Freedom, good neighborliness, reproductive rights, lower prescription drug prices and paid family and medical leave were among the topics of conversation at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night, but there were also some visual remnants.
High-profile attendees like Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton and Gwen Walz helped shine a light on big-name brands like Christian Siriano, CH Carolina Herrera and Badgley Mischka with their attire. Their choices seemed to be in line with what appears to be the unofficial dress code for high-profile female attendees — updated tailored styles — which former First Lady Michelle Obama seemed to set Monday night with her sleek Monse ensemble at the DNC. The business-casual vibe may also have been a nod to Vice President Kamala Harris’ penchant for pantsuits.
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Either way, design company reps are touting their DNC connections. And why not? In a challenging retail environment and with rumors of a potential recession, DNC exposure reaches a broad audience. The first night of DNC coverage drew 20 million viewers, and the second night’s coverage drew 20.8 million viewers, based on Nielsen ratings.
For her surprise appearance onstage 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.
Siriano said Thursday that he had made suits for Winfrey before and had custom-made patterns for her to ensure a perfect fit. Though Winfrey appeared in the Oscar-nominated 1985 film “The Color Purple” and produced its musical adaptation that came out last year, those professional ties weren’t the inspiration for the color of her DNC attire. “We chose the purple color to feel regal and elegant,” Siriano said.
Fans of Winfrey hoping to copy the look are out of luck, as it’s still a tradition for now, according to the New York-based designer and “Project Runway” alum. Shoppers, however, can find a similar ensemble in a different hue from Siriano: An oversized gray blazer with a draped corset costs $2,295 on his company’s e-commerce site, and a pair of wide-leg trousers with a rolled hem costs $1,695.
After Minnesota’s Democratic vice presidential candidate, Governor Tim Walz, officially assumed his new role, his wife, Gwen, and their children, Hope and Gus, took the stage to take a bow. Gwen Walz also opted for a designer label, wearing a tea-length dress by Badgley Mischka. 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 retails for $595 online.
The nearly 40-year-old Badgley Mischka label appears to be a point of agreement between Walz and her Republican counterpart, Usha Vance. At last month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Vance wore an off-the-shoulder cobalt blue Badgley Mischka dress to introduce her husband, JD, the Republican vice presidential nominee. The mother of two and former corporate lawyer did not consult Badgley Mischka about the $495 dress, as some political spouses have done. Vance reportedly bought the garment in a store.
Badgley and Mischka declined to comment on Walz’s dress on Thursday, just as they had not commented on Vance’s RNC dress.
In addition to the more pointed message in her speech Monday night, Obama’s midnight-blue sleeveless crisscross jacket and Monse tuxedo pants have also generated some online buzz. Pre-orders for the ensemble are up on Monse’s site, with the jacket priced at $1,690 and the pants at $890. But consumers will have to wait until after the Nov. 5 presidential election to get Obama’s look. Both Monse items have an estimated ship date of Nov. 8. A media request for Monse was not returned Thursday.
Former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also went the business casual route onstage, wearing a Lafayette 148 lavender pantsuit with a scoop neck top and matching low-heeled pumps. Alex Gobo, senior vice president of fashion communications and VIP relations, said, “Nancy is a loyal customer of the brand. This didn’t come through PR. She must have bought it in store.”
The full retail price for the Lafayette 148 one-button blazer in wool silk crepe was $1,698 and the wool silk crepe pants sold for $898, but e-commerce sites were offering marked-down prices on Thursday.
Clinton, who embraced a business-casual look, watched her husband Bill’s speech to the delegates on Wednesday night in a black jacquard two-tone peplum jacket by CH Carolina Herrera.
The issue of clothing has come up in other ways on the main stage as well. Former President Barack Obama made a point of referencing Tim Walz’s down-home style during his speech earlier this week. “You can tell those flannel shirts he’s wearing, they’re not from a political consultant; they’re from his closet, and they’ve been through some stuff. They’ve been through some stuff,” Obama said.
In response to the comment, Walz’s wife, Gwen, who was in the audience, nodded knowingly and clapped loudly, as captured by CNN and other media. She later said on the social media platform X that Obama’s comment was “so true” and posted a photo of Walz sewing a Filson flannel jacket. A Filson spokesperson confirmed as much on Thursday, saying that one of Walz’s most-worn pieces is the $550 red-and-black plaid Filson Mackinaw Cruiser. He even wore one for his 2022 Paul Bunyon suit, as pictured on X.
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