The fashion statement of Kamala Harris

After days of waiting and suspense, the confirmation has arrived: Joe Biden is the new president of the United States and Kamala Harris is the new vice president. More than that, Harris is the first woman in history in this role, the first person of Asian (Indian) origins and the second non-white.

"While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last - because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities" - this is Harris' statement in her first speech.

Kamala Harris is the ambitious and determined woman that everyone as children would have wanted as a role model, but it is also her wardrobe that tells a lot about her. Starting with the announcement on social media "We did it!" with a video that portrays her in a Nike tracksuit, with the nonchalance and authenticity of someone who is caught off guard by incredible news during their daily jogging session. A few hours later, for her first official appearance as vice president, she wears a formal white suit by Carolina Herrera, a tribute to the suffragettes, also often worn by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. What may seem like a purely stylistic choice, is actually a strong statement, a declaration of hope for the future that fully reflects the words of the vice president during the speech.

Kamala Harris' style

It is not the first time that Kamala Harris' wardrobe has been mentioned. Among the many firsts of Harris there is also that of having brought sneakers to the White House and wearing them during electoral rallies. Fashion in general is never the center of attention in a diplomatic context like the White House, but at the same time the style choices are almost never random. One of the pioneers was First Lady Michelle Obama, who hired a stylist to choose outfits in line with the message she wanted to send.

Wearing sneakers in a formal context, "is part of a broader movement, that challenges a concept of obsolete femininity" according to the author of the book Sneaker X Culture, Elizabeth Semmelhack, and in the case of Kamala Harris these style choices seem to work , bringing interest around the topic. The current vice president has been spotted several times wearing a pair of Converse or Timberland boots. We do not know if these style choices are a desired cultural reference or not, but it is clear that Biden's deputy wants to get out of the box, rejuvenating the image of the woman in a political career and bringing her closer to her electorate, as she herself wishes, given the his campaign slogan "Kamala Harris for the people".

The revolution of formal wear in politics

Traditionally, in the White House and in every political context, rigid and formal looks, sometimes austere, prevails over casual choices, especially when it comes to the "minority" of women in politics. But over the years, freedom and personal aesthetic sense have begun to make their way in the world of politics: from Jacquelin Kennedy to Lady Diana, passing through Michelle Obama and arriving today at leading figures in contemporary politics such as Kamala Harris and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, there are many women who have made their style choices real stances in favor of female empowerment in politics. If Jacquelin Kennedy was the first to make a revamp of the presidential style by choosing Chanel suits for appearances at the White House, Princess Lady Diana rejected the rigid aesthetic canons of British royalty, establishing herself in history, among many other reasons as an icon of sporty style. chic. Michelle Obama, tired of the media comments on her clothing, decided in 2009 to hire a stylist who could do research and have her wear designers who were in line with the values ​​she intended to convey on a given occasion, such as when at the state dinner with former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife wore a Versace dress. And how can we forget the Balenciaga total look worn to present her best-seller Becoming?

This is also confirmed by the words of Robin Givhan, journalist of the Washington Post “Our style is a form of respect for those around us and for our personal dignity. And Michelle Obama, in her significant role as first-lady, made fashion an eloquent method of communication”. In this wake, the sneakers and Pyer Moss coat worn by Kamala Harris, the make up tutorial and the Telfar bags of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are true declarations of intent, not political, but of female empowerment.