Paired with a matching silk mask, the First Lady’s tweed coat — complemented with blue elbow length gloves — did more than kept her warm. The turquoise hue signified “trust, confidence, and stability,” voicing the First Lady’s hopes to the American people by way of dress. She carried a Tyler Ellis Aimee Clutch in a custom dyed teal satin to match her outfit.
Madam Vice President Kamala Harris went the amethyst route, donning a purple coat and matching dress designed by 2020 CFDA American Emerging Designer of the Year, Christopher John Rogers. A bold look fitting for the first female and first black and south asian vice president in the nation’s history. In response to Harris wearing one of his looks, John Rodgers captioned his Instagram photo, “Thank you, Madam Vice President. We are so honored and humbled to have played a small part in this historic moment.”
Former Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton also took the purple que in a mauve Ralph Lauren suit, as did former First Lady Michelle Obama who arrived in a plum 70s-esque suit designed by Black American designer, Sergio Hudson. The colour coincidence was no accident; purple is a symbol of bipartisanship, a mixture of the colours red and blue.
Following Lady Gaga’s performance, Jennifer Lopez sang ‘This Land Is Your Land’ and ‘America the Beautiful’ clad in a white Chanel suit.
But one of the most touching moments of the day came from Amanda Gorman. At 22, Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet, joining the ranks of Robert Frost and Maya Angelou. Adorned with a ruby satin headband, in a canary yellow coat, her resounding words from “The Hill We Climb,” echoed truth: “When day comes, we step out of the shade aflame and unafraid. The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
A monumental day made that much more special with monumental fashions.
Lead image courtesy of Shutterstock, Tyler Ellis and Chanel