New York (AFP)
Ralph Lauren, Christopher John Rogers or Markarian;
New First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, but also Joe Biden, chose to wear American designers on Wednesday for the inauguration ceremony, a long-standing tradition.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' husband Doug Emhoff had both set their sights on the designer who best symbolizes American fashion, namely Ralph Lauren, for their suits, with a lavender tie for the new president.
Ralph Lauren is a regular in the high spheres of power, and had already dressed Melania Trump during the inauguration ceremony of her husband Donald Trump, in January 2017, with a sky blue ensemble of a fitted dress and short jacket.
Joe Biden's wife, Jill, had set her sights on the small house Markarian, whose designer Alexandra O'Neill had designed a tweed dress and a matching ocean blue coat with dark blue lapels.
Despite having only created her home in 2017, the New York-based designer has already dressed a significant number of stars, from actress Laura Dern to singer Lizzo.
"It is an incredible honor to dress Dr Biden today," Alexandra O'Neill told AFP.
"I live with great humility being a very small part of history."
As for Kamala Harris, the new vice-president will have selected two young African-American designers, Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson.
The former California senator chose a purple ensemble consisting of a maxi dress and a matching coat.
A follower of a colorful and neo-glamorous style, Christopher John Rogers first walked the runway at New York Fashion Week in September 2019.
During the two terms of her husband, the former First Lady Michelle Obama had also regularly put the spotlight on American designers from diverse backgrounds, as no dignitary had done before her.
If she had started her husband's presidency by choosing an American designer, Melania Trump has most often worn European couturiers thereafter, in particular Italian designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci or Prada.
© 2021 AFP