Style, fashion play at President Biden’s inauguration

By Jeffrey G. White 4 years ago

Inauguration Day was a bold and blue day.

The new first lady Jill Biden on Wednesday wore an ocean-blue dress by designer Alexandra O’Neill and matching long coat and gloves as she accompanied her husband, President Joe Biden.

President Biden donned a blue tie and blue suit and overcoat by Ralph Lauren as he was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.

America’s fashion industry was given a boost of confidence on Inauguration Day, according to CNN.

Jill Biden wore velvet cuffs and a dress embellished with Swarovski crystals and pearls (as well as a matching face mask) designed by Colorado-born designer Alexandra O’Neill of the emerging American label Markarian.

Pops of color were everywhere, specifically with Vice President Kamala Harris’ purple dress suit and black patent leather heels. Harris’ dress and coat were by Christopher John Rogers of Baton Rouge, La. Rogers is one of the most buzzed-about young Black designers working today, having dressed former first lady Michelle Obama, Beyoncé and Rihanna.

Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman sported a bright-yellow
Prada coat with a vibrant red head band. Her mask was embellished with silver.

Ahead of her reading, Gorman was gifted a pair of earrings and birdcage ring by celebrity Oprah Winfrey; Gorman wore the ring on her right hand, referencing previous inauguration poet Maya Angelou’s work “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” according to yahoo.com. Winfrey also sent Angelou a gift before her reading at Bill Clinton’s 1993 inauguration.

Gorman was the youngest poet to perform at a presidential inauguration. She read from her work “The Hill We Climb.” Among its signature passages was, “When day comes, we ask ourselves: / Where we can find light / In this never-ending shade?”

As winds whipped during the inauguration, some attendees kept warm with wool mittens and scarves. Others wore heavy coats and boots. Bernie Sanders was spotted in wool mittens given to him by a teacher from Vermont. They were a hit on social media.

The Rev. Silvester Beaman, who delivered the benediction, wore a gray and black multi-
design scarf and cool shades.

Michelle Obama, known for an impeccable fashion sense, wore a long, maroon blazer and jump suit. She accessorized with a pair of black gloves. A hint of a blue tie could be seen on former President Obama.

Performers Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez did not disappoint — the former donned a full red skirt and black top by Schiaparelli, while the latter chose a white Chanel pantsuit and ruffle blouse.

Closing the musical numbers was country singer Garth Brooks, who performed “Amazing Grace.” Before he began, Brooks — clad in blue jeans and a big ole’ belt buckle — removed his large black cowboy hat. For the hymn’s last verse, he asked the crowd and people watching at home to sing along.

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne at 724-853-5062, [email protected] or via Twitter .

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