It has been a busy 10 days since the Vice President’s inauguration, so today, we’re looking at what Ms. Harris has worn since that historic day.
We covered the Prabal Gurung look seen Thursday, January 21 in this post, but thought you might enjoy seeing Ms. Harris in her new office, which aides describe as a work in progress.
We will begin with the ensemble worn Friday, the 22nd of January. Below you see Vice President Harris and President Biden as the two met for lunch.
A closer view of the Vice President as she speaks with small business owners that Friday.
Ms. Harris appeared to be in her Altazurra Fenice Jacket ($1495) and coordinating Serge Pant ($695).
Beneath the jacket, it looks like the Vice President was in an embellished turtleneck by Dolce and Gabbana, the brand’s Lace Paneled Wool Sweater ($1159), a blend of virgin wool and cotton with a touch of polyamide. It has ribbing at the collar and waistband and distinctive black lace inserts.
With thanks to Fashion Bomb Daily for the ID, here is a closer look at the lace.
The Vice President also wore her Manolo Blahnik Dildi 70mm ankle boots in black Nappa Leather.
She topped off the look with a double-breasted coat that is not yet identified.
Ms. Harris was in new separates for the start of a new week on Monday, January 25. Here you see her with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his wife, Charlene Austin, at his swearing-in ceremony.
Another view.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Vice President’s rust-colored suit remains unidentified. Fashion Bomb Daily believes it is by Carolina Herrera, and it has many similarities to the Carolina Herrera suit worn in November for her victory speech. The pocket positions and flap sizes are much alike, as is the seam placement and lapels. The biggest distinction is the two buttons on the new jacket’s front instead of the single button seen on the Carolina Herrera blazer.
The new suit may well be a Carolina Herrera creation. The company is one of the labels not commenting on styles worn by Ms. Harris, so it’s unlikely we’ll hear confirmation if it is their style. It could also be by another designer entirely.
Below, the Vice President on Tuesday, January 26, as she was swearing in the new Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen.
Another view of the suit and long-sleeved top worn by Ms. Harris as she received the second round of her COVID-19 vaccine at the National Institutes of Health.
It looks like Ms. Harris returned to Dolce and Gabbana, this time wearing the Micro Check Print Blazer ($1437, originally $2395) and the Straight Leg Houndstooth Trousers ($525, originally $875).
The single-breasted jacket is crafted in a blend of 95% virgin wool and 5% Spandex/Elastane described as a ‘melange micro-check’ at Farfetch. It features a fitted silhouette, three flap pockets, jetted (or welt) chest pocket, a double back vent, notch lapels, four buttons at the cuff, and a single front button.
The trousers are made of the same fabric with side pockets, jetted back pockets with button, a concealed front zipper, belt loops, and button. Ms. Harris had the buttons shown in the product photos switched to solid black buttons.
UPDATE APRIL 13 2021: Originally I said that “it looks like the Manolo Blahnik BB 70mm in black leather,” but after looking more closely at photos, I think the Vice President was wearing the Manolo Blahnik Newcio in black Kidskin ($665). The shoe is a classic point-toe style with piping at the upper and a 2.75″ heel.
The Vice President also wore her Tahitian pearl necklace and stud earrings, and signature bracelets. Below, another view of the ensemble, this one just after the Janet Yellen swearing-in ceremony. In the photo, you also see Ms. Yellen’s husband, George Akerlof, an economist and Nobel Prize winner in 2001, along with the couple’s son, Robert.
Wednesday, January 27, Ms. Harris appeared to be wearing her black Altuzarra separates. Below, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife, Evan Ryan, the White House Cabinet Secretary, as the Vice President conducted his swearing-in ceremony.
In this view, you get just a peek at the top worn beneath the blazer.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis looks like another Dolce and Gabbana design, the Chevron Round Neck Sweater ($697, originally $996).
The piece is 100% virgin wool in a black and white chevron motif; the sweater has ribbing at the collar, cuffs, and hem.
From what I could see in photos, it looks like Ms. Harris had on her Manolo Blahnik Lisa almond-toe pumps in black patent, shown below when worn on another occasion.
The abundance of Dolce and Gabbana is puzzling, primarily because of the brand’s history. There is substantial history of Dolce and Gabbana incidents involving racism. The best-known happened in 2018 — a recap of that 2018 incident via this Vanessa Friedman/Sui-Lee Wee NY Times story from November 23, 2018.
Earlier this week, the company released video clips widely seen as racist, pandering to old stereotypes (they featured a Chinese model being taught to eat spaghetti, pizza and a cannoli with chopsticks) in advance of a planned extravaganza of a show in Shanghai. Then Stefano Gabbana, a company co-founder and designer, appears to have engaged in a bout of insulting name-calling (including suggesting that the Chinese eat dogs) with a critic on Instagram. Mr. Gabbana said his account was hacked.
But the company’s issues also include homophobic and sexist statements. Maiysha Kai has more in this November 2018 story from The Glow Up:
How many instances of bias or cultural insensitivity does it take for a fashion label to be called to account for its racism? Dolce & Gabbana is finally finding out after a series of campaign ads peddling in cultural stereotypes, followed by racist comments, have rightfully drawn the ire of the Chinese and the fashion industry.
The design partners have since apologized. But let’s be honest, this is far from the first time the label has been accused of racism. From sending “Blackamoor” earrings down the runway in their Spring 2013 collection to 2016’s insensitively-named “slave sandals,” D&G has repeatedly misstepped when it comes to cultural correctness—not to mention the ironically homophobic stance the two openly gay designers took against gay parenting. (For reference, Out magazine has compiled a handy little timeline of their history of prejudice.)
And from Canada-based Flare, a February 2020 piece by Madelyn Chung:
Perhaps Dolce & Gabbana could have been forgiven for this (seriously big) misstep, but the fact is the “D&G Loves China” controversy wasn’t the first time the brand has come under fire for controversial opinions. Gabbana himself has a history of making racist, homophobic and sexist remarks. He called Selena Gomez ugly in an Instagram comment, claimed IVF children are “synthetic” ….
There are other incidents, but the synopses above explain why the choice of Dolce and Gabbana three days in a row is perplexing.
Below, the designers after their February runway show in Milan.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs happens, many celebrities and stylists who dropped the brand in 2018 have since returned to the label. From a June 2019 piece by Vanessa Friedman in The NY Times titled, “The Resurrection of Dolce and Gabbana.”
So much for moral posturing and cultural sensitivity.
Dolce & Gabbana, the Italian brand that was, for a brief moment at the end of last year, a poster child for cultural ignorance and the comeuppance that can ensue; that was held up as an example of how a fashion brand can so profoundly mess up that repercussions are felt throughout the world; and that was variously seen as having a reputation “in rags” (Forbes) and being in the midst of a “downfall” (Hypebeast), is quietly, but publicly, on its way back.
Not anymore. Now the episode is starting to look like another fashion fall-and-redemption narrative. Or more precisely, fall-and-return. Because the redemption part of this story is not exactly clear. And that has implications when it comes to call-out culture, and the ability (or willingness) of consumers and influencers to hold brands to account over time.
I don’t recall seeing Ms. Harris wear the brand before, although my knowledge of her wardrobe is not encyclopedic. My guess is the pieces may have been suggested by a stylist, and it is unlikely we will see them in the future.
On Thursday, January 28, Vice President Harris was in separates I’d not seen her wear before. Here you see her with the President as he signs Executive Orders expanding health care coverage.
Ms. Harris was in a black blazer and cuffed trousers with a black blouse featuring a bow. The jacket is single-breasted with one front button and notch lapels, but I cannot see any details beyond that. These items remain UFOs (Unidentified Fashion Objects).
For a meeting with Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen and other economic advisors on Friday, January 29, the Vice President opted for blue separates.
The pieces were seen earlier in the month for the introduction of cabinet members in Wilmington, Delaware.
UPDATE FEB 3: It looks like the Vice President was wearing more Altuzarra, the Kenton Jacket, and possibly the Zeke Pant, although it could be the Serge Pants ($795) Ms. Harris has worn previously.
The Kenton Jacket has a single-breasted silhouette with a slim fit emphasized by its darted waist. The blazer also has structured shoulders, notched lapels, one-button front closure, four buttons at the cuff, and pick stitching detail throughout. The fabric is 98% virgin wool and 2% elastane.
A closer look at the details.
The Zeke Trousers have a high-waist with a bootcut hem.
Below, the Serge (left) and Zeke (right) trousers.
My personal guess is that the Vice President is wearing the Serge style, as it has the same fabric content as the Kenton Jacket. Hopefully, we’ll have a better view of the Vice president in the ensemble again, and we’ll have a better idea of which pants she is wearing.
Another view of the Vice President on Friday.
The Vice President accessorized with her Irene Neuwirth double-strand pearl link necklace in 18K gold with cultured Akoya pearls from the jeweler’s Gumball collection. It looks like she wore her Manolo Blahnik BB heels with the 70mm heel.
VIDEOS:
In this video, you can see a little bit of how the Dolce and Gabbana jacket and trousers drape and move.
LINKAGE:
- Vanessa Friedman and Sui-Lee Wee’s November 2018 NY Times article, The Crash and Burn of Dolce and Gabbana is here; Ms. Friedman’s June 2019 column, “The Resurrection of Dolce and Gabbana,” may be read here.
- The Glow Up story by Maiysha Kai, “Racism May Be Dolce & Gabbana’s Demise. What Took so Long? ” is available here.
- Madelyn Chung’s 2020 article for Flare, “Why Are Celebrities Wearing Dolce & Gabbana on the Red Carpet?” may be read here
- Out’s November 2018 story by Kibwe Chase-Marshall: “A Brief History of Dolce and Gabbana Being Racist, Sexist, and Homophobic“
- A March 2015 piece by Leigh Weingus for HuffPo titled, “Dolce & Gabbana Face Outrage After Controversial Comments About Gay Families“
Anthony Blinken’s wife’s name is Evan Ryan, not Robin Evans. Easy mistake!
Thank you, Krista!
It was important to share the justifiable reaction to Dolce and Gabbana: thank you.
Such fun to see the VP ringing the changes every day. I still have to pinch myself: we have a female vice president!
I love the VP’s style but I’m surprised by the D&G selection. I’m a big fan of her tonal dressing especially the navy look…I’m hoping to replicate that in my own business wardrobe because it looks classy and put together (and I don’t have to worry about trying to mix/match). Thanks so much for adding this site Susan – as always you do a FAB job! 🙂
I love the way her clothing is always so well tailored.
She does not have a “model” figure which is also, to me, refreshing – a woman can dress well no matter her shape.
Re the D&G misstep, I’m giving her the benefit of the doubt of not being in the know about D&Gs racist statements. I’m sure there are a lot of non-Caucasian male politicians out there who wear D&G
The fabric of the D&G suit Farfetch described as a “melange micro-check” is actually a classic Glen Plaid. Without getting into any of the politics of the house, I’d just like to say that animal print lining rocks. I love a “business on the outside, wild on the inside” moment!
It will be interesting to see if she sticks exclusively to trouser suits. Personally, I’d love to see her move toward the variety that Nancy Pelosi wears.