Women of Influence
We’ve recently seen the spotlight shine on women of influence and what is recognized as their signature style. Lighthearted news coverage showed Kamala Harris wearing her trusty converse sneakers on the campaign trail in September. At that same moment in time we learned of the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an unlikely style icon made famous, notorious, for her “dissent collars” worn over her judicial robes on occasions when her opinions differed with the rulings of the court majority. The December cover of Vanity Fair featured AOC- New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in bold red lip color and the ubiquitous white pantsuit, honoring the suffrage movement. Each of these influential women has a platform from which to convey visual messages at the intersection of substance and personal style that help them stand out rather than blend compliantly into the background. Here we disseminate the sartorial messages of some of the most influential and emerging women and brands to watch.
KAMALA HARRIS, Vice President-Elect
Kamala Harris will take office in January and thrice make history as the first woman and person of African-American and Asian heritage to hold the office. Harris favors strands of traditional pearl necklaces and single pearl earrings in black and white (dubbed “power pearls” by the press). Harris will occasionally wear a more modern variation including single, double, and multiple floating strands with organically-shaped natural pearls. The pearls are said to be in homage to her sorority, Kappa Alpha Kappa, where she pledged while attending Howard University. Both the sorority and the University are historically black institutions and pearls are significant to ΚAK as legacy symbols of wisdom, refinement, and solidarity to the institution. In the years since her graduation, pearls have consistently been a significant component in her wardrobe. Harris wore pearls in her graduation photo, to her swearing-in ceremony as US Senator of California and on the day she launched her campaign for President in 2019. It was on the campaign trail where the media took note of another signature accessory: various pairs of converse sneakers that she paired with pantsuits as well as jeans. Harris’ pearl jewelry and sneakers represent a high-low mix in a relatable fashion message: Of the people, for the people.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Moderator of CBS Face the Nation
As a seasoned correspondent and tv media anchor, Margaret Brennan has made it her mission to have a civil conversation and add context to the news, counter to the “hyperdrive” shuffle that the news cycle has been whipped into. Brennan has upped the style ante for on-air journalists by wearing tailored pinstripe suiting fabrics, satin and metallic printed blouses, and color ensembles that cannot be overlooked: bright cool red, pomegranate, high chroma burgundy, fuchsia, bright teal and emerald green. Brennan’s dresses are intricately constructed with neck interest such as asymmetrical and twist features, slash details, and blousy sleeves. Dresses are often paired with matching jackets and finished off with spindly and strappy high heels. The net effect is a professional, strong and polished powersuit look that directs the attention back to Brennan rather than on the clothes she is wearing.
ELLEN MARIE BENNETT: Founder & Chief Apron Officer at Hedley & Bennett
Former chef Ellen Marie Bennett found her mission working in kitchens of LA and experiencing the the void between her love of the work and access to quality workwear that would meet the demands of the job. Bennett’s belief that aprons are the working conditions of the kitchen staff compelled her to fulfill the need for better workwear. She combined her knowledge with input from other chefs to develop her own line of aprons and uniforms, creating high quality, morale-boosting functional aprons and uniforms that are made in America in a range of colors and prints. Using the hashtag #apronsquad, Bennett will show her own outfits- usually head-to-toe matching ensembles in print or monochrome, in order to better set off the apron that is layered over it. Elevating the workday look of chefs and kitchen workers is Bennett’s way of recognizing that the work and needs of everyone in the back of the house is as important as the presentation in the front. If the moment a chef or a home cook puts on their apron is like a starting pistol at a race, then Bennett’s aprons are the uniform. Dubbed “magic” by Martha Stewart and culinary luminaries including David Chang and Rick Bayless, 80% of H&B’s customers are home consumers. Recent product additions to the line include masks, jumpsuits and socks.
ALEXANDRA OCASIO-CORTEZ
The youngest congresswoman of all time, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has become as recognizable by her assertive communication style as by her signature red lipstick (Beso by Stila) and hoop earrings, an homage to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
At age 31 Ocasio-Cortez’s influence continues to reach past that of the political realm into popular culture with a universally accepted acronym, “AOC”, 7.8 million Twitter followers and 8.2 million Instagram followers (more than all other members of Congress combined). After addressing Congress in a red pantsuit there was a 74% spike in searches for red suits on fashion shopping platform lyst.com. Lyst also saw a 163% spike in searches for her shopping bag, by Bronx-based Telfar, right after Ocasio-Cortez answered her Instagram followers’ requests to show what she carried in her oxblood Telfar bag.
In her recent Vanity Fair cover photo Ocasio-Cortez is wearing a white suit, a symbol of cultural and historic significance that has emerged and re-emerged throughout American history: White dresses and clothing were worn during the suffrage movement at the marches of the19th century, again in 1978 during the ERA movement at marches in Washington D.C., and most recently during the 2016 election cycle when Hillary Clinton breathed new life into the head-to toe look by donning a bespoke white Ralph Lauren pantsuit.
Ocasio-Cortez has acknowledged that she is sending messages with her style choices, stating that she would fall under scrutiny regardless. Responding to critical comments on twitter about her clothing, Ocasio-Cortez pluckily responded: “If I walked into Congress wearing a sack, they would laugh & take a picture of my backside. If I walk in with my best sale-rack clothes, they laugh & take a picture of my backside. Dark hates light - that’s why you tune it out.” While Ocasio-Cortez tunes out her detractors, her continuing influence on the business of retail cannot be denied.
SYMONE SANDERS
As a senior Biden campaign staffer, former Bernie Sanders campaign national press secretary and the newly-appointed senior advisor and chief spokesperson for the office of VP-elect Kamala Harris, Symone Sanders is wielding power in the beltway and in the national media. At age 31, she is best known for being one of the youngest campaign staffers in Washington D.C. and a regular CNN political commentator, a job historically held by male campaign operatives. Sanders garnered attention after clapping back at a Trump administration official when he told her to “shut up” on a CNN Sunday morning talk show. The incident inspired the title of her 2020 autobiography, “No, You Shut Up”. Viral video of Sanders blocking and removing a protester who rushed the stage while Biden was on the dais at a campaign stop in Los Angeles secured her reputation as a woman not to be trifled with. Sanders’ mark of assertiveness and agency is congruous with her signature style: structured shoulder tops and blazers, long colorful fingernails, saturated lip color, and a closely cropped haircut with decorative razor lines. In reference to her brand, Sanders herself sums it up best: “I’m fully aware that when I show up, curvy with a low cut, a bold lip and a chilling analysis, people don’t know how to take it, because I’m not supposed to be able to give you solid political commentary with a bedazzled nail”.
ARGENT
Responding to the need for smarter workwear, ARGENT provides women with suiting featuring smart designs including reversible blazers, pockets lined with microfiber cloth used for cleaning glasses lenses, mesh pockets specifically designed to hold a stylus and smartphones so that screens can be viewed at a glance, and cuffs constructed to stay in place when scrunched to the elbow. Founder Sali Christeson identified her own need for professional, polished workwear and launched the brand in 2016. Argent offers women power pantsuit and ensemble dressing in fabrics available in fashion colors and neutrals that are wrinkle-resistant and don’t have to be dry cleaned, for easy packing and travel. Shoppers on argent.com can envision the versatile style-out of Argent’s separates with non-suiting looks like denim bottoms and a variety of footwear from sneakers to loafers to heels. The impetus behind the brand’s creation is that if women have access to clothing that makes them feel professional and confident, the rest will follow. This new standard is more easily achieved when design features perfunctory in men’s suits, like interior pockets, are built in as basic attributes. Gone is the desire to blend in wearing the dark menswear uniform of the past; more women have agency and want to be heard and seen. Notable women donning the brand include Hillary Clinton, Gloria Steinem, Amy Pohler and Awkwafina. Argent’s social media collaborations with celebrities include actress and activist America Fererra, tennis champion Naomi Osaka, and Hungarian immigrant and mom-PACtivist Simona Grace.
Women of influence are eschewing past norm of traditional conservative styling as the requisite uniform of professionalism. The change in attitudes we are witnessing shows us Millennial as well as Gen X women owning their style and showing up to work in one seamless act of personal agency.
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