Kamala Harris made history this week as the United States’ first female, black and Asian-American vice president. The 56-year-old took up her new role in a daring purple outfit by Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson, two young black designers. “It is an honor that we played a role in this historic moment”, could one read on Instagram afterwards.
The color purple was a conscious choice and has a deeper meaning than you initially expected. In politics, purple means “unity” and “the coming together of two parties”, in this case the blue of the Democrats and the red of the Republicans. In addition, the lampshade fits perfectly with the renewed slogan of the American cabinet: ‘United america“.
The politician completed her outfit with pearls from Puerto Rican-American designer Wilfredo Rosado, which pays homage to his sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. The pearls are the symbol of the student association and the founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha are also called the “twenty pearls”. Each new member therefore receives a badge with 20 pearls.
With her carefully chosen outfit, Harris also commemorated Shirley Chisholm, the first MP of African American descent and the first woman to run for president. She also liked to be seen in purple during her campaign in 1972.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton also went for a purple look. Michelle, for example, shone in the pantsuit and jacket of African-American designer Sergio Hudson. Hilary wore a powerful suit from the American fashion house Ralph Lauren.
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