Ranking the Top 10 Outfits of the 2021 Inauguration
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Honorable Mention: Bernie Sanders’ mittens
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Before we begin, Senator Bernie Sanders deserves special praise. The progressive Senator was photographed in a pair of patterned mittens, a moment that took social media by storm. These were handmade by Jen Ellis, a Vermont schoolteacher who transforms wool sweaters and recycled plastic bottles into winter mittens.
10. Hillary Clinton
Kicking off our list is Hillary Clinton in her typical iconic style. The former Secretary of State wore a, “bright purple pantsuit with a matching ruffled scarf by Ralph Lauren under a maroon overcoat.” She opted for a simple black face mask with black gloves. The choice of the color purple was an intentional gesture to symbolize unity: a combination of red and blue (the two major political parties).
9. The Biden Granddaughters
The grandchildren of President Biden entered in a quartet of monochromatic fashion. (Spoiler alert: monochrome becomes a recurring theme.) Naomi wore all white, Finnegan in camel, Maisy in black, and Natalie in bubblegum pink from Lafayette 148 New York. The girls each wore face masks and gloves perfectly matching their tailored coats.
8. Nancy Pelosi
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s contribution to the monochromatic theme was a vivid turquoise coat with a matching scarf and heels. A bright white tailored skirt peeked out from underneath. Madame Speaker wore a floral facemask with different hues of blue to complete the ensemble.
7. Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris made three historical landmarks as the first female, first South Asian, and first Black vice president of the United States. She wore a purple coat and dress designed by Christopher John Rogers, who Vanity Fair calls, “the up-and-coming American fashion designer.” Harris chose the color purple to honor Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to be elected to Congress, who wore purple for her presidential campaign in 1972. Madame Vice President also chose the color to honor the American women’s suffrage movement.
6. Dr. Jill Biden
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The new First Lady employed a small NYC brand, Markarian, to create a custom look for the momentous event. Dr. Biden wore a tweed turquoise coat with darker velvet lapels and cuffs buttoned overtop of a matching dress. The outfit was, “carefully crafted by a small team in the heart of New York City’s Garment Center and hand-finished by O’Neill in her West Village studio.” A matching pair of ocean blue gloves and face mask completed the look.
5. Jennifer Lopez
J.Lo. delivered a fabulous medley of “America the Beautiful,” “This Land Is Your Land,” a reference to her 1999 song “Let’s Get Loud,” and a Spanish excerpt from the Pledge of Allegiance. The singer and actress wore a white Chanel ensemble from head-to-toe, consisting of a long tweed coat with gold buttons, a ruffled blouse, and wide-leg pants. Finishing the look was a collection of elaborate jewelry and a tightly pulled high ponytail.
4. Lady Gaga
Like any public appearance of the Chromatica star, pop legend Lady Gaga served a grand, high-fashion fit, tastefully upstaging every politician on the scene. The singer wore a custom Schiaparelli garment: a fitted navy jacket paired with a billowing red silk skirt made complete by a golden dove of peace attached over her heart. A black ribbon was woven into her blonde hair as a finishing touch.
3. Michelle Obama
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As the winner of the monochromatic styles, former First Lady Michelle Obama sported a magenta coat with a matching turtleneck sweater and voluminous pants. The top half was divided from the bottom by a discreet belt flaunting a dramatic gold hoop. The highly celebrated outfit was designed by Sergio Hudson, an emerging Black designer from South Carolina.
2. Ella Emhoff
The 21-year-old stepdaughter of Vice President Harris broke away from the monochromatic theme of the event, showing off her own unique style. The artist and fashion student wore a plaid Miu Miu wool coat with glittery embellishments dripping down her shoulders and chest. Emhoff’s curly hair was middle-parted and held back by a simple black headband.
1. Amanda Gorman
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Stealing the show was 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman. Without a doubt, Gorman’s moving piece was the peak of the day, but her bold outfit deserves just as much celebration. Dressed in head-to-toe Prada, the poet wore a bright yellow coat overtop a white button-up shirt and a black leather pencil skirt. Complementing the sunny coat, Gorman wore a fiery red face mask with sparkling embellishments. The queen of the afternoon even had her own crown: a bright red Prada headband made of satin holding up her beautiful braids. The ensemble held a few personal symbols: a pair of golden hoop earrings gifted from Oprah and a birdcage ring, paying homage to Maya Angelou’s “Why the Caged Bird Sings” inauguration poem.
Strike Out,
Writer: Ian Kennedy
Editor: Joey Flanagan
Graphics: Sophia Villiers
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