Madam Vice President; Fashions New Icon
Does it really matter what Kamala Harris wears?
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First things first I'm going to start off by saying I love fashion. I have always loved fashion, and with a career that now spans a decade in the industry, my penchant for clothing and style is no less now than when I started all those years ago. Fashion has a long and rich history of telling stories, weaving rich narratives via design and clothing - it’s something I love about it which often gets overlooked. You can make a statement with your clothes without having to say a damn thing. The politically savvy understand this, people outside of the fashion industry understand this. For women there are always certain expectations tied into what we wear, as much as I’d like to change this it’s a sad fact we’re just going to have to live with for the foreseeable future. And for the new Vice President of the United States, her attire is becoming an increasing source of interest, her sartorial decisions filled with political sentiments beyond what many may realise. But should we really be commenting on what Kamala Harris wears at all?Â
With all that’s going on in the world right now, is it really productive for us to be commenting on the appearance of the most influential women in America, and in America’s history? Over the years Kamala Harris has achieved power, and the subsequent fame that comes with, through her devotion and work in the public service sector. Unlike the reality show celebs and social media stars of today that dominate the cultural sphere, Kamala Harris is well positioned to be a fashion and cultural icon of a new age. This is a reckoning of sorts, one where the change makers and trailblazers of today are paving the way for generations to come. Harris is breaking down barriers for other women, in particular women of colour, to rise to positions of importance. So is it right for the Vice President's clothes to even be up for discussion?
Whether or not we should be discussing Kamala Harris’s fashion choices may be a question deemed mute, because that’s exactly what we are doing. We can’t help ourselves. Commenting on a woman's appearance is in our blood, woven into the very fabric of society. Harris’s quiet and unremarkable clothing may have once gone unnoticed, but during inauguration week, when the entire world was watching, her fashion was rich with meaning. By wearing designers of colour such as Pyer Moss’s Kerby Jean-Raymond, Christopher John Rogers, Prabal Gurung, and Sergio Hudson, this careful use of clothing projected her political values onto one of the biggest stages possible. It realigned the new administration's commitment to diversity, representation, and inclusion, and the selection of American designers signalled a return to tradition - something that was largely missing in the Trump era.
I’m sure the Vice President knows she won’t be exempt from wardrobe scrutiny during her time in office, but one thing we should not be doing is reducing her to the triviality of her appearance. Kamala Harris is now one of a kind, a phenomena we’ve not come across before. She’s a person of many firsts; first woman, first woman of colour, first woman of South Asian heritage, and the first daughter of immigrants to hold the position of Vice President. It’s no wonder we’re curious about her, wanting to emulate and replicate her style, anything to align ourselves with this new powerhouse of a matriarch.
Michelle Obama’s love of cardigans and mix of expensive vs affordable clothing influenced a generation of women, and if my guesses are correct Kamala Harris’s wardrobe will do exactly the same thing. We should be cautious about treating Harris and her fashion choices as we would with a First Lady, not wanting to muddle the lines between the supporting role a First Lady usually plays and the magnitude of her position as one of the most influential co-leaders of the free world. Supporters of the Vice President don’t want anything to belittle her prominence or move the focus away from the tough work that lies ahead. Her subtle and practical attire is intended to blend into the background as she continues to do her job; only on big occasions will her outfits amplify the messages she wants to deliver. Before we start turning the new VP into a fashion icon, we should let her be a groundbreaker first.
Kamala Harris has had an extraordinary career. First as a district attorney, then as attorney general of California, then as a California senator, and now as Vice President of the United States, is there anything this woman can’t do? After four years of feeling contempt for those that resided in the White House, the changing of the guard signals a new energy, a new time, a path forward. Maybe all of the hullabaloo over the VP’s regalia is a way for people to lean in to a little optimism in these trying times. Maybe taking heartfelt delight in some beautiful symbolic clothing is exactly what we need.
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Twitter to see more of what I’m up to, and I’ll see you same time same place next week!Â
Catch you soon,
J’Nae
WHAT I’VE BEEN READING:
- Women Don’t Owe You Pretty by Florence Given is on my work book club list, so that’s one of the first books I’m picking up in 2021. So far I’m not impressed, it seems incredibly repetitive and doesn’t delve deep enough into the issues it’s trying to examine. I know there’s a ton of controversy surrounding this book, but I’ll wait until I’m finished reading it to see why it’s causing so much drama.
WHAT I’VE BEEN WATCHING:
- If you liked Making a Murderer on Netflix, then their new true crime series Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer may be just for you. I made the mistake of binge watching it all in one go just before bed, safe to say I didn’t sleep easy that night.Â
WHAT I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO:
- I know I’ve mentioned this podcast before, but this episode in particular of In Good Company features Reni Eddo-Lodge, the author of Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race, its a firm favourite and really stood out to me.Â
WHAT’S CAUGHT MY EYE:
- @gramparents - cute and stylish grandparents from across the globe, need I say more?
ON MY BLOG:
- Last week on my blog I published this post about my favourite winter boots I’m loving this season, check it out if you like to stomp year-round like I do.
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