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Well-fitted suits, pearls and ‘the same’ red tie: What Donald Trump and Kamala Harris’s fashion tells us about them

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Well-fitted suits, pearls and ‘the same’ red tie: What Donald Trump and Kamala Harris’s fashion tells us about them

The style choices of politicians have long been scrutinised by voters and the media.

Women have historically been subject to more inspection for their looks than men.

But all politicians are communicating through their style, according to two experts.

“We receive most of our information, many of us, through screens and through the visuals,” says Hazel Clark, professor of design and fashion at the Parsons School of Design in New York.

Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has been leaning into trouser suits.

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Ms Harris arrives to board Air Force Two in New York. Pic: AP

“The well-fitted suit, the more masculine suit, is telling voters that she is not a politician’s wife, she is not the president’s wife, she is the president,” says Deirdre Clemente, professor of history at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

She wore a dark suit to make her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.

Pic: AP
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The presidential hopeful wore a dark suit to make her acceptance speech at the DNC. Pic: AP

The look “gives that sense of the legal profession, judges and authority. I think it was just saying ‘I’m here to be taken seriously, I can be your leader’,” says Ms Clark.

Many of the audience were wearing white, thought to be a reference to the suffragettes, who fought for women to have vote.

Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris embraces her husband, second gentleman of the U.S. Doug Emhoff, following her acceptance speech on Day 4 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Many DNC audience members wore white as Kamala Harris made her acceptance speech. Pic: Reuters

Democratic presidential nominee and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris celebrates with her husband, second gentleman of the U.S. Doug Emhoff, and vice presidential nominee Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his wife Gwen, following her acceptance speech on Day 4 of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., August 22, 2024. REUTERS/Vincent Alban
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Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris wore a dark navy or black suit to make her acceptance speech at the DNC. Pic: Reuters

“I think there’s a lot of weight in the choice of white in the audience of the DNC that night and her choice of a black suit was a power move,” Ms Clemente said.

Donald Trump has had a consistent style for many years – he’s known for his dark blue suit and silky red tie.

With wife Melania and daughter Tiffany at his 2017 inauguration. Pic: AP
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Donald Trump at his 2017 inauguration. Pic: AP

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate with Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at the National Constitution Center, Tuesday, Sept.10, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Donald Trump speaks during a presidential debate with vice president Kamala Harris. Pic: AP

“He seems to have been wearing the same red tie since the 1970s. It seems to have gotten longer,” said Ms Clemente.

“It is his way of projecting power, confidence and stability.”

And his vice presidential pick JD Vance seems to have adapted his style to match.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, pray during the Republican National Convention Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
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Donald Trump with Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance at the Republican National Convention. Pic: AP

“It’s putting on a uniform to say we are all one, we are all following this person. I think sameness, perhaps, with the party as well,” said Ms Clark.

“With Trump it’s almost become like a costume now.”

Donald Trump's running mate JD Vance
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Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance have been seen wearing similar clothing. Pic: Reuters

Harris often wears a pearl necklace, a reference to her college sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, which was founded by black women at Howard University.

California Attorney General candidate Kamala Harris arrives for a campaign rally at the Los Angeles Public Central Library in Los Angeles, Monday, Nov. 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
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Kamala Harris wearing a pearl necklace in 2010. Pic: AP

“Her wearing of the necklace is absolutely a shout-out to all the women who have supported her and that sorority is central to that,” said Ms Clemente.

The vice president is also known for her love of Converse shoes.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris arrives to speak at a campaign event, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
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Vice president Kamala Harris wearing Converse shoes as she arrives to speak at a campaign event. Pic: AP

The trainers, which are associated with American basketball culture, “are a powerful cultural tool because what she’s saying is these shoes are just like the ones you have in your closet”.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris..arrives to speak on the final day of the Democratic National Convention, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
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Ms Harris speaks on the final day of the Democratic National Convention. Pic: AP

Mr Trump and his supporters often wear the instantly recognisable red Make America Great Again baseball cap.

“The MAGA hat has an incredible amount of power, especially here in battleground states,” said Ms Clemente. “You see MAGA hats all around.”

Wearing a MAGA hat in March 2016 in Arizona. Pic: AP
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Donald Trump wearing a red MAGA hat in 2016 in Arizona. Pic: AP

Baseball caps are “ubiquitous in being used to signify something, it’s like having a slogan on your t-shirt”, says Ms Clark.

One accessory all US politicians are rarely seen without is an American flag pin badge on their lapel, which can be used to show patriotism.

It may also project a message that “we are all fighting for the same team” despite political differences, said Ms Clemente.

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