Jill Biden and Kamala Harris spotlight American designers at Joe Biden's inauguration
Jill Biden and Kamala Harris are using their first moments as First Lady and Vice President of the United States to put American designers in the spotlight.
For her husband's inauguration, Dr Biden is wearing an ocean blue wool tweed coat and dress custom made by up-and-coming designer Alexandra O'Neill of New York label Markarian.
Joe Biden's presidential inauguration: live updates
First Lady Jill Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris are spotlighting American designers. AP
The dress is tapered with a "chiffon bodice and scalloped skirt", InStyle reports, and hand-embellished with Swarovski pearls and crystals.
The colour — also featured on Dr Biden's gloves and face mask — is symbolic, O'Neill explaining it was chosen to exude "trust, confidence and stability".
Dr Biden in a coat and dress by Alexandra O'Neill. AP
Harris is wearing a dress and coat in a vibrant shade of purple, created by two Black designers, Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson.
The new Vice-President — the first woman and woman of colour to be elected to the role in US history — teamed the garments with a pearl necklace by Puerto Rican jeweler Wilfredo Rosado.
WATCH: Lady Gaga performs the US National Anthem at Biden-Harris Inauguration
Like Converse trainers, pearls have become a trademark for Harris, and are worn as a nod to her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Harris' outfit was designed by Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson. AP
Harris' choice of purple was significant, too. According to CNN's Abby Phillips, Harris featured the colour prominently in her presidential campaign as an homage to Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for president. During Chisholm's 1972 campaign, purple was used for the Democrat's flyers.
Purple is also the result of mixing blue and red, the colours of America's Democratic and Republican political parties, leading many to suggest it's a symbol of the country's unity.
Newly sworn-in president Joe Biden and Harris' husband Doug Emhoff are both wearing suits by prominent American designer Ralph Lauren.
RELATED: Meet Amanda Gorman, the poet who stole the show at Biden's inauguration
Michelle Obama wears a striking magenta outfit. AP
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is also wearing Sergio Hudson, turning heads in a magenta coat with a turtleneck jumper and wide-leg trousers in complementary shades.
She completed the outfit with a statement gold belt, black leather gloves and a black face mask.
RELATED: Lady Gaga tells Michelle Obama she looks 'wonderful' at inauguration
Pop star Lady Gaga also made quite the fashion statement as she performed the US National Anthem.
Lady Gaga is in a striking red and navy dress. AP
The singer teamed a ball gown by Schiaparelli Haute Couture, featuring a fitted navy bodice and voluminous red skirt, with an eye-catching gold dove brooch.
She explained the significance of the symbol on Twitter, writing: "A dove carrying an olive branch. May we all make peace with each other."
Most viewed in Fashion & Beauty
Australia’s biggest names dazzle at Derby Day in an unforgettable sea of black and white looks
Annalise Dalins celebrates at hens in $5900 dress ahead of one of biggest Aussie celebrity weddings of the year
Melbourne Cup Carnival is upon us – here’s what we’re likely to see in the style stakes
AHAs, vitamin C and retinol: The ingredients your skin needs at each decade, according to Trinny Woodall
