Throughout U.S. inaugurations – certainly since John F. Kennedy became our 35th President in 1961 with stylish Jackie by his side – there’s been a focus on the First Lady’s fashion choice for the occasion. What Nancy Reagan, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama wore, for example, made the headlines. But in this historic moment, it is worth noting how equal emphasis was paid – rightly so – to President Joe Biden’s sartorial moment in Ralph Lauren and the nation’s first woman Vice President Kamala Harris in full Christopher John Rogers.
In making those choices, they tell a story about American fashion. Lauren is the most established designer in the U.S., a child of immigrants who started a global fashion empire with a tie and a dream. Rogers hails from Baton Rouge and is one of the most buzzed-about names in our industry. He was named American Emerging Designer of the Year at the 2020 CFDA Fashion Awards, and won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund the year prior. At a moment when the industry collectively focuses Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Rogers, a Black creative, provides a look to our future.
It wasn’t just the President and Vice President waving the flag for American fashion. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden wore Markarian, a young, female-owned label designed by Alexandra O’Neill with a focus on special occasions, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff also wore Ralph Lauren. Michelle Obama wore Sergio Hudson, another exciting Black talent to watch, and Lady Gaga wore Schiaparelli, which is designed by Texas native Daniel Roseberry.
Sartorially speaking, this American fashion moment started even before today’s festivity are shaping up to have many American fashion moments. On Tuesday evening, Vice President Harris wore Pyer Moss by Kerby Jean-Raymond while the First Lady was in a look designed CVFF alum Jonathan Cohen.
Especially at this time when the industry has been hit so hard by the economic fallout from COVID-19, the support for American fashion is very important, if not critical and highly appreciated.
We can’t wait to see more!
