Oprah Winfrey, Gwen Walz and Hillary Clinton Give Designer Fashion Some DNC Airtime

Freedom, neighborly behavior, reproductive rights, reducing prescription drug prices and paid family and medical leave were some of the talking points at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night, but there were also some residual visuals too.

High-profile attendees like Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton and Gwen Walz helped to give some airtime to major brands like Christian Siriano, CH Carolina Herrera and Badgley Mischka through the clothes they chose. Their choices appeared to be in line with what seemed to be the unofficial dress code for key female attendees — updated tailored styles — that former First Lady Michelle Obama seemed to set with her sleek Monse ensemble Monday night at the DNC. The business casual feel could also be a nod to Vice President Kamala Harris’ affinity for pantsuits.

Regardless, representatives from designer companies are plugging their DNC connections. And why not? In a challenging retail environment and with rumblings of a possible recession, the DNC exposure is reaching an audience far and wide. The first night of DNC coverage attracted 20 million viewers and the second night’s coverage reeled in 20.8 million viewers, based on Nielsen ratings.

For her surprise appearance on center stage Wednesday night, Winfrey delivered her message of freedom in a custom purple silk crepe pantsuit by Christian Siriano. The media mogul’s designer ensemble was inspired by a runway look, according to Siriano, who worked on the one-off creation last week with her stylist, Annabelle Harron.

Having made so many suits before for Winfrey, Siriano said Thursday that he already had customized patterns for her to ensure a perfect fit. Although Winfrey appeared in the Oscar-nominated 1985 film “The Color Purple” and she produced the movie musical adaptation that was released last year, those professional ties were not the inspiration for the hue of her DNC attire. “We chose the purple color to feel royal and elegant,” Siriano said.

Winfrey fans, who were hoping to knock off the look, are out of luck since it is custom for now, according to the New York-based designer and “Project Runway” alumni. However, shoppers can find a similar combination in another shade from Siriano — an oversized gray blazer with a draped corset retails for $2,295 on his company’s e-commerce site and wide-leg trousers with a cuffed hem cost $1,695.

After Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz officially accepted his new role, his wife Gwen and their children, Hope and Gus, joined them on stage to take a bow. Gwen Walz also opted for a designer label, wearing a tea-length Badgley Mischka dress. Her choice for Wednesday night was a new style designed by Mark Badgley and James MIschka — a long-sleeved coat dress with a pleated waist. The navy dress is available online for $595.

The nearly 40-year-old Badgley MIschka label seems to be a point of agreement between Walz and her Republican counterpart Usha Vance. At last month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Vance sported an off-the-shoulder cobalt blue Badgley Mischka dress to introduce her husband J.D., the Republican vice president nominee. The mother of two and former corporate lawyer had not consulted with Badgley Mischka about the $495 frock, as some political spouses have been known to do. Vance is believed to have purchased the garment in a store.

Badgley and Mischka declined to comment Thursday about Walz’s dress, just as they had not spoken about Vance’s RNC dress.

Along with the more pointed message in her Monday night speech, Obama’s sleeveless midnight blue crisscross jacket with tuxedo cuff pants from Monse also has generated some online buzz. Preorders for the ensemble are on the Monse site with the jacket retailing for $1,690 and the pants retailing for $890. But consumers will have to wait until after the Nov. 5 presidential election to copy Obama’s look. Both Monse items have estimated ship dates of Nov. 8. A media request to Monse was unreturned Thursday.

Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also took the business casual route at the podium, wearing a Lafayette 148 lavender pantsuit with a scoop-neck top with coordinating low-heeled pumps. Alex Gobo, senior vice president of fashion communications and VIP relations, said, “Nancy is a loyal customer of the brand. This did not come through PR. She must have purchased it at retail.”

The full retail price for the Lafayette 148 single button blazer in wool silk crepe was $1,698 and the wool silk crepe pants retailed for $898, but markdown prices were offered on e-commerce sites Thursday.

On board with the business casual look, Clinton caught her husband Bill’s speech with the delegates Wednesday night wearing a black jacquard two-tone textured peplum jacket from CH Carolina Herrera.

The issue of clothes has surfaced on the main stage in other ways too. Former President Barack Obama made a point of referencing Tim Walz’s down-home style during his speech earlier in the week. “You can tell those flannel shirts he wears don’t come from some political consultant; they come from his closet, and they have been through some stuff. They have been through some stuff,” Obama said.

In response to that quip, Walz’s wife Gwen, who was seated in the crowd, nodded knowingly and clapped vigorously, as captured by CNN and other media outlets. She later said on social media platform X that Obama’s comment was “so true” and posted a photo of Walz sewing a Filson flannel jacket. A spokesperson for Filson confirmed that Thursday and said that one of Walz’s well-worn pieces is the $550 red and black plaid Filson Mackinaw Cruiser. He even wore one for his 2022 Paul Bunyon costume, as pictured on X.