Kamala Harris doesn’t let her fashion choices speak for her. Harris doesn’t let anyone talk for her. But her style choices often cause controversy. People praise or criticize her, depending on how they feel about her.

Kamala Harris wore a rhinestone rainbow jacket at the San Francisco Pride Parade in 2019. The politician wore a jean jacket covered in rhinestones in rainbow colors. SFGate reports that Kamala waved to the crowds as she rode in a red convertible sports car driven by Kris Perry and Sandy Tier, whom she married in 2013 while attorney general.

Kamala’s suffragette suit

The white pantsuit that Kamala Harris wore in Wilmington, Delaware, in November 2020 was not just a white suit. The silk Carolina Herrera two-piece made a strong statement, as noted by Diet Prada. “For those who say ‘Don’t mix politics with fashion,’ let’s appreciate our future Vice President Kamala Harris’s choice to highlight the history of the suffragette movement by wearing white for her historic victory speech,” the outlet raved on Instagram.

Vogue’s controversial Kamala cover Vogue was criticized for not featuring Melania Trump on its front cover during Donald Trump’s presidency. 

In July 2024, Vogue endorsed Kamala Harris for president. She was on the cover in February 2021 when she was vice president-elect. The politician wore a pink sweater, a Donald Deal jacket, and Converse sneakers. It was one of Harris’ most controversial outfits.

Kamala Harris’s controversial outfits were designed by Dolce & Gabbana. In January 2021, she wore a $1,165 wool and lace sweater from Italy. Later, Harris wore a $2,395 gray blazer and matching pants. The next day, she wore a $995 sweater with a chevron pattern. In February, she wore a $995 lace dress.

Harris isn’t the first Washington woman to face backlash for supporting the label. Melania Trump and Jill Biden have also been involved, and D&G’s history makes them controversial. The designers have worn blackamoor earrings, been at a Disco Africa party, posed with someone in blackface, opposed gay parenthood, released a slave sandal, and run ads with an Asian model eating with chopsticks. Stefano Gabbana reportedly messaged an Instagram user who criticized the campaign, calling China “ignorant, dirty, and smelling of a mafia.”

Kamala’s Timberlands

In politics, everything you do will cause controversy. Melania Trump was criticized for wearing high heels while surveying Hurricane Harvey’s damage in Texas. 

In September 2020, Kamala Harris caused controversy for wearing practical footwear to tour a disaster site—this time, the California wildfire devastation. People on social media disagreed about the look. “It’s nice to see a woman in the White House who isn’t wearing $1,000 heels.” It’s nice to see someone down-to-earth! “Maybe it’s a female thing,” a fan wrote.