Who is dressed for the American presidency? Our editors put in their votes

With the United States set to vote today to elect the President of the country, the race for the White House is in its final stages. During this time, the world has seen Kamala Harris and Donald Trump engage in a battle of policies and ideologies while also witnessing a fascinating clash between their contrasting styles. Fashion, after all, plays a crucial role in shaping how candidates are perceived—be it setting the narrative in mainstream media or affecting voter sentiment—and serves as a powerful extension of their political messaging. Today, we break down the starkly contrasting fashion sensibilities of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump and what they reveal about them.

Conveying political identities 

Now that we're nearly at the end of this election cycle, it's important to remember that the sartorial choices of the presidential candidates reveal more than their personal taste—they're a visual language aimed directly at their target demographics. For Harris, a fresh, progressive aesthetic appeals to a younger, progressive crowd while Trump's more traditional approach panders to a more conservative base. As we watch the last of their campaign rallies, it's clear that style, just like politics, is all about understanding your audience. 

Harris is mostly seen wearing well-tailored suits in muted colours—pastels and dark solids—that convey confidence and approachability, appropriately reflecting her role as the first female Vice President of the U.S.A. and pegging her as a serious contender in the race for the White House. Although she appears to refrain from wearing her South Asianness on her sleeve, her sartorial choices never shy away from diversity. In fact, Harris has often championed designs made by minority communities to represent her stance towards diversity and inclusion. For example, she once wore a camel-coloured coat by a Haitian-American designer, Kerby Jean-Raymond, known for challenging social narratives by commenting on and responding to social issues, including race, identity, and injustice. Jean-Raymond is the creative talent behind Pyer Moss, a brand that’s committed to racial equality—their Spring 2016 runway show featured a collection inspired by Black Lives Matter. So when you see Harris championing such a designer, you know it's a conscious choice to reflect what she stands for. 

Donald Trump, on the other hand, is frequently spotted in signature suits with shoulder pads that are intended to project an aura of power-dressing—of being a traditional business-savvy leader. According to Derek Guy, a menswear writer who has done a deep dive into Trump’s sartorial choices, “Padded coats look great when you're standing still, but they can look artificial when you move or sit when your shoulders are pitched forward. Trump would benefit from a softer shoulder, partly because his natural shoulders are narrow. IMO, heavy padding is best for people with very sloped shoulders, not square ones.” Notwithstanding fashion expert opinions, however, Trump's choices continue to resonate with voters who appreciate a classic, authoritative image of leadership.

Holding sway over public sentiment and media coverage

With clothing being a tool to shape and decide how a candidate is perceived, Harris and Trump have both had their choice of outfits play a telling part in their overall image that each one of them wants to convey. For example, Trump is often seen wearing long, bright ties, from red to orange. Some fashion experts say the long ties symbolise traditional masculinity and conservatism. Contrastingly, Harris incorporates elements of femininity in her look, like her pussybow blouse during the debate was speculated widely to be a statement against her opponent, who infamously used the phrase “grab them by the pussy” in 2005. As a reaction and protest during that time, women showed up in pussybow hats. 

Another one of Trump's popular choices is the MAGA hat. With its bold red colour and the slogan “Make America Great Again”, the hat has gone on to become a symbol in American politics, embodying a desire for change and a return to a better time when America was stronger and more unified.

The role of gender dynamics 

Meanwhile, Harris' sneakers and comfortable shoes have the same “let’s get to work” energy that Barrack Obama did. Balancing the shoes with her frequent appearances with pearls adds a touch of elegance to her look while challenging stereotypes about women in power.

Because along with her campaign, Harris also has to worry about striking the right balance between looking like she deserves to be the presidential candidate and embracing what she stands for. Hoping to be the very first woman to sit at the White House as president, Harris, as a female candidate, faces far more pressure to be strategic with her fashion choices and align them with her political ideologies and voter preferences while staying true to herself. While both Harris and Trump are carrying the weight of expectations on their shoulders, Harris has a tougher job dealing with the pressures of embodying both authority and femininity. On the other hand, Trump, with his straightforward approach to his attire, has it much easier. 

Beverly Hart, whose TikToks analyse Republican vs. Democrat wardrobes, points out how the Republican archetype of a perfect woman is very feminine, with high heels and pencil skirts, whereas, a Democrat archetype of the perfect woman is more about juxtaposition, “how Harris wearing the pearls and the Chuck Taylors is like she’s a mom and a CEO. She can do it all.” 

Now that we're nearly at the end of this election cycle, it's important to remember that the sartorial choices of the presidential candidates reveal more than their personal taste—they're a visual language aimed directly at their target demographics. For Harris, a fresh, progressive aesthetic appeals to a younger, progressive crowd while Trump's more traditional approach panders to a more conservative base. As we watch the last of their campaign rallies, it's clear that style, just like politics, is all about understanding your audience. Despite having her back to the wall in this context, Harris seems to shine with flying colours. Of course, this has also affected the way the media covered both their campaigns. For example, a TIME headline reads “Kamala Harris Is Dressing for the Presidency”. The editors of Bazaar India agree and add, “He is not”.

Lead image: India Today

Also read: The best-dressed politicians at the G20 summit