On Kamala and the Power of Political Style
These are not the pantsuits of 2016.....
Not to reduce the female presidential candidate to aesthetics, but if you’re anything like me you have been absolutely LIVING for Kamala’s style choices on the campaign trail. For what it’s worth, I love men’s style but in case you haven’t noticed- the men who run for office don’t give us much in the way of personal style. And heteronormative American men still have a long way to go aesthetically, much less in the political realm where no one is allowed to move the needle even an inch. (Remember the tan suit scandal? It’s very drab on the men’s side of town.)
That said, women as a whole have a lot more grace for personal expression via clothes and we are much more willing to still consider the depth of someone’s character beyond the way they look. And Kamala (or VP Harris if you prefer- personally I love the one name moniker, a la Beyonce or Prince) has not disappointed me visually. It can be hard to convey power and personability all in one outfit, not to mention having to signal those things to a country that has so many people who all want something different. Currently, I think Kamala’s team is on a roll and they’ve done a fantastic job. Suiting is a must in my opinion but there is a decidedly different vibe to the pantsuits on the 2024 campaign trail than there was for Hillary’s run.
In fact, I vividly remember Hillary’s suits being the butt of many jokes and coming off as a woman trying to act tough. Those comments are noticeably absent this time around, as Kamala’s suiting choices read as more effortless than they did on Hillary. To be clear, I had no problem with the suits but I know it was a source of contention for a lot of people. Perhaps it was due to years of seeing Hillary as the First Lady in more traditionally femme clothes (even though she did wear a pantsuit for her First Lady portrait) but folks just had a harder time accepting this sartorial choice. On Kamala however, suiting just feels so right.
What stood out to me between the two women immediately is the cut of their suits. The cut of Kamala’s suiting is totally different. Hillary’s suits had a boxier silhouette that may have read as ‘try-hard’. Kamala’s suits for the most part have more of a looser fit that lends itself to looking more natural. She’s not trying to be large and in charge, she simply just is. The flow of her pantsuits allow her gait to be more relaxed and take bigger strides, which reads again as someone who is more confident and competent. Even her choice to wear contemporary designers’ suiting conveys someone who keeps up with the times, which is actually quite an important distinction for a country that is increasingly aware of the gerontocracy that governs us. Her signature pearls dating back to her time as attorney general are a subtle nod to dependability and someone who is anchored, reliable. Kamala and her team have to constantly walk a tightrope of conveying personality while also being mutable enough that millions of voters can somehow see themselves reflected back. It can’t be easy but I think we are watching a masterclass in real time.
TL:DR: Kamala’s suiting on the campaign trail is very smart and deliberate, the result of a team who pays close attention to the subtle cues of style
-xoxo Jenn
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