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Harris Takes the Stage at the Inauguration
Image Credit: Andrew Harnik / Associated Press Kamala Harris is sworn in as vice president by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as her husband Doug Emhoff holds the Bible, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021.
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Vice President Harris
Image Credit: Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press Harris’ matching purple coat and dress by emerging black designer Christopher John Rogers was widely speculated to be a nod to Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress and the first to run for president.
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Harris on the Campaign Trail
Image Credit: Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press Then Senator Harris spoke during a fund-raising fish fry for U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer in November 2019, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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Harris’ Personalized Converse All-Star High Tops
Image Credit: Wilfredo Lee Harris has become known for her affinity for jeans and sneakers, especially Converse Chuck Taylor lace-ups. She was seen wearing them at a drive-in early voting event in late October.
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Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 Campaign
Image Credit: Michel Maurou / WWD Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and guests attend a party for her 1972 presidential campaign at a New York art gallery.
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Shirley Chisholm in Her Congressional Office
Image Credit: Michel Maurou / WWD Newly elected and first Black Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm at her Washington D.C. offices.
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Portrait of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm
Image Credit: Michel Maurou / WWD Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm at her Washington D.C. offices.
Chisholm was often photographed wearing Chanel-style skirt suits, FIT professor Mark-Evan Blackman said.
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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Image Credit: Kevin Frayer / Associated Press Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pictured with Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat in October 2006.
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Carol Mosely Braun and Hillary Clinton
Image Credit: Michael S. Green / Associated Press Former first lady Hillary Clinton and Sen. Carol Mosely-Braun at a Women’s Issues rally in October 1998.
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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Image Credit: Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in a purple pantsuit by Ralph Lauren. Clinton is credited as a pioneer among female politicians in her penchant for pants-wearing.
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Vice President-Elect Harris on Victory Night
Image Credit: Andrew Harnik / Associated Press Vice President-elect Harris takes the stage in a pearl white Carolina Herrera pantsuit and pussy-bow blouse on the eve of the Democratic presidential victory, Nov. 7.
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Congresswomen in Suffragist White
Image Credit: Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Yvette Clarke, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Angie Craig wearing white to honor the suffragist movement in the House Chamber before President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in February 2019.
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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
Image Credit: Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Democratic members of Congress in wearing white to the State of the Union address. “From a fashion point of view, there are some very recent role models that Harris has been able to watch navigate the space successfully,” and Pelosi is one such figure, Blackman said.
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Bill Blass Spring 1986 Fashion Show
Image Credit: Thomas Iannaccone / WWD Model Gloria Burgess poses in a houndstooth skirt suit with pearls and gloves from Bill Blass’ spring 1986 collection.
Harris graduated from Howard University the same year.
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Model Iman Poses in Bill Blass
Image Credit: Thomas Iannaccone / WWD Model Iman walks in the Bill Blass spring show, 1986.
Harris would have spent her formative years wearing the pared-down business casual looks that happened to be en vogue, Blazio-Licorish said.
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Model Iman in Ralph Lauren’s Fall 1984 Runway Show
Image Credit: Thomas Iannaccone / WWD Model Iman walks the runway in a skirt suit from Ralph Lauren’s fall 1984 collection.
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Michelle Obama
Image Credit: Paul R. Giunta / Invision / Associated Press Former first lady Michelle Obama, in a purple suit, spoke with Gayle King about her memoir, “Becoming,” in May 2019.
Obama came to be beloved for “her platforms and her intellect” as much as her authentic, statement-making style, Blackman said.
