VP Kamala Harris’ Inauguration Fashion Honored Black American Designers

Kamala Harris made history today as the country’s first woman and the first person of Black and Asian descent to be sworn in as the new vice president. Many spectators and critics have already taken note of her choice of fashion, which paid nods to American designers and special odes to her culture.

Harris first made news for her wardrobe choices, wearing Pyer Moss, a Black-owned fashion label created by Kerby Jean-Raymond, to the COVID-19 memorial. During the inauguration ceremony, Harris wore purple alongside the previous first ladies, including Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, and Hilary Clinton in honor of the women’s suffrage movement.

The newly-elected vice president was also wearing her signature pearls, resonating with her sorority roots to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc and to Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman in Congress. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) wore pearls owned by Chisholm that were given to her as a gift from Chisholm’s goddaughter.

“I am wearing Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s pearls … I am feeling Shirley Chisholm’s happiness and spirit. This is long overdue, but about 50 years after she was elected and ran for the presidency this time has finally come,” said Lee in an interview with Joy Reid on MSNBC.

“I am wearing Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s pearls … I am feeling Shirley Chisholm’s happiness and spirit. This is long overdue, but about 50 years after she was elected and ran for the presidency this time has finally come.”@RepBarbaraLee to @JoyAnnReid. pic.twitter.com/Cs87lZysE2

— The ReidOut (@thereidout) January 20, 2021

Harris’ purple ensemble was designed by Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson, both Black designers hailing from the South. According to the Star Telegraph, aides from the Harris camp in attendance wore both designers to the ceremony as well.