These American political figures have mastered the art of communicating with their clothes.&nbsp;

The theater of <a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/who-was-florynce-flo-kennedy-black-feminist-activist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American politics </a>would be incomplete without intentional <a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/fashion-lawsuits-gucci-guess" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fashion</a>. After all, we don&rsquo;t refer to &ldquo;the national stage,&rdquo; without reason. Being a successful <a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/ruth-bader-ginsburg-quotes-young-womens-rights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">politician</a> means creating a <a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/lee-radziwill-jackie-kennedy-socialite-sister-facts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">public persona</a>, and part of that characterization is costume. Too often the coverage of political fashion is misconstrued as overshadowing political figures&rsquo; policy making, particularly when they are <a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/famous-firsts-womens-history-month" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women</a>. But it is an indisputable truth that fashion is and forever will be a tool for communicating. So wouldn&rsquo;t it be foolish not to utilize it? Especially for female and/or other minority leaders, should they not use every possible tool to their advantage? And does discussion of <a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/poet-amanda-gorman-will-recite-at-super-bowl-lv" target="_blank" rel="noopener">political fashion</a> truly overshadow policy if is it being wielded at will? In short: politicians of all genders, races, and across party lines use fashion purposefully. Some, much better than others.&nbsp;
Just recently, for example, First Lady Jill Biden stirred the Twitter-verse with a pair of fishnet adjacent tights. Photographed while deboarding Air Force One, The First Lady&rsquo;s sheer stockings produced an invented personal scandal online for the <a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/indya-moore-trans-activism-style" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Biden White House</a>. Bull artists from far and wide flocked to the photo with comments like &ldquo;trashy,&rdquo; and comparisons of Dr. Biden to Cardi B and Madonna. Why being like two of music&rsquo;s most influential (and fashionable) stars is a bad thing, was never explained. But many came to the First Lady&rsquo;s defense as well, clapping back at other (incorrect) claims that Dr. Biden was &ldquo;too old,&rdquo; for the ensemble.

Unfortunately as #Melania began to trend on Twitter, the comebacks began to do more harm than good. Users shamed the <a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/michelle-obama-sergio-hudson-inauguration-joe-biden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ex-First Lady</a> for having posed nude, an equally problematic response to the already sexist thread of commentary. Putting down Melania for wearing a colonial white pith helmet to Kenya, $3,000 Delpozo dress to speak about child hunger, or notorious &ldquo;I really don&rsquo;t care. Do U?&rdquo; jacket to the border where families were being separated would have been in better taste.&nbsp;
Unnecessary controversy aside, Dr. Biden&rsquo;s hosiery was indicative of the playful personality she has played up since stepping into the <a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/root-studios-nyc-photography-equal-justice-print-sale-aclu-blm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington</a> spotlight. A personality that pairs perfectly with her husband&rsquo;s Ray Ban clad caricature. Both exude an energy younger than their actual ages. One that is distinctly approachable, affordable, and American. These qualities align also with <a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/kamala-harris-biden-running-mate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">President Biden&rsquo;s overarching mission</a> to unite the country and reclaim a more inclusive &ldquo;soul of America,&rdquo; as the President (really) likes to say. Coincidence? Certainly not.&nbsp;
Here, take a look at six other American<a href="https://preview.lofficielusa.com/politics-culture/black-lives-matter-movement-nominated-2021-nobel-peace-prize" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> political figures</a> who&rsquo;ve made the most of their Washington wardrobe.

Kamala Harris&nbsp;

The Vice President wore this grey suit repeatedly on the 2020 campaign trail, conveying her down to earthness, anti-political pomp attitude, and environmental conscience .

For her first national address as Vice President-elect, Harris celebrated being the first female to take a seta in the White House by wearing suffragete white and a silk pussy bow.

At a memorial service dedicated to the lives lost to COVID-19 the VP wore a Pyer Moss coat. The symbolism here lied in the charity work the brand had carried out throughout the pandemic including donating $10,000 to buy PPE for frontline healthcare workers at the start of the crisis, and launching a $100,000 fund for small minority owned businesses impacted financially by the pandemic.

At the Inauguration the VP wore a matching royal purple trench coat and dress made by American designer Christoper John Rodgers. In addition to supporting a native designer the Vice President was joining Hilary Clinton and Michelle Obama in wearing purple, the color of bipartisanship (the color equivalent of blending blue and red). 

Elizabeth Warren

Former Harvard Professor Elizabeth Warren's campaign slogan was that she "had a plan for everthing," and the frequent rolling up of her sleeves metaphorically suggested the same. The presidential candidate also often wore purple, the color of bipartisanship.

Stacey Abrams

Voting rights activist Stacey Abrams often wears lapel-less suit jackets, a style taken from the first World War when citizens were required by law to dress frugally and conserve material wherever possible. No doubt this is exemplary of Abrams' dedicated, country over party, honesty over self-gain rhetoric.

Nancy Pelosi

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi went to great lengths to coordinate a new mask to her outfit everyday. The many matching ensembles struck a stark contrast between President Trump's often maskless face. 

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

On numerous occasions Alexandria Ocasio Cortez has donned all-white in homage to the women who fought for equal rights before her.

She's also known to wear gold hoops and red lipstick, which she has said is an influence of her Bronx, New York roots.

Bernie Sanders

Bernie Sanders is perpetually disheveled. From suits that don't quite fit to wrinkled ties, casual parkas, and of course his viral mittens, Sanders has a distinctly messy style. The message it sends is that he is so busy working and serving his country, he simply has no time to iron his clothes or buy a new suit or think through clothing choices, ever. 

5 U.S. Politicians Who Speak Fluent Fashion

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