How Kamala Harris' style has changed throughout her career
Amanda Krause
- Kamala Harris has a lengthy political career accompanied by a professional style evolution.
- She's experimented with conservative suits, sparkling gowns, and lots of jewelry.
Kamala Harris could become the first woman president of the United States this November.
In doing so, she could also bring fashion to the White House at a level we've yet to see throughout the nation's history.
When Harris was elected district attorney of San Francisco in 2003, she was seemingly still finding her style. But that started to change after she was elected attorney general of California in 2010 — a role she held between 2011 and 2017 — and began to perfect her uniform of suits, jewelry, and sneakers.
"Her style is reflective of her leadership: strong, polished, and always intentional," designer LaQuan Smith, who has dressed Harris, told The Washington Post about the vice president. "She gravitates toward pieces that empower her but also speak to her individuality, and that's what I love about working with her."
Here's a look at her earlier fashion moments, what she's been wearing on the campaign trail, and how her style has evolved.
Kamala Harris has been sporting classic office attire since the start of her career.
When working as San Francisco's district attorney in the early 2000s, she was often photographed wearing neutral-colored suits and conservative tops.
Pearl jewelry, typically in the form of earrings, was also a staple of Harris' early wardrobe.
Outside work, Harris has always dressed more casually with subtly chic pieces.
For example, at the 2011 Kidstock Benefit, she arrived wearing blue jeans, a plain black top, and a zip-up jacket.
But to accessorize the look, she sported her signature earrings and a black Hermès belt with the brand's initial in the form of a golden buckle.
Little did Harris know at the time, she was way ahead of the quiet status-symbol trend.
Harris' style evolution can most clearly be seen in her red-carpet attire, which was once simple and shiny.
At an Emmy's soiree in 2012, Harris blended a work-appropriate silhouette with California glamour.
She wore a gold satin dress from Ralph Lauren. It was shapeless in design and reflected the light around her. It also had a single thick strap across one shoulder and a knee-length skirt.
Harris completed the outfit with yellow bangles, strappy black sandals, a Bottega Veneta clutch, and hoop earrings.
The outfit was subdued enough for a state's attorney general but still fun enough to show her personality.
Over time, Harris began experimenting with more daring details for evening events.
At the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar party, Harris sported a sleeveless black Pamella Roland gown featuring three sheer panels across its sequined bodice.
The dress, which had a floor-length skirt, was accessorized with the same Bottega Veneta clutch she had carried years earlier and a gold bracelet.
Her husband, Doug Emhoff, walked the carpet alongside Harris in a navy suit and silver tie.
Harris frequently wears pantsuits, but skirts and dresses have also been part of the vice president's wardrobe.
Harris was photographed wearing the latter in 2017 while going to a closed intelligence briefing.
Her navy dress was the same shade as her matching blazer, both subtly nodding to the Democratic party she belongs to.
She also added a hint of old-school style to the look with layered pearl necklaces and studded pearl earrings.
Sustainability has quietly been a big part of Harris' fashion over the years.
Rather than updating her style every few months with changing trends, Harris has found specific pieces — her Bottega Veneta clutch being one example — that serve as regular staples of her wardrobe.
Look no further than the J. Mendel gown that Harris wore to the 2014 LACMA Art + Film Gala. The sleeveless dress had a V-neckline, fitted waist, and silver fabric decorated with a floral lace overlay.
Harris wore the gown for the first time that night and donned it again four years later at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in Washington, DC.
By rewearing pieces, Harris has shown both the consistency of her style and a commitment to sustainability — something she's discussed throughout her career.
She also often dresses to support causes she cares about.
That's especially true for Pride events that Harris has attended over the years.
2019 was a standout example, as Harris then spoke at San Fransisco Pride wearing one of her flashiest outfits to date.
She donned white jeans, her signature Converse sneakers in cream, and a denim jacket bedazzled with the colors of the rainbow.
Harris made one of her biggest fashion statements at Joe Biden's inauguration in January 2021.
Rather than wearing the traditional colors of blue or red for the historic day, Harris arrived in a purple coat and matching outfit designed by Christopher John Rogers.
The choice of color could have been a nod to the suffragette movement, which often used purple in its early days, or as a symbol of bipartisanship, mixing the red and blue colors of Republicans and Democrats to create purple.
Harris also could have been referencing Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for president. She wore purple throughout her campaign.
And her style has continued to evolve during her time as vice president.
For a White House event in December 2022, Harris wore an elegant black gown with a peplum waist and crystal belt designed by Vera Wang.
She also sported opera gloves, a fashionable accessory that screamed sophistication and style.
In recent months, Harris has shown what her presidential style might look like if she got elected.
Throughout her 2024 presidential run, Harris' fashion has been simultaneously practical, feminine, and patriotic.
She's worn various shades of blue on the campaign trail in honor of her party, as has Emhoff, the potential first gentleman of the United States.
She's also mixed more formal workwear, like ocean-blue blazers and pearl necklaces, with simpler dark jeans and her favored Converse sneakers.
More statement gowns from young designers could be in her future.
For the Phoenix Awards in September, designer LaQuan Smith created a black, sequined gown with an asymmetrical neckline for Harris.
He told The Washington Post that he conceptualized the long-sleeved dress over a single day.
"I believe what appeals to her about my designs is the boldness, the confidence, and the unapologetic glamour I bring," he told the publication. "My garments are for powerful women who are comfortable standing out, and I think that speaks to her strength as a leader."
Popular Right Now
Popular Keywords
Advertisement