Vice President Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff spent most of last week in Paris. Ms. Harris debuted several new looks and engaged in some sartorial diplomacy. Advance warning: this is a rather long post.
Before we get to that trip, a quick look at the Vice President on Monday, November 8. Below you see her with two members of the Milwaukee Bucks, Brook Lopez (L) and Jrue Holliday (R). The Bucks visited the White House on Monday, where they were honored as NBA champs.
Now to the Paris trip. Below, the Vice President and Second Gentleman as they arrived at Orly Airport on Tuesday, November 9.
Following their arrival, the couple visited the renowned Pasteur Institute, named after Louis Pasteur, who created vaccines for both rabies and anthrax. The Vice President has a personal tie to the Institute; her mother worked there in the 1980s.
The Vice President and Second Gentleman met several Pasteur scientists from a variety of countries (including France and the United States) who have spent time doing COVID-19 research.
Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off a four-day tour of of Paris on Tuesday with a visit to a lab in which her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, worked in the 1980s, conducting breast cancer research.
Harris also spoke about the work her mom did while working at the Institut Pasteur, which included research detecting early breast cancer. “The breakthroughs that she was responsible for in the 80s was the basis for a lot of great work,” she said.
According to a White House official, Harris also privately met on Tuesday with one of the researchers who collaborated with her mother in the 1980s.
Now for our look at what the Vice President wore. At Orly Airport, Ms. Harris was in a cream coat that we’ve not seen previously; it remains unidentified. She appeared to be wearing some of her Altuzarra separates, the black Fenice Jacket ($1495), and Serge Pant ($695).
Embed from Getty ImagesShe then changed for the visit to the Pasteur Institute. The Vice President wore the Tom Ford Prince of Wales Blazer ($3750) atop her turtleneck. The piece was first noted back in January of this year.
At the airport, Vice President Harris wore her Manolo Blahnik Dildi boot, shown below as worn on a previous occasion.
Wednesday, the 10th, Vice President Harris and the Second Gentleman visited Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial outside of Paris.
1559 Americans who died during World War I are buried at Suresnes, and 23 unknown dead from World War II.
They took part in a wreath-laying ceremony ahead of Armistice Day and Veteran’s Day on the 11th.
Next on the agenda, President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the Vice President to the historic Elysee Palace.
CNN reports President Macron said he was “extremely grateful” for her presence and that “the French people are extremely proud to have you.”
The Vice President and President Macron held a bilateral meeting.
More from this New York Times story; the first quote is from President Macron.
“We were just discussing about the fact that we do share the view that we are at the beginning of a new era, and our cooperation is absolutely critical for this one.”
In her reply, Ms. Harris agreed: “I do believe, and I think we share this belief, that we are at the beginning of a new era, which presents us with many challenges, but also many opportunities.”
Voice President Harris was in what looked like a new suit. The jacket featured a front zipper and zippers above pocket flaps on the front, while the trousers had a straight silhouette. The suit remains unidentified at this point.
When at the cemetery, the Vice President was in a hair of black suede pumps with a chunky heel. They look like the Manolo Blahnik Lisaqua Square Heel Pump with a 70mm heel. When worn previously, I originally IDed these as Prada pumps, but I no longer think that is the case. Below, the Lisaqua.
When she arrived for meetings with President Macron, she had switched to what looked like her Manolo Blahnik Lisa 90mm.
Thursday, November 11, the Vice President joined President Emmanuel Macron at the Arc de Triomphe to mark Armistice Day. More from VOA News.
The event marked the 1918 agreement between Allied powers and Germany to end their fighting in World War I, and a White House official said the ceremony was an opportunity to honor the French and American soldiers who died in the conflict.
A video as the Vice President greets the French President.
Jennifer Jacobs of Bloomberg News reported that “When Macron greeted Harris at Arc de Triomphe, he said he enjoyed their mtg yesterday. Harris: “You know we covered a lot of ground. We covered a lot. And in fact to the point they had to come 3 times.”
A wide shot of the scene Thursday morning.
President Macron and Vice President Harris then attended the Paris Peace Forum.
How the photo op looked from their perspective.
The Vice President delivered an address to the gathering of world leaders.
In her remarks, the Vice President said, “In the 21st century, our destinies are linked, as is our future.”
That evening the Vice President and Mr. Emhoff joined President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, at the inaugural dinner of the Paris Peace Forum, held at Elysee Palace.
The Vice President delivered a nod to her host country by engaging in some sartorial diplomacy, wearing an ensemble by iconic French fashion house Dior. I believe Ms. Harris wore a version of the Dior Blue Double-Sided Wool Coat ($5400) minus the Christian Dior logo on the interior. (I digitally lightened these photos just a bit.)
The piece is 99% virgin wool and 1% silk. It features large patch pockets, a self-belt, and notch lapels. It is not lined; the logo pattern you see on the inside of the garment is the other side of the blue fabric.
Ms. Harris also wore the 30 Montaigne Jacket ($4700) and what looked like a version of the Straight Cut Pants ($1650).
Both pieces are crafted of a 77% wool/23% silk blend fabric. Made in France, the single-breasted jacket “is an emblematic style from the New Look collection, first created by Christian Dior in 1947.” The fitted design features notch lapels, angled pockets at the hip, and handsewn topstitching. It is lined in 100% crêpe de chine. Below, a closer view of one of the pockets, the lapel, and cuff buttons.
Here is a look at the 1947 original.
The pants have a straight silhouette with front pleats, concealed zipper, and they are lined. I did not see any photo showing details of the trousers, but they look much like the brand’s straight-cut pants. The jacket and trousers are from Dior’s 30 Montaigne collection. The product photos have been digitally lightened in an effort to better show some of the design elements in the pieces.
Beneath the jacket, it appeared the Vice President wore the brand’s White Cotton Poplin Blouse ($1600).
She *appeared* to be wearing her Manolo Blahnik BB 90 Black Leather Pumps, but that is based on very limited photos.
Friday, November 12, Vice President Harris held a news conference.
She also attended the Paris Conference for Libya with world leaders from more than 20 countries.
A group photo.
The Vice President was in a suit we’d not seen previously.
The Merlot (I’m not sure how to describe the color: wine..burgundy..maroon?) jacket featured notch lapels, a concealed front button closure, sharply angled welt pockets, and a center-back vent. It also had a partial back belt with buttons and buttons at the side seam. The trousers had a slightly belled silhouette. Hopefully, you can see some of the details in this photo.
Embed from Getty ImagesUPDATE DECEMBER 26: The Vice President was wearing Proenza Schouler (shown below). There is more information about the designs here.
The Vice President looked like she was in her Manolo Blahnik Lisa 90 pumps.
Saturday, November 13th, the Vice President and Second Gentleman visited a memorial outside the café-bar Le Carillon, one of six sites attacked by terrorists on November 13, 2015.
130 people were killed that night and 416 injured; the deadliest attack in Paris since World War II.
Inside the cafe, thirteen candles in the colors of the French flag. Thirteen people were killed at the cafe and adjacent restaurant, Le Petit Cambodge.
The couple also visited the E. Dehillerin Cookware Shop near the Louvre museum.
Here is a video that is fun. One of the reporters asked if the second gentleman was a good cook. NPR reports that “He’s an apprentice,” Harris said, chuckling. “She taught me during COVID,” Emhoff said, “out of necessity after almost burning down our apartment, then I got a little bit better.”.
In Paris, @VP stops by a kitchen goods shop, E. Dehillerin Cookware Shop. Says she’s buying a pot. pic.twitter.com/UG4VmYg7jD
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) November 13, 2021
The Vice President and Second Gentleman also visited the US Embassy in Paris.
Then it was time to head back home. Below, the traditional group photo before departure.
And a wave goodbye from the Vice President and Second Gentleman.
Vice President Harris was in the ‘Rosetta’ Lambswool-Cashmere coat by Ralph Lauren, first noted when visiting Denver in March 2021.
The Vice President looked like she was in the suit worn for her Forbes shoot and seen again this Monday for the Infrastructure bill signing at the White House (photo below).
It’s possible Vice President Harris wore a custom version of Altuzarra’s ‘Acacia’ blazer. Her jacket has the same lines, lapels, and pockets. Her blazer has two buttons, not one, and the jacket also has an inverted back pleat.
If the jacket is by Altuzarra, her trousers are probably also by the brand, probably a version of the Serge style.
It looked like Vice President Harris wore her Lisa Black Patent 70mm on Saturday.
Throughout the week, Vice President Harris wore her Tahitian pearl necklace and stud earrings.
Leave a Reply