In New York, election mania has reached fever pitch. Case in point: at fashion week, the talk of the town wasn't just the clothes on the runway, but all things surrounding the presidential race — and even the designers were weighing in.
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The day prior to the much-anticipated presidential debate that saw vice president Kamala Harris face off with opponent Donald Trump for the first time (and potentially the last before the polls open on November 5), the press asked designer Michael Kors what he made of the Harris’ campaign wardrobe.
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‘Is the election the new red carpet? It’s very difficult for women in political office to find a balance, especially if you love fashion,’ he told ELLE UK at a preview of his SS25 collection. ‘If you love it too much they will say something and if you don’t love it enough they will say something. When I think of male politicians, you notice the person, not what they’re wearing.’
Ever since Harris took over the Democratic nomination in July, her fashion choices have become the subject of global scrutiny, with everyone from political pundits to social media commentators weighing in what her wardrobe might be signalling to the wider world. Kors said that Harris — who often falls back on her go-to uniform of sleek, tailored trouser suits from luxury brands including Chloé, Celine, Altuzarra, Carolina Herrera and Michael Kors — has mastered the minefield that is 'getting dressed' as a woman in politics.
‘I don’t think Kamala Harris needs to steer the wheel, she knows herself and knows what works for her,’ he said. ‘My experience with women in the public eye is that they know themselves and they know their brand.’
Kors added that it was a ‘great honour’ to dress Harris, noting that she had been a customer of his for many years.
At New York Fashion Week, politics was a hot-button issue. Jill Biden, who sat front row at Ralph Lauren’s glamorous Hamptons extravaganza, took part in CFDA-organised non-partisan march, aimed at encouraging people to vote next month, while Prabal Gurung wore a Vote Harris/Waltz T-shirt to take his obligatory post-show bow. At Willy Chavarria’s 'América' show, attendees were met with copies of of the United States Constitution on their seats.
'América is the pronunciation for America through the voices of immigrants,' Chavarria told press backstage. 'I just thought that was a beautiful way to tell the story of the people in this country who work to feed us and really remind us that we all have a right to be here and we can make change by voting.'
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