10/7/24

Election Year Fashion Forecasting

The United States of America will potentially have its first female president in January — how might this impact upcoming styles and trends?

Written by Mia Fazio
Designed by Megan Sharon

The U.S. is at a major political turning point. With the impending election this November, the U.S. will be facing either a second Donald Trump presidency, or Kamala Harris as the first female president. 

In the event of a Harris-Walz win, the fashion realm in America will be turned on its head. A female presidency in the U.S. is completely unprecedented; thus the potential of a novel win from Harris could reroute upcoming trends and styles in the nation. With a Harris win, an air of feminine professionalism will take the forefront of trending U.S. fashion. 

A major trend on the rise is tweed — already revitalizing its prevalence in the current fashion scene, tweed is guaranteed to have a full scale rush in popularity if Harris wins the presidential election. Tweed is chic and put-together, a prime example of feminine professionalism — both classy and wearable in nearly all situations. 

Beyond the mere visual aesthetics tweed aligns with, its implications and history as a political statement remain noteworthy. In the late 1800s, women in Europe and America used tweed fashion as a means of accelerating women’s rights and empowerment. Tweed posed a stark difference from how womanhood had been previously defined in the Victorian era, as it allowed women to reconceive what femininity meant to them. 

A few decades later — in the 1920s — tweed burst in popularity when Coco Chanel released a female line of tweed clothing. Tweed became all the more popular in America specifically throughout JFK’s presidency, with first lady Jackie Kennedy wearing pieces from Chanel’s line. 

Between tweed’s marketability as a sophisticated, professional staple for women, and its overall history as a tool in redefining womanhood, tweed is predicted to be a pivotal yet stylish look during what could be the first U.S. female presidency.

Another aspect of this potential progression will be a strong reemergence of pinstripes. The pinstripe pattern is well on its way to a colossal resurgence already, but with the prediction of a rise in feminine stylistic professionalism, it is likely to be displayed across America. 

Pinstripes will go from an office staple to a daily piece, in pants, blazers, skirts, vests, etc. They may even be popularized in pinstripe jeans, which have been on the rise recently — adding a professional flare to an everyday look, ultimately a style that will be much more common if Harris wins this election.

With Harris’ viewpoint on climate change as an “existential crisis,” sustainability in styles is sure to be brought to the forefront of fashion conversations if she is inaugurated. With this in mind, there may be less of an emphasis on fast fashion. Furthermore, greater attention could be placed on more ethically manufactured clothing, and to the brands that are promoting these practices and being mindful of their environmental impact.

In the case that the U.S. sees a Harris-Walz inauguration, the state of fashion in the nation will be altered for quite some time. The U.S. has experienced a Trump presidency before, and has only ever had male presidents. A win from Harris, introducing a woman to the Oval Office for the first time, would shape fashion in a completely unprecedented way for an American political figure.