The Republican National Convention is a party, and like any celebration, attendees are faced with a crucial question: what to wear.
With former President Donald Trump surviving an assassination attempt over the weekend, sartorial choices took on even more significance this year, creating a particularly celebratory — and tense — atmosphere in Milwaukee.
While the speeches were predictable, the outfits were not. From high fashion to streetwear, the outfits conventioneers chose to wear sent clear messages about the state of the party and who’s who in charge. After all, fashion can say a lot about how people want to be seen. Even Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance subtly changed his style before being selected as Trump’s running mate.
These were tournament-defining ensembles.
Nikki Haley’s Shiny Unity Dress
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Trump’s most unexpected rival at the convention, wore a similarly eye-catching dress.
The light blue button-down dress had short sleeves, a slight sheen, and was adorned with pink and green floral motifs. It was a perfect fit for Hailey’s pattern of standing out in a crowd. She wore a similar silhouette to the first Republican debate last year, catching viewers’ attention amid a row of suits. Tuesday’s dress was by Teri John, a Hailey favorite, according to Women’s Wear Daily.
“Haley’s goal last night was to help unite the party, not to look like the candidate,” spokeswoman Cheney Denton told the outlet. Denton added that Haley’s dress was “to connect with people,” an ethos that was evident in the sweater she wore to campaign in Iowa.
Lara Trump’s streamlined black blouse
Among the red sheath dresses, the former president’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, wore an asymmetrical satin-collared black top when she took to the stage on Tuesday night. She paired it with white slacks and red-soled heels.
Trump’s funeral blouse underscored the gravity of her message: She explained that she had taken her children away from the television a few days beforehand so they wouldn’t be traumatized by watching their grandfather get shot.
The masculine silhouette also underscores her unique role. Though Trump recently took on one of the flashiest jobs in politics, co-chairing the Republican National Committee, she said Thursday she hasn’t ruled out a future run for the presidency. Her red, white and blue jeweled ribbon brooch sets her apart from other rising stars, including former vice presidential nominee South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Rep. Elise Stafanick (R-N.Y.), who opted instead for glittering American flag pins.
Harmeet Dhillon comes to terms with her heritage
Andrew Cabellero Reynolds/AFP/Getty
Harmeet Dhillon, a top lawyer for President Trump, a member of the Republican National Committee in California and a former candidate for Republican National Committee chairman, wore an outfit that referenced his Indian roots to deliver the benediction Monday night.
Dhillon wore Escada pants and a textured evening jacket, and recited Sikh prayers while covering her head with a silk scarf, which she told The Daily Beast was taken from the Punjabi costumes she wore as a teenager and had been woven in Varanasi with silver-plated motifs. She was particularly proud of her jewelry: a vintage British and French gold bracelet made from a repurposed watch chain, a custom pearl necklace by Australian jeweler Margot McKinney, an owl brooch by Indian jeweler Vivek Radha, and pearl-and-diamond earrings from Mumbai.
Dillon’s prayer drew backlash from the far right, but her words and attire conveyed a core message the Republican Party was trying to convey: that people of all ethnic backgrounds and faiths are welcome.
Sarah Brady’s statement gown
Sarah Brady, an Idaho mother who was arrested after visiting a park that was closed early in the COVID-19 pandemic, designed several ball gowns for the competition and transformed herself into an elegant poster girl.
Perhaps most striking is the silhouette of a mermaid on the Gadsden flag, a yellow flag emblazoned with a coiled rattlesnake and the words “Don’t tread on me.” A symbol of revolution and distrust in government, it’s fitting for a party now co-opted by Trump, who still vows to take on Washington’s worst bureaucrats.
Brady’s dress also fits into a broader fashion context: It’s reminiscent of the style worn by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) in 2021 when she donned the “Let’s Go Brandon” gown.
Matt Brooks’ Elephant Tie
Andrew Cabellero Reynolds/AFP/Getty
Men’s fashion norms leave little room for interesting outfits, and few politicians take sartorial risks. Republican officials, in particular, never stray from their uniform of dark suits and red ties. So it didn’t take long for Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, to stand out. At a talk on Tuesday, Brooks accessorized with a gold elephant tie by Charvet and Zegna shoes, an RJC spokesperson told The Daily Beast.
Brooks’ inclusion on the speaker list symbolizes the party’s growing appeal to Jewish voters amid the Israeli war. Though Brooks has attended conventions for decades, this is his first time speaking at the party’s convention. In fact, he bought the tie at the 2012 convention in Tampa. On Tuesday, he wore a matching yellow ribbon pin to support the hostages still being held in Gaza.
Handout/Republican Jewish Coalition
Brooks clearly understands the importance of such symbols, as during his speech he held up a symbol with the word Trump emblazoned on it, saying, “President Trump will restore law and order so that American Jews can once again wear their kippahs and walk the streets without fear.”
Blake Marnell’s Brick Suit
C-SPAN cameras panned repeatedly to a man at the rally: Blake Marnell, who was wearing his trademark orange suit with a brick pattern to show his support for President Trump’s border wall.
Marnell, a California representative, is a typical Trump enthusiast, passionate about border security, has crisscrossed the country dozens of times to meet with the former president and was impressed with Trump’s response to Saturday’s shooting.
He witnessed it himself: Video from the tragic rally showed him, identified by his distinctive attire, sitting in the front row as Trump fell to the ground.
Crazy hats
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty
Hats were the go-to choice for conventioneers looking for a subtle display of party pride: both elephant ears and Lincoln top hats made appearances at Fiserv Forum.
Sparkly sneakers
When President Trump debuted a pair of pricey gold high-tops earlier this year, his fans followed suit. From sparkly pumps to American flag sneakers, they went all out with their shoes.
Solidarity Ear Bandages
The most popular item at this week’s Republican National Convention was the ear bandage, which Trump wore on Monday night, prompting many attendees to wear them too, as the medical accessory symbolized his resilience.
Feronware
Robert Gautier/Los Angeles Times/Getty
The convention outfits showed that Republicans have no qualms about nominating convicted felons, many of which bore Trump’s face. Some of the outfits were a direct acknowledgment of how the Teflon Don bounced back after the jury’s verdict, but unfortunately, the jury will never decide whether they committed any fashion crimes.
