History was made on March 1. For the first time, two women – Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – were seated behind the president at an official State of the Union address. In his first State of the Union address, President Joe Biden spoke about global unity amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, condemning Vladimir Putin’s actions and vowing to defend democracy.
“Always a proud moment when we dress this brilliant woman.”
As she stood by the president, Harris, an expert in power dressing, wore a tailored coat and matching dress in a beautiful chocolate-brown shade, custom made by Sergio Hudson. She kept her accessories simple, wearing pearl earrings (her signature), an American-flag pin, and sleek black pumps.
Harris has worn Hudson’s pieces in the past, most notably at the Celebrating America event following the inauguration. Then she wore a tuxedo coat and shimmery sequin dress by the designer. “Dressing the vice president for the inauguration evening event is another one of my proudest moments,” Hudson told POPSUGAR after his spring 2022 show. “Anytime we get to dress the VP is an honour and a privilege because she’s a groundbreaker and such a noble woman. To be a part of that historic day was an honour.”
Since Harris’s presidential campaign, she’s continued to send messages through her sartorial choices, whether she’s uplifting emerging Black fashion designers to express unity and inclusivity or using colour to drive forward a narrative. For example, the vice president, along with Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, wore purple on Inauguration Day to signify bipartisanship and set the tone for the new administration. As brown is a color that’s often associated with resilience and stability, perhaps Harris wanted to deliver that messaging during a time of crisis in the world.
Alongside Harris, Pelosi wore a royal-blue pantsuit with a special pin on her lapel featuring both the US and Ukrainian flags instead of her usual Mace of the House pin. First Lady Jill Biden also chose a satin-blue Lapointe dress with am embroidered sunflower, Ukraine’s national flower, on her sleeve. At the presidential address, many legislators throughout the Capitol showed solidarity, dressing in Ukrainian national colours blue and yellow, outfits with sunflower motifs, and even traditional Ukrainian clothing.
Ahead, take a closer look at the vice president’s Sergio Hudson ensemble at the State of the Union address.
