Vice President-Elect in Suit & Blouse as Transition Begins, + A Look at Her Foundrae Jewelry Medallions

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris wore a dark suit and rust-colored blouse for the first full day of work on the transition to a new administration.

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Today’s focus was on the announcement of a COVID-19 Transition Advisory Board. The President-elect and Vice President-elect took part in a virtual meeting with the newly announced board this morning.

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This was followed by Mr. Biden delivering brief remarks about the advisory board and the challenges ahead.

Ms. Harris has several black pantsuits as well as separates. This may be the same ensemble worn for Day Two of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

The jacket worn today features a slightly fitted silhouette with a single-button closure, two besom pockets and one welt pocket on the chest. The details on the blazer worn for the October hearing has the same details. There is nothing I am able to share about the trousers. The Vice President-elect’s blouse is a favorite style for her, with a concealed front placket and “lavallière bow” (a term I learned on Twitter this morning).

It’s possible Ms. Harris was wearing Manolo Blahnik’s “BB” pumps ($665) in black leather with what looks like the 90mm heel (roughly 3.5″), but this is just a guess from what I can glean via the photos released thus far.

The BB is a signature style for the brand, available in many colors and heel heights. A classic point-toe pump with stiletto heel, it is named after actress Brigette Bardot.

If I learn anything more about the ensemble I will update the post.

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One other note today, an ID on a necklace worn by Ms. Harris. When campaigning in Phoenix in late October, she wore a necklace with two charms suspended from it.

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Both are by Foundrae, a New York-based jewelry firm. More about the brand from British Vogue:

With every news report raising anxiety levels at the moment, jewellery’s role as protective talisman feels more precious than ever. For those in search of something to provide a welcome dose of inner peace. there are many options out there – yet few are more instantly recognisable than those created by the New York-based brand Foundrae.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron and Michelle Obama are among the stars who have all fallen for co-founder Beth Bugdaycay’s lexicon of symbols and initials that can be layered together to tell the wearer’s own personal story.

Below, designs from the brand.

More styles by Foundrae.

Now for a look at the designs worn by Vice President-elect Harris. One appears to be the ‘Strength’ medallion ($1650) in the ‘baby size,’ which is 15mm or just a bit more than .5″ in diameter.

The product description reads: “Strength is within. We all have it, but sometimes it wanes, and sometimes we really need to call on it. The Strength collection reminds us that it is there. The lion symbolizes strength, dignity, passion & self-confidence.”

The other medallion is the Freedom of Expression design ($3995), created in collaboration with author and activist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The piece is 18kt gold with garnets, citrine, and diamonds. The description reads, “The medallion bears a collection of symbols which together represent our collective human freedoms and serves as a reminder that we must continue to work to protect them.”

100% of proceeds from sales go to PEN America, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting free expression with more than 7200 members in the US. Most are from the literary field, including writers, publishers, translators and agents. More about the collaboration between Foundrae, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and PEN from this April 2019 Vanity Fair story:

This month, she has again merged personal aesthetics with political values in a collaboration with the fine jewelry brand Foundrae: all of the retail proceeds from her “Freedom of Expression” medallion, which employs Foundrae’s signature lexicon of dainty symbols, will benefit PEN America, a nonprofit that promotes the intersection of literature and human rights.

“I used to joke, many years ago, thank God for PEN because if the Nigerian government ever throws me in prison at least somebody will care,” says Adichie. Today, she’s savoring Edith Wharton novels and spending time with her daughter to combat the constant barrage of outraging news. As she says, “our time here is short and we need to make the most of it.”

It looks like the Vice President-elect wears the medallions on one of Foundrae’s ‘mixed belcher chains.’ Keziah Weir’s full Vanity Fair interview with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is here. You can read what Foundrae posted about the collaboration on its Instagram page.