What To Wear In Election Season. Six Big Ideas.

By Erica and Karen

It has been election season for about a thousand years—but it became a new election season rather unexpectedly in the last few weeks. A blessedly short one we should consider replicating.

So let’s consider election fashion. We are all about messaging, and that’s what politics is all about too, right?

The candidates are clearly messaging through clothing. Remember the brouhaha about Harris’ “tan” suit? A comprehensive herstory of her style choices can be found here. Thank goodness she wore navy to the debate, though might have been fun if she had worn kicks, too.

Kamala Harris made an arrival to the Presidential Debate stage on Tuesday in Philadelphia in one of her go-to suiting styles, a lavallière neckline. The Vice President began by introducing herself to former President Donald Trump wearing a dark pantsuit and pointed toe pumps.

Close examination has also been given to those who identify as Republican candidates, or Republican candidate adjacent. This article gives us some background, starting with Melania’s famous jacket.

In June 2018, on her way to visit a child migrant detention facility in Texas, then-First Lady Melania Trump wore a now-infamous jacket emblazoned with the above message. As opposed to her more opulent fashion choices that were wholly composed of Chanel or Dolce & Gabbana, this $39 Zara jacket sparked a backlash over her insensitivity when visiting detained child migrants during her husband’s administration’s “zero-tolerance” family separation policy. The former First Lady’s exorbitant wardrobe reflected the Trumps’ wealth, but the jacket was clearly chosen to make a statement.

Most of us are not actually running this year. We hope that changes. If it does, make sure you cogitate over your visual style.

Meanwhile, there are lots of ways to show you love elections.

• If you are supporting a candidate, you might wear the gear of that candidate. There is a long history of wearing clothing expressing political messages. This year, we quite like ,LA shirts! And this Republican Dad one made us chuckle—Like A Democrat Dad but with a Brain and A Job.

• If you think, as we do, that the most basic obligation of any citizen is to vote, you might want to send a VOTE message. This amusing dress will leave no doubt about where you stand. So will this elegant sweatshirt.

• More broadly, if you find election season to be exciting, you might want to wear red, white and blue now and again. A flag maxi dress? Red, white and blue stars? Maybe, for dance night, a corset? Or, for gardening, some overalls?

• If an entire outfit of red, white and blue seems a bit much, consider some shoes. These hightops are fun, as are these slipons—one red and white, the other blue. These rhinestone-studded numbers, perhaps worn with a white shirt and navy pants, would make your position clear in a sparkly way.

• Don’t forget jewelry. (We never do.) There is no shortage of messaging earrings. Vote. USA. Flags. Or necklaces. Subtle. Not so subtle. Or head gear. Flashing. Traditional.

• And for those of you that are into makeup, turn to YouTube. (There is literally nothing you cannot learn on YouTube.) This tutorial for Fourth of July eyes is very fun, and there is no reason you could not wear these eyes on election day.

This election season has been fraught in many ways. But even so—we think that elections are a wonderful part of democracy, and we should celebrate them. (We quite regret that we no longer all vote in person on election day—we get that early and mail-in votes are good things, but we think there is a great deal of patriotic value generated when we all come together at the same time to engage in the primary civic act of voting.)

Whatever our feelings about the candidates and the state of the world, we love our country. We plan to wear red, white and blue a few times before—and on—election day!

What are your plans for election messaging?