Dressing for the DNC
From Converse to pink suits, Ravayna Coe reports on the clothes the crowd wore.
In the days ahead of the Democratic National Convention, I got the sense that the gathering was poised to be a fashion moment. We all expected the speakers on stage to bring their best style (and they sure did!). But I also wanted to know about the clothes the crowd wore. We live in a time, thanks to Taylor Swift and Beyoncé and Barbie, when people are primed to get dressed for something. What’s more, the meme-inspired merch of the Harris / Walz ticket is so good it is making headlines (thanks to Vogue Business for interviewing me).
To be sure, there is a long history of campy, almost costume-like, dressing for political campaigns. I saw plenty of wild hats and campaign buttons when I was assigned to the trail myself back in 2008. What struck me about this cycle, and this campaign, has been the more thoughtful take, merging one’s personal style with a person or cause to support.
How to cover the DNC crowd style? I decided to phone a friend: Ravayna Coe, one of 200 content creators invited to attend the proceedings. She very graciously offered to be our So Many Thoughts eyes and ears on the ground, asking stylish attendees what they were wearing and — most importantly — why they were wearing it.
Below you will find a dozen stories, ranging from the person who changed his outfit to match the Harris/Walz energy to the sparkly shirt someone’s mom bought them and the ways in which people put an individual spin on the wear-white dress code. My thanks to Ravayna for these conversations!
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🇺🇸 I want to know what are YOU wearing this election season. If you have clothing or an accessory to show your support for an issue or candidate, please share in this Google form. I will highlight some of my faves in the lead up to the election.
🗳️ PS: My new favorite voting-themed sweatshirt is from the Lingua Franca collab with InStyle. Shop the collection here.
Thank you for your support of So Many Thoughts, which makes it possible for me to do this work and pay contributors like Ravayna. If you haven’t already, please consider upgrading for $5 / month. A paid subscription includes access to the SMT archive, which includes my fashion commentary from the DNC.
Dressing for the Democratic National Convention
(Photos throughout by Ravayna Coe)
EH note: To kick things off, I asked Ravayna to share her own outfit and the thought behind it. Keep scrolling for the folks she interviewed on the ground. These conversations have been edited and condensed.
Ravayna Coe
Age 39 • Los Angeles, California • Instagram: @Ravayna
Why are you at the DNC? I’ve always been interested in public policy. As an immigrant, a woman, and a mother, my very existence has become politicized, so I’ve become more dedicated to social issues. I came to Chicago not just to participate in the democratic process, but to engage with citizens and activists, encourage our Democratic lawmakers to stay true to progressive policy and in support of reproductive rights, gun control, public schools, and disability access.
What are you wearing and why? Obviously, a future madame president was the perfect excuse for a new pair of black converse and I chose the Comme de Garçons X play collection, which celebrates positive social change. Anytime that there is an opportunity for intersectionality, I choose to seize it.
The dress is Amanda Uprichard, a woman-owned business. It’s designed and made in America, in New York City. I chose it for its versatility and flexibility. It brings serious business but also serious sauce. And, as the mother to a child with high-support needs, I will never underestimate the power of a hidden skort situation. I’m a creative, and my ideas of businesswear are skewed — I fully admit that. But I’m comfortable enough to scoot around Chicago, sit in on a caucus meeting, join a protest — the cost-per-wear value is excellent. My bag is Brandon Blackwood, reads “End Systemic Racism” and makes a clear and powerful statement.
Adam Peters
Age 36 • Davenport, Iowa • Instagram @AdamPeters
Why are you at the DNC? Originally I came as a delegate for [President Joe] Biden. I used to work on his campaign in Philadelphia, thought this would be a good way of giving back to him. And I got the bonus of my life with this new, vibrant, amazing Kamala Harris / Tim Walz ticket.
What are you wearing and why? Tonight [Thursday] is really, really exciting so I wanted to go vibrant. I’m wearing vintage Nike shoes, ASOS sparkly sequin silver pants, a Raygun T-shirt and my Kamala Harris pearls.
I’m going to get a little real here. I have been out of the closet now for about 18 years. If this was a Biden convention, I would not be wearing what I’m wearing right now. I would have probably dressed up in a suit, presentable, maybe I would even say straight-passing. I’m a member of the LGBTQ community. I have struggled with internalized homophobia from a traumatic religious background and I am finally working my way through to find my own sense of style and pride in that.
Every single day [of this convention] I’ve worn something bold. This is my second or third interview with a fashion person. No one has ever come up to me in my life for that! So to say that I’m doing that here, it’s a representation of me reclaiming my sexuality and my identity. And also being young and hip and with it — just like this ticket.
Augustine Montoya
Age 25 • New Mexico • Instagram: @Augustine4NM
Why are you at the DNC? I’m a national delegate from the state of New Mexico. I get the opportunity to connect my state, which is oftentimes forgotten because of the fact that we are between Texas and Arizona, and I get the opportunity to elevate that here.
What are you wearing and why? It’s a combination of a couple of different pieces. The boots are local, Dan’s Boots and Saddles. The pants are Buckle and the jacket is Men’s District, which is in the mall by us.
I’m wearing green to represent the green chili from New Mexico and yellow to represent our flag. And then I’m also wearing an opal stone with a pendant, a gold chain, and then a gold rose. This represents my niece; I put it over my heart because I take my niece wherever I’m at.
Samantha Hope Herring
Age 54 • Freeport, Florida
Why are you at the DNC? I am a member of the Democratic National Committee and I’m here as a delegate — also to send a message to the other delegates that are here. My daughter is here as a delegate as well. It is incredible. It is just how it worked out, kind of like how I believe this whole election is going to work out. We are going to win, I’m telling you.
What are you wearing and why are you wearing it? My outfit — and part of what is our drive here is — is on behalf of the Democratic Women of Florida. My daughter and I have matching jackets and hats that really amplified the message that we wanted to carry, which is that women’s rights are human rights and this vote is important. That’s what my jacket is about. Number four — Florida 4 Women — there are more than four million voices that need to be amplified, especially when it comes to the healthcare rights that we have that have been stripped from us. It’s also a play on the Fourth Amendment on Florida ballots [Note: the Right to Abortion Initiative].
We wanted to send a really powerful message and, my God, have we! I’ve been interviewed by probably 50 people and have been on CNN.
Blair Imani Ali
Age 30 • Pasadena, California • Instagram: @BlairImani
Why are you at the DNC? I’m here to help the DNC get Smarter in Seconds. I’m really passionate about local politics, what it means to vote up and down the ballot, what it means to run for office, how to get involved, and how to take it further than the presidential election. Yes, obviously we’re here because of Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz. But we’re also here — or at least I’m here — to empower people to see beyond the November 5 timeline, to have this sustainable energy and momentum to improve the lives of everyone in the United States.
What are you wearing and why? For night four of the DNC, the memo was to wear white. So that’s what I’m doing, but I also wanted to bring my own flare to it. I’m wearing all white with a pop of color with my turban.
I’m borrowing a lot of stuff from my mom’s closet, including this skirt from Reformation with a linen overlay from Neiman Marcus. For shoes, Birdies sent me some to get around the DNC. I knew they were comfortable but I didn’t know if they were 20,000-steps-a-day comfortable — I’ve loved them, also a women-owned business. And for my top, I’m wearing Isabel Marant, it’s this gauzy vibe.
The turban is from SkinMuse, which is a Black-owned business. They have this beautiful silky scarf that I got at one of their pop-ups. I’m a Muslim woman, and I thought a pop of color would be really fun and just bring my own personality to it. I’m usually wearing so much color.
It’s really important to me, as a Muslim woman, to be able to cover how I choose. But then also, as a Black woman, to show my baby hair, just show my braids. I was just in the restroom, there was a woman, she was trying to figure out if she should keep her miniskirt or change into pants. And I was like, Hey, is this a new Democratic party. This is a new era. You can wear it. We have our legs out.
Mallory Hank-Johnson
Age 39 • Las Vegas, Nevada • Instagram: LifebyMJ
Why are you at the DNC? I’m here to connect and really take in all of these amazing experiences and these incredible people that are all here, really just trying to make our country more progressive and elevated. I’m also here to learn more about reproductive rights. As a mother of IVF, I definitely am a huge — and obviously biased — proponent of fertility rights and reproductive rights. I am looking to connect with additional individuals who share aligned values and are trying to spread that message for healthcare reasons for all women — and honestly, for families, for men, for everyone at the end of the day.
What are you wearing and why? I am wearing a royal blue blazer. To me, it’s very Democratic blue. In addition to that, I am wearing white denim jeans and then I have a sparkly sequin shirt. It says, “Faith and Freedom” in red, white, and blue. My mom actually gave me this shirt to wear specifically to the DNC. She goes to Ross on Senior Tuesdays, and she specifically was helping me out, trying to find outfits for this trip. She came across the shirt and was like, You gotta wear this!
Wearing this represented my mom and I absolutely love the message of it. It shows the duality of where so many people are in this country in terms of their faith, whether it be Christianity, no matter what faith that you may believe in, just having the belief that everyone has the right to choose how they want to live and subscribe in this world.
Chante Reddest
Age 23 • Rapid City, South Dakota • Instagram: @LakotaLightning
Why are you at the DNC? I am representing my people, representing the state of South Dakota, and a delegate to speak for the people. I am most passionate about being a good voice and a representation for the youth and the next generation.
What are you wearing and why? I’m wearing some traditional moccasins that I usually like to wear in ceremony. This sash is called a bandolier and it’s made from deer toes and a buffalo. I actually shot my first kill a few weeks ago, with this buffalo shell. I keep this to remind me of my story, this is a spiritual way of life. There was an old warrior society that used to wear these to represent the leaders that would talk for the people, that would talk for different tribes. That’s why I’m wearing this today. I made it a few weeks ago.
Kimberly Eaton
Age 62 • Pauls Valley, Oklahoma
What are you wearing and why? I grew up in the age where everything was supposed to be matchy-matchy. I am a pastor’s wife, so I am always looking for something totally different. And in Oklahoma, there’s nowhere to shop to do that so I shop all over the world. I’m also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated so this is a blue-and-white piece that I picked up so that I would always have my blue and white — of course, it goes here with the Democrats. This here is just a little skirt that I got from TJ Maxx.
I’m always looking to stand out. I am always looking not to look like everybody else. I grew up with a fashion mother. This is the way she taught me to be. I don’t know nothing else.
William Muetzenberg
Age 27 • Stockton, California • Instagram: @WilliamMuetzenberg
Why are you at the DNC? I am an elected delegate representing my congressional district. I wanted to come representing both as a young person, a person from the Central Valley, and someone who is really passionate about issues like climate change and environmental justice. I am making sure that we are fighting for clean air and clean water to ensure that our communities stay healthy.
What are you wearing and why? I am wearing a two-piece pink suit that I got from Macy’s and a white dress shirt with French cuffs and cufflinks that have my initials. I am also wearing a hat that I wore to my high school prom 10 years ago and a pair of HOKAs. I want to send a message of dapper realness. I want to evoke Americana, classic Americana, but giving it a modern twist with modern comfort.
Conscious Lee
Age 33 • Bryant, Texas • Instagram: @theConsciousLee
Why are you at the DNC? I’m inspired by hope and the issues that I care about is on the ballot. Whether I like politicians, or whether I agree with the politician, the law that they passed, I have to abide by. So I think that it’s smart for me to be around and try to influence how that policy gets curated and that’s why I came here, you feel me? And also being able to show my solidarity and show my support of Palestinian people.
What are you wearing? An all-white ensemble: Linen pants with a collarless shirt. I have the Love Edition Adidas on because I have to always show my solidarity for my people in the LGBTQ community as an unapologetic Black man.
Vice President Harris is speaking. They wanted us to wear white. It was about me trying to splash the flavor or the ambiance of how I typically do, but in more of a professional-casual setting — and being able to still politicize the outfit. I also wore my Keffiyeh bucket hat. It made it where I felt like it stuck out just enough, not too much.
Why are you wearing it? Palestinian resistance and Palestinian humanity and thinking about how Black people and Palestinian people are inextricably tied. Recognizing that in Gaza there were a lot of Palestinians that showed love for George Floyd and showed love for Black people that was in St. Louis and Mike Brown got killed. That’s what I came to do. I came to reciprocate the love.
Kwamme Anderson
Age 49 • Washington D.C.
Why are you at the DNC? I’m here to volunteer. I’m a congressional staffer and just wanted to be here to witness her story.
What are you wearing and why? I have on a Liz Claiborne vintage linen blazer with gold embellishments and some vintage gold Chanel sneakers, a Chanel bag and then this hat, I did it myself. It’s an H&M hat and I put Chanel brooches on it with an old Chanel necklace — I up-cycled.
Why are you wearing it? You are your dream. Simple as that. Always think about how you want to be remembered because, as my father told me, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
My thanks to Ravayna — give her a follow at @ravayna! — and to everyone who shared their outfits with her.
Thank you.. It was such a pleasure and so interesting to read all these people’s thoughts about their style choices. And such fun to see the outfits.
As much as i love the fashion, i love the stories behind the choices even more! Everyone chooses an outfit for a reason and I love hearing their reasons!