The Message Behind Kamala Harris' Purple Coat Worn On Inauguration Day
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Kamala Harris is slated to be sworn in as the first female, Black, and Asian American Vice President of the United States. For the history-making occasion, Harris chose to honor two Black designers, wearing clothes by Christopher John Rogers and heels by Sergio Hudson on Inauguration Day, a Harris aide told press. Rogers is a Black designer from Baton Rouge who lives in New York City; Hudson is a Black designer from South Carolina.
During a church service this morning, Harris debuted the purple coat she is wearing for the day's events:
As the first female Vice President, the heightened scrutiny revolving around Harris' style will be unparalleled. We don't recall what either Bush wore or can name any of Barack Obama's suits. Her choice to support two young Black American designers is significant, ushering in a wave of independent fashion designers into the White House, something lacking during the previous term. Even the color purple is important. To give you a brief lesson in color theory, it's red and blue combined, symbolizing the unity of our two parties.
The assumption that fashion is frivolous is not only outdated, misguided, and misogynistic, but entirely untrue. The power heralded by politicians with their outfits has been seen countless times in history. Between congresswomen wearing suffragette white in for 2019's State of the Union to the influential style of former first ladies, what women wear is armor. Fashion can be a vehicle, promoting hope, grace, and support for the nation. By contrast, Melania Trump used style to promote apathy.
Harris appeared yesterday evening with President Joe Biden at the memorial service for the more than 402,000 Americans who have lost their lives to COVID-19. Harris wore a camel coat by the New York fashion label Pyer Moss for the occasion. Again, a meaningful decision. Designer Kerby Myer-Ross was one of the first fashion designers to respond with COVID-19 relief during the early stages of the pandemic, converting his New York City office into a donation center and providing aid for struggling minority and female-owned independent businesses.
In her remarks there, Harris said this is a time for healing, per People. "We gather tonight, a nation in mourning, to pay tribute to the lives we have lost: a grandmother or grandfather who was our whole world; a parent, partner, sibling or friend who we still cannot accept, is no longer here. And for many months, we have grieved by ourselves. Tonight, we grieve — and begin healing—together."
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