ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JANUARY 22-23, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places Fashion Styles with message Purple & pearls rule inauguration fashion WASHINGTON, Jan 21, (Agencies): Joe Biden and Kamala Harris showcased American designers at their inauguration Wednesday, and Harris gave a nod to women’s suffrage, Shirley Chisholm and her be- loved sorority in pearls and purple. Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush also donned hues of purple. Harris has cited Chisholm, a Democrat from New York, as an inspiration for her career. Chisholm was the fi rst Black woman elected to Congress and the fi rst Black major-party candidate to run for US president. Pearls had a strong fashion showing, in line with a social media campaign that had inauguration watch- ers donning strands in support and celebration of Har- ris. Nobody in attendance did them quite like Jennifer Lopez - from earrings to brace- lets - as she sang “This Land is Your Land” in head-to-toe white Chanel. Rep. Barbara Lee, a Cali- fornia Democrat, wore a pearl necklace owned by Chisholm herself. It was a gift from Chisholm’s goddaughter. “Because of Shirley Chisholm, I am,” Lee, who is Black, posted on Twitter. “Be- cause of Shirley Chisholm, Harris Vice President Harris is.” The pearls Harris wore, by Wilfredo Rosado, were also a symbol of unity with her sisters in Alpha Kappa Alpha, the fi rst African American Greek-letter soror- Lady Gaga performs during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden in Washington, Jan 20. (AP) ity, said Rachel Torgerson, fashion features director for Cosmopolitan. The sorority’s founders are re- ferred to as the “Twenty Pearls.” Every new member receives a badge adorned with 20 pearls. Harris attended Howard University, one of the na- tion’s historically Black colleges and universities. “There’s no doubt that every part of her look today celebrates who she is, where she came from and where she hopes to lead the country. Every piece was care- fully considered and packed with meaning,” Torger- son said. Like Harris, Rosado is the child of immigrants. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders drew fashion praise on social media for his cozy, comfortable inauguration wear: His signature beige parka and a pair of knit pat- terned mittens. The look earned him his own inaugu- ration Bobblehead to mark his viral fashion moment. It’s now on pre-sale for $25 at the National Bobble- head Hall of Fame and Museum’s online store. Handcrafted Jill Biden wore an ocean blue wool tweed coat over a dress by American designer Alexandra O’Neill of the Markarian label. The new fi rst lady’s matching American poet Amanda Gorman reads a poem during the 59th Presidential In- Jennifer Lopez sings during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol. coat and dress included a velvet collar and cuffs on auguration. (A) (AP) the coat, and a chiffon bodice and scalloped skirt on the dress. The neckline of the dress is embellished with Swarovski pearls and crystals. The same crys- tals adorn the coat. The outfi t was handcrafted in New York City. Aides said Harris was dressed in Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson. Both are Black designers, Rogers from Louisiana and Hudson from South Caro- lina. Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, wore a Ralph Lauren suit. Michelle Obama, a fashion icon, drew praise from fans on social media for her belted pantsuit in plum, also by Hudson. Joe Biden wore a navy blue suit and overcoat by Ralph Lauren. It was a change from Brooks Brothers, the oldest US clothier at 202. The brand has outfi tted 41 of the 46 American presidents, including Barack Obama during his inauguration in 2009. Brooks Brothers fell on hard fi nancial times last year, when it fi led for bankruptcy reorganization and announced a planned sale. Ralph Lauren has a history of nonpartisan dressing, including moments with Michelle Obama and outgoing fi rst lady Melania Bruce Springsteen performs during the Celebrating America event on Jan 20. Tom Hanks speaks at the Celebrating America concert at the Lincoln Memorial Trump. Joe Biden wore Polo shirts, emblazoned with (AP) in Washington. (AP) the label’s pony and polo player logo, to take both of his COVID-19 vaccinations on television. Véronique Hyland, fashion features director for Elle magazine, noted the wins for young American Inauguration designers. “They chose a diverse group of talents - Christo- pher John Rogers, Pyer Moss’ Kerby Jean-Raymond, Markarian’s Alexandra O’Neill and Jonathan Cohen - to be a part of this historic moment,” she said. “It Inaugural poet Gorman read with urgency, assertion made for a meaningful statement at this particular time, when all small businesses, including fashion businesses, are in need of support and spotlighting.” Harris’ choice to wear pieces by Black designers “felt particularly signifi cant in light of her triply his- ‘Even as we grieved, we grew’ toric title as the fi rst female, Black and Asian Ameri- can vice president of our country,” Hyland added. NEW YORK, Jan 21, (AP): Inaugural beth Alexander. A native and resident inaugural was a kind of valedictory As for the color purple, it was a symbol of unity and poet Amanda Gorman summoned im- of Los Angeles and the country’s first - he was 86 and died two years later. bipartisanship. Republican Red and Democratic blue ages dire and triumphant Wednesday National Youth Poet Laureate, Gor- Gorman’s career is just beginning. Her make purple. as she called out to the world “even as man told The Associated Press last first two books come out later this year we grieved, we grew.” week that she planned to combine a - the picture story “Change Things” Message In language referencing Biblical message of hope for President Joseph and a bound edition of her inaugural “If there’s a message to be taken from today’s in- In this image from video, Eva Longoria scripture and at times echoing the ora- Biden’s inaugural without ignoring poem. Ceremonial works are often auguration fashion, it’s that those who attended are speaks during the Celebrating America tory of John F. Kennedy and the Rev. “the evidence of discord and division.” quickly forgotten, but Angelou’s “On signaling faith in unity and bipartisanship, as well as event on Jan 20, following the inaugu- Martin Luther King Jr., the 22-year- She had completed a little more than the Pulse Of the Morning,” which she restoring truth and trust,” Torgerson said. ration of Joe Biden as the 46th presi- old Gorman read with urgency and as- half of “The Hill We Climb” before read at the 1993 inaugural of President Hillary Clinton confi rmed she wore “purple with a dent of the United States. (AP) sertion as she began by asking “Where Jan. 6 and the siege of the US Capitol Clinton, went on to sell more than 1 purpose,” telling The Associated Press: “I want to just can we find light/In this never-ending by supporters of then-President Don- million copies as a book. send a bit of a symbolic message that we need to come shade?” and used her own poetry and ald Trump, Invited to the inaugural late last together.” life story as an answer. The poem’s “That day gave me a second wave month by first lady Jill Biden, Gorman Lady Gaga went for red and let her pin do the talk- Variety very title, “The Hill We Climb,” sug- of energy to finish the poem,” Gor- has read at official occasions before - ing. She sang the national anthem in a lavish custom gested both labor and transcendence. man told the AP. She had said that she including a July 4 celebration when Schiaparelli gown designed by Daniel Roseberry with “We did not feel prepared to be the would not mention Jan. 6 specifically, she was backed by the Boston Pops a full red skirt and a navy coat adorned with a humon- NEW YORK: Two of Fox News Chan- heirs but her reference was unmistakable: Orchestra. She has also made clear her gous gold dove holding an olive branch. Garth Brooks nel’s top news executives involved in the Of such a terrifying hour. “We’ve seen a force that would desire to appear at a future inaugural, went another way: country. He performed “Amazing controversial — but correct — election But within it we’ve found the power shatter our nation rather than share it, in a much greater capacity, an ambi- Grace” holding his black cowboy hat and dressed in night call of Arizona for Democrat Joe To author a new chapter, Would destroy our country if it tion she stated firmly in her poem. blue denim jeans paired with a black suit jacket and Biden are out at the network. To offer hope and laughter to our- meant delaying democracy. “We, the successors of a country shirt. Bill Sammon, senior vice president selves.” And this effort very nearly suc- and a time, Another inauguration fashion star on Twitter was and managing editor at Fox’s Washing- It was an extraordinary task for Gor- ceeded. Where a skinny black girl, Nikolas Ajagu, the husband of Harris’ sister, Meena ton bureau, announced his retirement to man, the youngest by far of the poets But while democracy can be peri- Descended from slaves and raised Harris. Sharp-eyed sneakerheads noted his ultra-rare staff members on Monday. On Tuesday, who have read at presidential inaugu- odically delayed, by a single mother, and pricey Air Dior Jordan 1 shoes.