The Democratic National Convention concluded on Thursday night after four days of frenetic speeches, performances, and speculation over a surprise musical guest. In addition to celebrating the official nomination of presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the four-day convention featured some notable fashion moments. From Harris’ sleek Chloe ensemble and her trademark pussy-bow blouse to her stepdaughter Ella Emhoff’s custom gown from TikTok sensation Joe Andoo, the United Center was filled with eye-catching fashion from established and emerging designers alike.
Now that the highly anticipated event has concluded, let’s take a look at some of the most notable fashion moments from the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
Purple Pop
Oprah Winfrey returned to Chicago to address the crowd at the United Center in a deep plum pantsuit by Christian Siriano, while National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, also in a pale lilac pantsuit, read her new poem, “Sacred Scenes,” to the crowd.
White women’s suffrage activists
On the final night of the Democratic National Convention, many in the crowd wore all white in support of the American women’s suffrage movement. Although suffragists often wore white, its use was driven largely by practicality and a desire to create “visual contrast.”
Harris’ Pussy Bow Returns
On the final night of the Democratic National Convention, Harris stepped out in a chic navy suit by Chloe, but it was her neckwear that stood out. She wore a pussy-bow blouse that some social media users believe was reminiscent of the white Carolina Herrera pussy bow she wore during her 2020 victory speech. Harris also wore a pussy-bow top during her surprise appearance on the first night of the DNC. The neckline, which references the decorative ties often used as cat accessories, was a wardrobe staple for former First Lady Melania Trump during Donald Trump’s presidency.
The hot topic of Gen Z collaboration
One of the most talked-about moments at the DNC came on the fourth night, when Ella Emhoff took to the stage in a custom lilac and white dress by designer Joe Ando. Emhoff, 25, a Parsons School of Design graduate and artist, took the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the Japanese-American dressmaker, who has 2.9 million followers on TikTok. Ando actively documented the process of designing Emhoff’s outfit. Emhoff has been affectionately known as the “first daughter of Bushwick,” after the Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood where she lives.
After being introduced to the garment by a mutual friend, Ando began working on it, which took between 75 and 90 hours to complete.
“Working with Ella was fun and a great collaborative experience,” Ando told Yahoo Entertainment. “I’ve made dresses for various events and people in the past, but this dress was very personal and I wanted to help Ella have an elegant moment.”
He added, “We were aware of each other’s work, but Ella was very kind enough to think of me when she was considering unique designs to create something custom with her. We collaborated on the design process and were aiming for an elegant tea party themed look, but with a more modern and upscale feel. … Ella crocheted the arm flowers herself, and we knew it would be a nice way to tie in with Ella’s background as an artist.”
High fashion display
First Lady Jill Biden wore a custom sequined dress by American designer Ralph Lauren, while former First Lady Michelle Obama wore an edgy pantsuit by New York brand Monse, featuring crisscross detailing and a grommet belt. Emhoff further cemented his “it” girl status by debuting a Thom Browne suit on the second night of the Democratic National Convention.
The power of accessories
Emhoff made another fashion statement on the first day of the convention, wearing the trending “Harris Waltz” camo hat, which she paired with a monochrome outfit by Helmut Lang. Other attendees took accessories to new heights with loud pins, nifty sashes, and Taylor Swift-inspired friendship bracelets.
