The 2024 election season is coming to a head with a little over a week until Election Day. Both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have used fashion to play a memorable role in their campaigns this election season.
Harris has embraced both professional and casual looks to relate to a wide range of audiences. For rallies and debates, she has been rocking tailored pantsuits, often pairing them with pearls and heels. She aims to not draw attention to her style with her outfits, and the choice to dress in a pantsuit puts her on the same professional-looking level as the men she is competing against, who often wear a suit as a regular uniform.
Harris’ outfits are frequently neutral tones, such as browns and beiges, with a few blue and purple suits popping up along the way. She has intentionally not been taking many fashion risks and has managed to stay out of much criticism for her tailored looks due to its simple appearance. However, she has been wearing more casual, noteworthy looks during informal events.
Harris often wears approachable outfits during informal events, putting her on the same level as voters. She wore a zip-up imitation sweatsuit when she went on the hit podcast, “Call Her Daddy.” Her presence on the podcast sparked enough debate from the public and the rhetoric did not include her outfit. The use of a more relaxed look for a sit-down interview made the conversation feel authentic and natural for viewers.
Despite remaining relatively simple with her outfits, Harris’ Converse shoes define her style. Her casual shoe choice is seen at state rallies and is beloved by many people. It is a simple change from her usual pantsuit-heels combo, but the Converse are a memorable addition to her outfits. Her fashion choices of mixing more casual looks with elegant suits appeal to younger voters.
Contrasting the diverse range in style of Harris, Trump often sticks to the script when it comes to fashion. He frequents a navy suit with shoulder pads and a red tie, which has become his signature look over the years. The go-to outfit is sleek and simple but makes the presidential candidate appear strong and prepared. His style is straightforward and familiar, bringing him a sense of consistency with voters. By keeping a simple color palette of red and blue, he also draws relation to patriotic ideals.
The inclusion of red in his looks nods to the Republican party's colors. The color evokes a sense of pride from supporters and resonates with traditional audiences. Trump’s color choice creates a strong connection with Republicans and displays a unified front.
The color red is also frequently associated with the American flag and symbolizes sacrifice and courage, two themes Trump has preached during his campaign. The bold color scheme also resembles Trump’s blunt leadership style and his supporter’s strong following. His signature look during election season is in line with his straightforward policies and highlights the importance of his party’s support.
Both candidates have also played with fashion in terms of campaign merchandise. Harris teamed up with high-end fashion designers to create her merch line “Designers for Democracy.” The line features well-crafted pieces from designers such as Vera Wang and Sergio Hudson, which some viewers see as representing her aim for inclusion. The designs are colorful, creative and convey a sense of belonging amongst her supporters.
Trump has also used his campaign merch to unite voters. His famous slogan, “Make America Great Again,” is quintessential in declaring loyalty among his supporters. The slogan is featured on hats, sweatshirts, shirts and flags and makes a strong statement. Donning the slogan shows a clear-cut loyalty to Trump, and the message is reflective of his direct, cut-and-dry approach to the campaign.
However, the message is also polarizing. Many have criticized the MAGA merchandise and the overall need for Trump’s signature slogan. Most recently, Sen. Mitch McConnell shared his disapproval of the slogan in an upcoming biography, saying it is completely wrong. The need to “Make America Great Again” while uniting his party, pushes opponents further away from supporting Trump.
Both candidates utilize fashion to highlight their personalities. Each candidate's fashion choices highlight their distinct approaches to the campaign and their differing visions for America.
