The magic that is a the group text was in full action during the inauguration. As we - Sonia, Jessica and Vicki - watched the political red carpet we shared moments that caught each of us by surprise, inspired and engaged us. Each of us enjoyed the bold colors and monochromatic styles and we all stopped and texted when second daughter Ella Emhoff stepped out in a beautifully tailored hounds tooth jacket with sparkling embellishments. In our weekly meeting we realized how moved we each were by what we saw and wanted to provide our takes on the most memorable moments.

It was definitely more than just “what they wore” it was also "Who they wore”. and what those designers stand for. Many chose American designers such as Ralph Lauren who created President Biden’s navy blue suit and overcoat and second gentlemen Doug Emhoff’s suit and overcoat. The Ralph Lauren foundation also donated $10 Million to aid coronavirus relief efforts and started producing face masks and isolation gowns at the start of the pandemic.

While our conversations were lengthy here are some of the takeaways each of us had on this momentous occasion.

Sonia’s Thoughts:

40 million viewers tuned in Wednesday to watch the Presidential Inauguration ceremony in our nation’s capital. Around the country text chat groups of friends commented on the wow moments of boldly-hued looks worn by attendees. It was as if a rainbow of light had broken through the clouds and lifted the residual gloom hanging over Washington DC from the violence and chaos that had occurred just two weeks prior. The seemingly coordinated effort showed us overcoats, high heels and full ensembles in highly saturated jewel tones of indigo, lapis, burgundy, turquoise, aqua, purple and goldenrod. As Americans watched the solemn and peaceful transfer of power, they wanted to express observations and have fun with this moment that lifted spirits in a much-needed moment of pride for our country. Social media comments drew comparisons between the black-and-white-to-Technicolor moment from The Wizard of Oz. Memes aligned the colors of the rainbow to the head-to-toe ensembles worn by First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Senator Amy Klobuchar, National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, and playfully, even Senator Bernie Sanders.

Jessica’s Thoughts:

When my husband came home after the inauguration he had so much to say. The funniest thing was when he was excited because he went to grad school with someone who knows the second grade teacher, Jen Ellis, who made the mittens for Bernie Sanders. The memes to follow were pretty epic. Our very own Sanmar jumped in the fun with their “Shop the Look” instagram. But, what really made these such a hit and why are they so hard to replicate?

More than meme worthy, these gloves are a symbol of the artisan with a side business. "Smittens" made from a combination of recycled sweaters and lined with fleece. Personally, my mother in law gifted me a pair a few Christmases ago she bought from a boutique in Door County Wisconsin which was perfect timing after I had admired some I had seen at a local farmers market. They are warm, soft and embody two major trends. One, "upcycling" which we have talked about and second is "small batch". Each pair is uniquely made and no two will look exactly alike. They are hand made by people who enjoy the art of creation.

Now everyone wants some Smittens. The original artisan, who made them as gifts for her daughter's teachers, has been inundated with requests. In a tweet on January 20 she explained that she no longer has mittens for sale but recommended jumping to Etsy for other artists. (She also now has 11.8K followers) and is promoting other people who make the same style.

This really shows there is an interest in the unique, the small and the fun. The myriad of memes brings the internet back to a place of whimsical joy. And I'm glad I had a pair before they got "grumpy cool".

Vicki’s Thoughts:

There are so many important messages that came from the very thoughtful, thought-provoking events surrounding and including the inauguration. It’s hard to know how to process such informational riches! 

One thing on my radar, are the many clothing designers that I’m now aware of, many of whom are new to me. Also, while I had heard of some of the designers I didn’t understand the important stance they were taking on sustainability.

See below for a highlight reel of notable tidbits that caught my attention. Sustainability, the historical and social importance of color, and the overall messaging about what POWER DRESSING can really mean stood out to me as major take-aways. 

Celebrate America Special

Sergio Hudson | VP Kamala Harris Black Tuxedo Coat and Black liquid sequin cocktail dress

Sergio Hudson on how he designed Vice President Kamala Harris ensemble for the Celebrate America Special | "They were going to have a small ball, and then I think when the insurrection happened they were like, 'OK, we're going to have to rethink things.' So the dress pretty much got scrapped," he admits. "So we had to kind of rework it and figure it out. They cut it off into a cocktail and the coat that she wore is a different coat than we originally designed. We had to make sure that we were being sensitive to the moment in the country."

"At the end of the day, I really wanted her to be in something fabulous, but you have to be conscious of the position that she's in," he continues. "And no one has ever had that position...I was thinking, what would the first female vice president wear as an evening look? So we took the signature dress that we did and we just made it in a liquid sequin, we added the sparkle to the already-structured silhouette and it was like, OK, we're just dressing up something that she would normally wear."

Covid Memorial Service | Vice President Kamala Harris

Kerby Jean-Raymond (Pyer Moss) | camel coat with asymmetrical drape at back, flowing out of a wave shaped yoke

"It’s also worth noting that there will have been myriad international fashion designers clamoring to dress the vice president-elect last night, yet she chose to shine the light on an immigrant-founded fashion label with a civil rights activist at the helm." British GQ, 1.20.21

Kerby Jean-Raymond of Pyer Moss, a designer dedicated to putting Black Americans back at the center of the country’s cultural fables. He was among the first designers to organize distribution of PPE at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as to raise money to help small businesses crushed by lockdown. The New York Times, 1.20.21

Covid Memorial Service | First Lady Jill Biden

Jonathan Cohen I purple wrap coat and paneled dress + mask

 According to an article in VOGUE, "Dr. Biden chose a purple wrap coat and paneled dress from the fall 2021 collection of Jonathan Cohen, one of a new generation of American designers who is championing sustainability and responsible design. The color of the coat and mask, which was made from fabric scraps from Cohen’s studio, are no coincidence. Purple is one of the Suffragettes’ colors, but more poignantly it’s what you get when red and blue are mixed together."

“Jonathan Cohen has become so known for his hand-drawn prints and custom jacquards that many of his fans can recall the exact season a fabric was introduced. Some of his textiles are so beloved, in fact, that Cohen has been re-cutting his deadstock supply into one-off and limited-edition pieces through his new project, the Studio, with the added bonus of zero waste.”

PURPLE

“Purple is the color of loyalty, constancy to purpose, unswerving steadfastness to a cause,” the National Woman’s Party wrote in a newsletter in 1913. | The New York Times, Jan. 20, 2021 | Vanessa Friedman and Jennifer Steinhauer

Inauguration

Markarian label by American designer Alexandra O'Neill | First Lady Jill Biden ocean blue book, tweed and velvet coat + matching dress (gloves and tailored mask)  

What about that shade of blue? Blue is not a surprising choice for the wife of a Democratic president. But there are hundreds of shades of blue. Mrs. Trump’s matching set on Inauguration Day in 2017, for example, was a very different kind of blue — a Jacqueline Kennedy-channeling powder blue. When Ms. O’Neill came across the base fabric for this dress, a rich (and sparkling) teal tweed, she thought it stood for “trust and loyalty.”

“That was important for us, to get that information across,” she said.”

Monochromatic

Shelby Ivey Christie | 2021 Forbes 30 Under 30 

Shelby Ivey Christie, twitter | says "Monochromatic dressing in the Black community is very purposeful + is/was a tool used to communicate political + spiritual beliefs - "

Kamala Harris, Jill Biden, Michelle Obama, Biden Granddaughters all wore head to toe color, "possibly to symbolize community and unity."