From Chloé to Converse, the clothing worn by presidential candidates along the campaign trail sets an important first impression. Many of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris’s looks have been sparking discourse online.

Harris has been receiving backlash after pairing a cream suit and a $62,000 Tiffany & Co. necklace during her campaign in Texas. Voters questioned how she could represent the middle class when her necklace costs more than the average income in the U.S., which, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, is $37,585. 

Harris has also worn many outfits created by Black designers, such as her purple suit designed by Christopher John Rogers. Additionally, Harris has also been experimenting with pastel suits. These wash out her skin tone and the light colors seem unprofessional for such an official job.

One issue with Trump’s suits is that they simply don’t fit him. Trump boasts shoulder pads that extend one or two inches beyond the edge of his shoulders and pants that sag beyond his ankles. He claims his suits are from the Italian brand Brioni in his 2004 book “Trump: Think Like a Billionaire.” Luxury brands are generally willing to create custom looks for public figures, or at least to do the bare minimum by altering the suit. The lack of fitting is out of character for Brioni. 

 What’s more obscure are his outfit repeats. Trump is breaking no barriers in men’s fashion by repeating the same three ties. Red, yellow, and blue stripes are his go-to’s. This is very boring for fashion girlies, and it also makes it difficult to differentiate between events he attends. While each candidate has fashion flaws, they both have distinct styles that are recognizable throughout the campaign.

This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on November 4, 2024