Kamala Harris Wears Head-to-Toe Black for President Donald Trump's Second Inauguration
She left a style legacy as the first woman Vice President.


For her final appearance as Vice President, Kamala Harris returned to the codes that defined her professional style over the course of the Biden-Harris administration.
Harris attended a customary stop on President Donald Trump's second Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, greeting the incoming President, Vice President, and their spouses at the White House alongside outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. (The event precedes the formal inauguration ceremony, to be held inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda.)
She dressed in head-to-toe black: a black overcoat, black trousers, and black pointed-toe pumps. A black-and-white illustrated scarf tied at her neck added slight contrast to the otherwise monochromatic look. Her signature pearl stud earrings peeked out from beneath her hair. Harris was most likely styled by Leslie Fremar, whom she began working with during her campaign against Trump for the 47th presidency.
Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Elmhoff, wait to greet the incoming President and Vice President at the White House.
Her spouse, Doug Elmhoff, also dressed in shades of gray and black. Designer credits were not yet available for the Vice President's clothing at press time.
President Biden and Dr. Biden opted for a diplomatic color scheme, both dressed in Ralph Lauren styled by Bailey Moon. The outgoing FLOTUS's wrap coat and dress underneath came in a shade of purple—a common shorthand for political unity in the United States, as it mixes blue (the color of the Democratic party) and red (the color of the Republican party).
The Biden-Harris administration stands outside the White House.
Kamala Harris and Doug Elmhoff stand with JD Vance and Usha Vance.
Inside the Capitol Rotunda, Harris removed her black coat to reveal a black suit. The set included a zip-up collared jacket, in lieu of her usual blazer, and black trousers.
Inside the Capitol Rotunda, Harris removed her coat to reveal a black zip-up jacket and slim-cut trousers.
Kamala Harris leaves Washington, D.C. today with a style legacy that had promoted U.S. designers—particularly designers of color—and diplomacy. In 2021, when President Biden was formally inaugurated, she wore a purple single-breasted coat by New York City-based label Christopher John Rogers. That look kicked off four years of championing Black designers such as Rogers and Sergio Hudson, as well as women-led brands including Gabriela Hearst and Tory Burch. Those choices nodded to the historic nature of Harris's appointment, as the first woman, and first woman of Black and South Asian heritage, to hold the office of U.S. Vice President.
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In terms of silhouettes, Harris often relied on power suits involving single-breasted blazers and single-pleat pants—frequently with a strand of pearls or Tiffany jewelry. Occasionally, formal events would call her to wear sequin gowns, like the LaQuan Smith dress she chose for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 53rd Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner last September.
Kamala Harris wears purple to the 2021 Inauguration of President Biden.
Harris also carefully deployed fashion over her campaign against President Trump until the very end. After a campaign filled with custom suiting in shades of blue (for the Democratic party) and tan (referencing her viral "coconut tree" quote), and plenty of her Tiffany earrings, she conceded the race on Nov. 7 in a custom Tory Burch suit. The eggplant purple was, yet again, a nod to unity—a theme she referenced in her speech.
Vice President Harris wore custom Tory Burch to deliver her concession speech last November.
"My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country and full of resolve," she said.
"Sometimes the fight takes a while," she continued. "That doesn't mean we won't win."
Correction: An earlier version of this article referred to President Donald Trump's second presidency as the 46th. It is the 47th.
Halie LeSavage is the senior fashion and beauty news editor at Marie Claire, where she assigns, edits, and writes stories for both sections. Halie is an expert on runway trends, celebrity style, emerging fashion and beauty brands, and shopping (naturally). In over seven years as a professional journalist, Halie’s reporting has ranged from fashion week coverage spanning the Copenhagen, New York, Milan, and Paris markets, to profiles on industry insiders like celebrity stylist Molly Dickson, to breaking news stories on noteworthy brand collaborations and beauty product launches. (She can personally confirm that Bella Hadid’s Ôrebella perfume is worth the hype.) She has also written dozens of research-backed shopping guides to finding the best tote bags, ballet flats, and more. Most of all, Halie loves to explore what style trends—like the rise of emotional support accessories or TikTok’s 75 Hard Style Challenge—can say about culture writ large. She also justifies almost any purchase by saying it’s “for work.”
Halie has previously held writer and editor roles at Glamour, Morning Brew, and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been cited as a fashion and beauty expert in The Cut, CNN Underscored, and Reuters, among other outlets, and appears in newsletters like Selleb and Self Checkout to provide shopping recommendations. In 2022, she earned the Hearst Spotlight Award for excellence and innovation in fashion journalism. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Harvard College. Outside of work, Halie is passionate about books, baking, and her miniature Bernedoodle, Dolly. For a behind-the-scenes look at her reporting, you can follow Halie on Instagram and TikTok.
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