Uniform of solidarity

Of masks, mittens, matchy-matchy outfits and other quiet statements made during the inauguration ceremony held on Wednesday evening in Washington DC.

Get ready to see a lot of jewel-toned themed styles from Dr Jill Biden for the next four years. The First Lady wore a tweed coat with velvet lapels teamed with a matching dress in a jewelled neckline, gloves and mask by New York-based young brand Markarian.

Why fashion matters, is in itself a provocative question.

Wherever you position yourself politically, culturally or in women’s rights rostrum, fashion is an outfit you wear to signify what you stand for: white of the suffragettes, purple not only favours bipartisanship (red plus blue) but also early days of the suffrage movement, and true blue to represent trust, confidence and stability (also the colour of Democratic party in the US). 

First female and first Black and South Asian vice-president Kamala Devi Harris dressed in a matching purple jacket and dress by African-American young designer Christopher John Rogers accessorised with pearl earrings and necklace by Puerto Rican-American designer Wilfredo Rosado. While Indian designers await their turn

Almost every commentary on the inauguration ceremony of the 46th President Joe Biden remarked along the lines of: co-ordinated sets, rich jewel tones, pearls, and coded messages of its intended values and optimism.  

Or, was it the mittens that stole the show? Bernie Sanders' grumpy-chic, eco-friendly knitwear wrapped hands launched a thousand-and-counting memes 

It was glamour in contemplation placated at times by the bouncy curls of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s long and loose brunette coif to present First Lady Dr Jill Biden blonde outward swirls and the megawatt smile of Madam vice-president Kamala Devi Harris. All three women chose to wear BIPOC-owned (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) emerging designer brands. “Their choice of clothing was intentional and weighed with symbolism. Harris opted for a young African-American designer, sending a strong message of inclusivity and solidarity. It’s also a significant boost to homegrown, small fashion businesses,” shares Amrita Khanna. She and her husband Gursi Singh are the team behind Lovebirds, an indigenous Delhi-based brand synonymous with co-ordinated sets for all ages and shapes. 

A wink and nod to women suffragettes, Jennifer Lopez in an all-white Chanel wardrobe

The turtleneck, the wide trousers and the bling buckle sitting atop the oversized belt… where does one begin to find words to describe a vision that was Michelle Obama in a Sergio Hudson ensemble. We will settle for the plum coat instead

The former First Lady and former secretary of state, and "pantsuit aficionado" Hilary Clinton in what else but a uniform of pantsuit with a matching ruffled scarf in aubergine by Ralph Lauren. Her pointed black boots spelled confidence as she stood half a step ahead of former president Bill Clinton

Lady Gaga's look was decidedly more dramatic than the women in monochrome. She sang the national anthem at the inaugural ceremony in custom-made Schiaparelli haute couture; a fitted blue jacket worn with a voluminous crimson ruffled skirt. But the gilded dove-shaped brooch was the real prima donna, with social media likening it to Katniss Everdeen, the Hunger Games protagonist and her Mockingjay pin

Amrita Khanna and Gursi Singh of Lovebirds

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