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As high-profile speakers and performers took to the stage, people decked out in sparkly cowboy hats, neon green specks, cheeseheads and flannel shirts parted the sea of blue signs and lights that the Democratic National Committee had installed as a backdrop for its quadrennial convention.
Hats of all colors, patterns, sparkles and heights circulated among the massive crowd at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, this week, at times looking like the crowd at Taylor Swift’s Erasu Tour.
Delegates, party leaders, candidates and supporters chose to don their most patriotic attire, accessories and state pride in celebration of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz becoming the party’s official presidential nominees.
And they celebrated.
On Monday night, Democrats donned seemingly stripped-down outfits as an ode to country.
The “For the People” theme inspired a range of accessories and outfits that were themed around the American flag, or at least its colors.
One memorable moment came when United Auto Workers President Sean Fain took to the stage to reveal a T-shirt that read “Trump is a Scab” underneath his blazer.
While the moment was less dramatic, it was reminiscent of Hulk Hogan ripping his shirt open during the Republican National Convention.
Tuesday night’s roll call, the ceremonial moment when representatives from each state cast their votes for candidates, had all the hallmarks of the nightclub that Saturday Night Live’s “Stefon” would suggest: snippets of 57 songs, a man in a realistic corn hat and Lil Jon singing “Turn Down for What.”
This year, each U.S. state and territory chose a song to represent their state. Some even chose a unifying fashion element.
The Wisconsin delegates wore Cheeseheads, the Kansas delegates looked like they’d come straight from a Chiefs game, and the Maryland delegates waved mini versions of their state flag.
Even if the state delegation as a whole did not support themed costumes, it did not prevent individual attendees from showing their state pride.
The excited energy of roll call night was palpable even on the television as DJ Cassidy spun the playlist throughout the room, with cheers and applause erupting throughout the venue as each state representative announced who they were voting for.
Over the next few days, the extravagant outfits seemed to taper off: By the third day, Harris’ colorful, embellished outfit had been replaced with more subdued options, including buttons, a hat, and shoes.
By the time the Democratic National Convention was over, the glitter had worn off, the Cheeseheads had stink, and many of the red, white and blue hats had been replaced with the Harris-Waltz campaign’s iconic camo hats, a signal that Democrats were ready to back Harris in the hopes of winning in November.
