What YOU Wore: Election Season
The merch that got your vote.
With just six weeks until the US presidential election, I wanted to shine a spotlight on what YOU are wearing this campaign cycle. In our hyper-visual age of intentional dressing, these choices feel deeply personal — a clear way to broadcast one’s values with the world.
I asked here on Substack and over on Instagram what you have put on to support an issue or a candidate, then narrowed the submissions down to the dozen below. Scroll through for a range of attire — as well as the thought behind it, naturally — from the people in the pictures. (If the person offered a link, I added that in, too.)
Thank you to everyone who took the time to share! I loved hearing from you.
But first! Two special shoutouts:
For beaded bracelets, I adore the work of Neha aka @snugglesandpeanut. We first connected over her vaccine bracelets years ago; I wear her pieces regularly. The best part: Neha donates half of all proceeds from her Etsy sales. She breaks down the amounts and causes in the shop description, with more than $75,000 given to date. Her Harris / Walz collection is done in the most beautiful blues. Take a look here.
If you are looking for a cozy sweatshirt, check out the “Voting is In Style” line, a collaboration between InStyle and Lingua Franca. I wear mine all the time and it’s a great conversation starter. Executive Editor Danielle McNally (who is wonderful) had this to say:
“I’m going to try to wear it as often as possible — to the office, to school drop-off, to NYFW events, to run errands — spreading the message anywhere and everywhere that, as a democracy, we get to decide the kind of country we want to be and voting is our way to do so. I want to remind people that voting isn’t a chore (though it is difficult to do in some states), or simply our responsibility; being civically engaged is cool! Caring is cool! Fighting for your rights is cool! We’re lucky that we get to vote (not every country does) and we should be excited to do so. I know I am!”
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PS: I focused the below on clothing and accessories. But! If you are looking for a yard sign, my friend Natalie found a Barbie-inspired one. 💖
What YOU Wore: Election Season
Before we begin, a friendly reminder for when you head to the polls: Please check the rules in your state about what you can wear. Many ban campaigning, including clothes and accessories tied to a certain candidate, within a designated radius of each polling place. Glamour has a helpful overview from 2022 here.
Please note: Some of these responses have been lightly edited.
Caley
“I got a gorgeous t-shirt from @transpainter on Etsy. It says ‘VOTE’ and has beautiful florals drawn all around it in the prettiest colors. I work in higher education and got it to wear under blazers and cardigans to work on campus all fall. It’s a not-so-subtle reminder to our college students to get registered to vote and then actually go to the poll on election day(s). I wore it for Minnesota’s primary in August and people asked me about my shirt, which was so fun and exactly why I got it! Bonus that the purchase supports a queer-owned small business.”
Carolyn
“I’m wearing a Kamala tee because I want folks to put some respect on her name and pronounce it properly. I’m named after my grandmother and as simple as our name is, it is constantly misspelled or mispronounced. Attacks on her name feel personal! I’m also wearing a rose gold VOTE necklace by Bychari. Michelle Obama wore one at the 2020 DNC on Zoom. Please vote like our lives and futures depend on it because they do! Also, I’m super excited to see what Madam President will wear to the inauguration!”
Elizabeth
“Raygun, a progressive store based in Des Moines, has THE BEST selection of political attire. In fact, the morning of the VP announcement, I happened to check my email and that’s how I found out Walz was the pick: Raygun already had shirts designed. They were also very quick with the Childless Cat Ladies for Kamala shirts, in addition to Childless cat/dog guys. My in-laws live in Iowa City and there’s a store here — we were visiting with the grandkids and it was heaven to walk through. Bought a coconut-tree shirt.
Wearing it because I am passionate about democracy and abortion rights, but I bought a Hillary onesie for my daughter in 2016 and a Beto shirt for myself in 2022 and both were losses. (I’m from Texas.) I didn’t want to buy anything with Kamala’s name on it because I don’t want to jinx anything. I wore it around the Iowa City Farmer’s Market and plan to wear it around NYC, where we live, all fall! Paired with a Texas Longhorn hat so folks know there ARE Democrats from Texas!”
Amy
“At convention, we got the hook up to the very exclusive and back-ordered camo Harris Walz hats. I have never worn something and gotten so many comments and compliments and WHERE DO I GET THATs in my whole life.”
Kristina
“I have a shirt from a joke I wrote and it says ‘I’m a love your neighbor Christian not a storm the Capitol kind.’ People love it and we wear it to show there are loving Christians out there who aren’t extreme!”
Angi
“This amazing hat from Read Receipts and shirt from Zenbox Studio! I live in a swing state and I want my neighbors who see me at the grocery store or the gas station or Target or Petsmart to know what I stand for and to think about what they’re going to do in November!”
Grace
“Wearing my Abortion Enthusiast sweatshirt *everywhere* because there’s nothing I love more than the chill of fall and crushing abortion stigma. I live in semi-rural PA, and I find that it’s so important to talk to people about more than just candidates but actual issues that impact us all — like abortion access. Abortion is a moral good, and it’s something I firmly believe we should all be *enthusiastic* and loud in our support of. Plus this shirt benefits Physicians for Reproductive Health, which is an incredible org supporting and training abortion providers to be loud advocates in the media for the incredible day to day work they do.”
Andrea
“As the wife of a rabbi in a small(ish), conservative southern town I have been really struggling with how to express my political leanings. I know that my neighbors overwhelmingly support Trump but there aren’t a ton of flags/signs etc and while our congregation is mostly progressive, I don’t want to make people uncomfortable. For now, I have settled on two pieces — my mom’s VOTE bracelet and my ‘Momala for Kamala’ bag. I do not excel at dressing intentionally but am trying to be a bit more thoughtful as I creep into my mid 40s!”
Megan
“Ever since Hillary I’ve been wary of getting too excited about presidential elections. But since Kamala and Tim entered the race, I’ve felt more motivated to express myself and stand up for things that matter. The Childless Cat Lady merchandise is perfect for me. I’m proud to wear it. I also have a Harris-Walz t-shirt in the design of ‘Schoolhouse Rock,’ and some hand made ‘Cat Ladies for Kamala’ stickers that I found on Etsy.”
[EH note: Megan asked me to update her comment after publication for more context.]
Erin
“My Kamala pride shirt from 2020. Loved her then and love her now! I’m so grateful for the hope and excitement she’s brought back to this election year. I’ll be wearing it around town and as I write my GOTV postcards to voters all around the country.”
Brittney
“I don’t live in a swing state, so my election style is all about getting people excited and talking. It’s a great conversation starter, which can lead to convos about down ballot races! I have 3 Kamala-themed shirts I plan on wearing a lot (‘Harris 2024.” ‘,la,’ and ‘How hard can it be? Boys do it’), which I can wear anywhere from kids soccer games to PTO meetings. I’m also not going to hold back on my USA/flag apparel! Usually I reserve it for Fourth of July, but I feel like I can wear it around proudly and *not* be mistaken for MAGA.
I am an oldest daughter who loves an assignment. Give me a theme and I will die on that hill. I spent months planning my Eras outfit, and I don’t think this is any different. There’s a thrill from being a part of an exciting movement, and we want to find each other wherever we are. Even a simple ‘I like your shirt’ in a grocery store aisle is worth it—for a moment, we’re united in a common cause, and it’s nice.”
John
“Because it is important for people who look and sound like me to show that it is OK to stand up for the rights of others. That it is expected that we respect the rights of others, I have been saying “You don't have to agree with my life choices but you shouldn't get to restrict them because your religion says it’s a sin.” This election will decide how my daughter grows up, will she be able to become the astronaut she wants to be or will she be a second-class citizen. I am not a fashion person, some say I am the antithesis of fashion, but I enjoy following your account. Keep doing good.”
(Photos throughout submitted by the person pictured.)
My thanks to everyone (especially John 🫶!). Do you have something you are wearing this fall to support an issue or a candidate? Please click below to share in the comments.
John reminds me so much of my dad! A midwesterner to his core, rugged, hunter, outdoorsman and a democrat. Women’s rights is his #1 voter issue being a father to 2 girls, and a grandpa to 2 granddaughters. 💕 he makes that known. I’m a big ole “THAT’S MY DAD!”
Cheers to my dearest friend Annie Lumerman on creating the Momala for Kamala bag back in 2020 and bringing back the refresh for 2024!