The Democratic National Convention showcased a number of influential figures, including former First Lady Michelle Obama, former President Barack Obama, and Vice President Kamala Harris. While Harris has been known for her simple and sophisticated style, she has been opting for a more understated approach to her fashion choices, favoring a uniform silhouette of sharp shoulders, nipped waists, single-breasted jackets, and flared pants from labels like Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana, and Prabal Gurung. This shift in approach seems to focus more on looking good rather than making a fashion statement, as seen in her previous choices of Black designers Christopher John Rogers, Pyer Moss, and Sergio Hudson during the 2021 inauguration.
The focus on a female president’s fashion and style choices is often rooted in outdated patriarchal values and misogyny. However, the role of the First Lady has historically been a platform for promoting American designers, as seen with Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden. Harris’s husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, may not continue this tradition, leaving an opening for Second Lady hopeful Gwen Walz and potential First Daughter Ella Emhoff to step into the spotlight. Gwen Walz, the wife of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Harris’s running mate, has recently showcased a more polished image during the DNC, wearing designs from Carolina Herrera, Cristina Ottaviano, and Badgley Mishka.
Ella Emhoff, known for her unique and eclectic style, has become a fashion darling and front-row fixture at fashion events. She gained attention for her fashion choices at the 2021 inauguration, wearing designs from Miu Miu, Thom Browne, and Batsheva, and has modeled for American labels like Proenza Schouler and Collina Strada. Emhoff’s flair for fashion was evident at the DNC, where she sported a camo hat with a look from Peter Do’s pre-fall 2024 collection for Helmut Lang on the first night, and chose a design by Thom Browne for her father’s speech on the second night, along with her mother, Kerstin Emhoff.
The presence of Gwen Walz and Ella Emhoff at the DNC highlights a new generation of women who are redefining the role of women in politics and fashion. While Harris maintains her sophisticated and understated style, Walz and Emhoff are making waves with their polished and fashion-forward choices. As the daughter of the Second Gentleman and a fashion icon in her own right, Emhoff is expected to continue pushing boundaries and championing emerging designers, while Walz is establishing herself as a fashion force to be reckoned with in her own right. Together, these women are reshaping the narrative around female politicians and their fashion choices.
