The Bold Messaging Behind Kamala Harris' Most-Talked About Outfits Revealed

No matter who you'll be voting for in November 2024, it's hard to ignore Vice President Kamala Harris and her power suits. Since announcing her campaign for president on July 21, the California-born politician has been seen wearing several versions of the iconic outfit in shades that range from powder blue to tan and jet black. Though she's long kept up a professional appearance, it would make sense that she is stepping her game up in 2024. "Harris is in a unique position to make history on multiple fronts, the least of which is to become the most powerful elected woman in the geopolitical field," San Francisco-based press strategist Florie Hutchinson told El Pais. "Her campaign wardrobe choices stand out for their precise cut, functionality and, aesthetically, for evoking that elusive gravitas."

The outfits are no doubt significant; many are custom made pieces from exclusive designers that would have any fashion expert fawning. But, as we saw with the stunning 2024 DNC outfits, sometimes a dress isn't just a dress — it's a political statement. Although Harris is far from the first woman politician to wear a pantsuit — former 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton practically became synonymous with the look– she seems very aware of the messages she can send through her sartorial choices. We know, for instance, that she often wears pearls to shoutout her college sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA). So the next time you see Harris at an event, pay attention to what she's wearing, because there's always a little something between the lines — or in this case, the threads. 

Kamala Harris is no fool when it comes to color choices. She knows what colors you wear matter, and never fails to dress for the moment and the audience. When Harris and Tim Walz stopped in Nevada for a rally, Harris wore a lavender suit. Although she has worn shades of purple before, such as at Joe Biden's 2021 Inauguration, what's important here is the fact that purple is typically seen as the color of bipartisanship (red and blue make purple, after all) and Nevada is a swing state. In fact, if you pay attention to her clothing choices during rallies in other swings states, like Pennsylvania, you'll find the politician wears shades of purple fairly often. In choosing this color, Harris is saying that she wants to bridge the gap between the two parties and, as she declared at the first 2024 presidential debate, "be a president for all Americans."

But that's not all. Purple is also the color most associated with International Women's Day, which adds another layer of meaning to Harris' color preference. Along with potentially standing to become the first female president, the politician has long championed reproductive freedom for all, a key women's rights issue. 

On August 16, 2024, Kamala Harris' campaign trail led her to Raleigh, North Carolina. Although she had rocked the color blue several times in pretty much all its shades because of its association with the Democratic party, it was the brightness of this blue that stood out. Did Harris decide on this intense cerulean because it was her first big speech in which she discussed her plans? Very likely. Did she look amazing in it? Obviously. Granted, North Carolina is a swing state, but it has voted for both Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama. So, in wearing blue, Harris is making a statement that suggests N.C. can swing Democrat again. One could also argue the lightness of the hue represents a sense of calm and optimism. It's a shade that makes people feel comfortable and assured; exactly the energy you need to convey when trying to win over voters.

Once upon a time, if a president or presidential candidate dared to wear anything aside from the usual navy or black, they were dragged through the press for days. If that sounds absurd, it's because it is, but that's exactly what happened when President Barack Obama wore a tan suit in 2014 during a press conference discussing ISIS in Syria. Many republican offiicals were not okay with this choice, with one representative at the time telling CNN, "[Obama] looked like he was on his way to a party at the Hamptons."

Fast forward 10 years later, and Vice President Kamala Harris shows up to the first day of the Democratic National Convention wearing a custom-made Chloe tan suit. Though Harris' team did not speak about any connection, some noted how close the date was to the 10-year anniversary of suitgate and wondered if the outfit choice was on purpose. As comedian John Fugelsang posted on X, "I knew Kamala Harris was going to make a surprise appearance — I never would've guessed she'd trigger all the right people by wearing a tan suit."

It wouldn't be that unusual for Harris to echo Obama in her sartorial choices. Obama made history is the first Black president in 2008, while Harris stands to become the first female, as well as the Black and Indian president. In some ways, one could say that her wearing the torch signified a passing of the torch from one historic candidate to the next. Either way, president Obama loved it, posting on X, "How it started. How it's going. Ten years later, and it's still a good look," with side-by-side photos of he and Harris in their tan suits.

It makes sense that Kamala Harris would choose to wear a strong shade of blue from head-to-toe for the Democratic National Convention. No only is it the color that represents the party, it also speaks volumes to the type of strength and energy she plans to bring to the White House should she win. The monochromatic ensemble, which was custom made by French designer Chloe signaled that she was prepared to stand on business. As author Richard Ford Thompson told WWD, "She was going to wear a dark navy blue suit like men would wear and wasn't afraid of leaning into that." 

As for the pussy-bow blouse? It's safe to assume that the choice may be directly related to Trump's infamous "grab 'em by the pussy" comment he made on "Access Hollywood" back in 2005. Since then, women have been reclaiming the term as an uptick of pussy-bow blouses have been worn by Democrat leaders. Meanwhile, pink pussy hats have become a sign of protest against Trump and his administration.

Make no mistake, what Kamala Harris wore the night she first debated Donald Trump was all strategy. For the historic event, she wore a black power suit with a pussy-bow blouse underneath. "Kamala's choice of a classic black suit for last night's debate felt significant," fashion editor Clementina Jackson tells Elle UK. "Not only did it provide a visual contrast to Trump's typically bright, garish look, but it also sent the message that she was there to get down to business, with all the focus to be on her words rather than her clothes — just as it should be." The choice to wear such a dark, and conventionally austere color marks a departure from what we expect of women in the political spotlight. Hillary Clinton wore shades like bright white and red to her debates against Trump in 2016. That willingness to go against the grain and try something new suggests that Harris is trying to tell the public we're in a new era now — and to use her words, "We're not going back."