Kaitlyn Hart
Life Editor
The historic inauguration on Jan. 20 brought us many things. The day brought us back a semblance of unity in our first female, African-American, and Asian vice president, an inkling of hope in the new administration, and the vision of an honorable presidential leader in President Joseph Biden. But it also brought us some reminders that in politics, it’s important to keep your head held high—and to look good doing it.
The previous administration was known in the world of fashion for displaying their wealth on their clothes. Although former President Donald Trump stated that the family would be promoting American-made items and clothing, the former first couple wore a striking amount of European wardrobe pieces.
Former First Lady Melania Trump famously wore a Dolce & Gabbana lace mantilla (a veil) to meet the Pope on her first international tour. She also wore a “fluorescent lime Valentino dress to watch her husband accept his party’s presidential nomination for the second time,” according to the New York Times.
At the Biden inauguration, the fashion choices were distinctly more sentimental toward their love of country, and each choice seemed to be shaped with American unity.
Biden wore a suit made by Ralph Lauren, an American fashion company. Ralph Lauren himself, is known as one of the biggest American fashion designers, famously donating more than $13 million in an effort to repair the Star-Spangled Banner in 2014, according to USA Today.
Vice President Kamala Harris donned a “black sequin cocktail dress with a floor-length tuxedo overcoat of cashmere wool lined with silk satin by Black designer Sergio Hudson” according to Town and Country. Sergio Hudson, a luxury women’s ready-to-wear label, is designed and produced entirely in Los Angeles and New York.
Perhaps my favorite outfit of the event, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden wore a handmade dress created by her favorite American designer, Gabriela Hearst. In addition to creating pieces that are “ingrained with a mission of sustainability and professional empowerment,” Hearst also runs and operates her family’s ranch in Uruguay.
Biden’s dress was a statement of unity and integrity, further pushing her husband’s campaign slogan, “Unite for a better America.” Biden’s dress was decorated with embroidery to reflect the federal flowers from every state and territory of the United States. With her home state of Delaware’s federal flower, a peach blossom, sewn close to her heart, she also wore an ivory double-breasted cashmere coat and leather gloves. Her accessories were designed by New York designer, Ruchi Kotahwala.
The new administration’s families did not disappoint either, furthering the commitment to ‘dress American.’
Ella Emhoff, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff’s daughter, wore a gorgeous burgundy dress designed by American designer, Batsheva Hay. Hay is known as a devout Jewish designer who has come to make a name for herself by reclaiming the idea of modesty dressing – wearing house and prairie dresses, in a way that modern women of an independent culture can appreciate. Emhoff topped her dress with a bejeweled coat designed by Miu Miu, Italian designer Prada’s younger sister brand, breaking from the strictly American trend of the day.
Meena Harris, sister to the vice president, showed up in a mesmerizing emerald green dress, designed by American designer, Ulla Johnson. Johnson, born and raised in Manhattan to archeologist parents, founded her clothing line in 1998, right after she graduated from the University of Michigan.
Last but certainly not least, Senator, and former presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders attended the inauguration wearing a winter coat designed by Burton, an American designer specializing in winter apparel. Memes galore parodied the outfit by pointing out that he was wearing the same coat that he wore in a campaign promotion video, which also went extremely viral.
Even more fascinating, not only to me but to the rest of the internet as well, were the mittens that Sanders was wearing as he shivered in the cold, notably and intelligently six-feet from anyone else in attendance.
His mittens, as he later told the press, were hand-knitted from recyclable materials by a Vermont school teacher, Jen Ellis. Completely overwhelmed by mitten orders after Sanders’ outfit choice went viral, Ellis has unfortunately announced that she is no longer taking orders.
As the French say, c’est la vie.
