The Democratic National Convention concluded on Thursday night after four days of rousing speeches, performances and speculation surrounding a surprise musical guest. In addition to celebrating the formal nominations of presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her VP pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, the four-day convention featured several noteworthy fashion moments. From Harris’s sophisticated Chloé ensembles, which she accompanied with her now-signature pussy bow blouses, to her stepdaughter Ella Emhoff’s custom gown by viral TikTok designer Joe Ando, the United Center was full of standout sartorial looks from designers both renowned and up-and-coming.
With the highly anticipated event now in the books, take a look at the most noteworthy fashion moments from the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Pops of purple
Oprah Winfrey returned to the Windy City, where she took the stage to address the United Center crowd in a deep plum pantsuit by Christian Siriano. National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman also donned a light lilac design when she read her new poem “The Sacred Scene” for the crowd.
Suffragist white
Many in the crowd were decked out in all white, in support of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States, on the final night of the DNC. The color white was often worn by suffragists, though its use was more so out of practicality and the desire to strike a “visual contrast.”
Harris’s pussy bow revival
On the final night of the DNC, Harris stepped out in a chic navy suit by Chloé, but it was her neckwear that stole the show. Harris donned a pussy bow blouse, which one social media user believes was a callback to the white Carolina Herrera pussy bow that Harris wore during her 2020 victory speech. Harris also wore a pussy bow top on the first night of the DNC, when she made a surprise appearance. The neckline, which references the decorative tie often used as an accessory for cats, was a wardrobe staple for former first lady Melania Trump during President Donald Trump’s term.
A viral Gen Z collaboration
One of the most viral moments of the DNC occurred on the fourth and final night, when Ella Emhoff walked onstage in a custom lilac-and-white creation by designer Joe Ando. Emhoff, 25, an artist and graduate of Parsons School of Design, took the opportunity to spotlight the Japanese American dressmaker who has 2.9 million followers on TikTok. Ando actively documented the process of designing the garment for Emhoff, who has affectionately become known as the “First Daughter of Bushwick,” which refers to the Brooklyn, N.Y. neighborhood where she lives.
After being connected by a mutual friend, Ando got to work on the garment, which he said took between 75 to 90 hours to complete.
“Working with Ella was a pleasure and a great collaborative experience,” Ando told Yahoo Entertainment. “I’ve made dresses for so many different events and people, but this one felt so personal and I really wanted to help Ella have her moment in an elegant way.”
He added, “We’d both been aware of each other’s work, and very nicely Ella thought of me when considering independent designs to make something custom with her. We collaborated on the design process and were striving for an elegant tea party-themed look but [made] it more modern and elevated. … Ella crocheted the flower on the arm herself, we knew it would be a nice way to tie in Ella’s background as an artist.”
A high-fashion display
First lady Jill Biden stepped out in a custom sequin dress by all-American designer Ralph Lauren, while former first lady Michelle Obama rocked an edgy pantsuit by New York label Monse, which featured crisscross detailing and a grommet belt. Emhoff further solidified her “it” girl status when she debuted a Thom Browne suit on night two of the DNC.
The power of accessorizing
Emhoff made yet another sartorial statement when she attended the first day of the convention in the viral “Harris-Walz” camouflage hat — which she paired with a monochromatic Helmut Lang look, no less. Other attendees also took accessorizing to new heights with punchy pins, clever sashes and Taylor Swift-inspired friendship bracelets.
