Bold Fashion and Bold Messages From Inauguration Day

Inauguration day has always been a big spectacle, even more so this term because of all the difficult events that have happened such as the COVID-19 pandemic and what is being referred to as one of the most controversial elections to date. It seems as though the whole world has been anxiously watching the inauguration, waiting for a glimpse of what the next four years will hold. With that in mind, Jill Biden and Bernie Sanders have set a premise and have been caught in the political fashion conversation because of who they wore on Inauguration day. 

Jill Biden has already been highlighted for her experience as a working-class woman, being a career educator, and holding a doctorate in education. So, how she presented herself and what she wore for Joe Biden’s inauguration was a big deal. Typically, it’s a tradition for the first ladies to wear American designer brands; last inauguration Melania Trump wore Ralph Lauren. So naturally, reporters were squirming to figure out what big-name designer she would wear. However, Jill Biden decided to represent a small New York based designer by the name of Alexandra O’Neill whose relatively young label is called Markarian. The reason this is such a field day for reporters is that by wearing her design, she is essentially pushing her brand into the limelight. Markarian is likely to experience endless media exposure which is pivotal for this up and coming small brand. 

The second conversation going around is a very heartfelt one on behalf of Bernie Sanders. He wore mittens that were made from repurposed wool sweaters and lined with fleece made from recycled plastic bottles. They were created by Jen Ellis, a second-grade teacher just outside Burlington, Vermont. She was able to gift them to Sanders through his daughter-in-law. The internet has loved the mittens just as much as reporters and the fashion industry. Pictures of Sanders with his mittens have flooded our timelines recently with people making memes out of Sanders. Jen Ellis herself has gotten thousands of requests about the mittens and has stated she will not be selling any mittens but has asked people to, instead, buy from DIY crafters on Etsy.

The exposure these politicians gave small designers is intense and game-changing. Hopefully, we see more small brand promotion in the future, and hopefully, this is a start of a new wave in fashion and politics.  

• bernie sanders
• design
• election
• fashion
• inauguration
• Joe Biden
• presidency