The fashion, beauty and symbolism of the Inauguration’s looks

History was made today.

After today’s Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Harris is the first woman to hold a national office, as well as the first Black and South Asian person to be vice president.

What does one wear to shatter the glass ceiling? Purple, it seems.

There were plenty of looks to commemorate the day, as well as dozens of symbolic messages sent through Inauguration fashion and beauty choices.  

For her history-making moment, Harris wore a matching purple shift dress and overcoat by Black beloved fashion designer Christopher John Rogers, which she paired with leather gloves and heeled pumps, according to Harper’s Bazaar.

Purple was the color of the day as former First Lady Michelle Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton both wore different shades of the hue, with Obama in plum, Clinton in maroon. Even former First Lady Laura Bush wore a color between periwinkle and lilac. 

And this might have been intentional. Purple is the color of royalty and its also the award given to our country’s most heroic soldiers. 

Many also assumed purple was a call for unity. A literal mix of the two political party’s colors, red and blue, purple is meant to evoke a sense of solidarity and bipartisanship, wrote The Hill. 

Sticking with striking jewel tones, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden wore pieces from emerging American label Markarian including a turquoise tweed coat with velvet cuffs over a dress embellished with Swarovski crystals and pearls (as well as a matching face mask) designed by Colorado-born designer Alexandra O’Neill.

The talent at the event didn’t disappoint either.

National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, who delivered the most beloved performance of the event, reciting her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” wore a red Prada headband and canary yellow coat. The latter  was a nod to the First Lady who sought out Gorman for the event, the poet told Vogue.

“She said, ‘I saw this video of you and you were wearing yellow and I loved it.’ I’m glad we can talk about the fashion, because it has so much meaning to me, and it’s my way to lean into the history that came before me and all the people supporting me,” Gorman said.

The 22-year-old also donned a ring with a caged bird on it, to symbolize “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and a pair of earrings gifted to her by none other than Queen-Icon-Legend Oprah Winfrey.

My personal savior, Lady Gaga, also attended the event to perform a stirring version of the National Anthem. In true Gaga fashion, she sent a message with each part of her look.

The pop star was styled by Haus of Gaga, her collection of artists, designers and other creatives that collaborate with her on her signature looks: fashion stylist duo Tom Eerebout and Sandra Amador; hairstylist and wig designer Frederic Aspiras; and longtime makeup artist Sarah Tanno. 

Gaga wore a custom Schiaparelli Couture gown, with a navy wool structured fitted jacket, accented by a large pin: a gold dove holding an olive branch. She paired it with a red silk faille ballgown, gold olive branch ear cuffs, Pleaser black leather platform shoes and Cornelia James “Elodie” long, black nappa leather gloves.

Her hair was fashioned into milkmaid braids, woven with a black ribbon, with wispies pulled down around her face. There also appeared to be a bouquet of poppies at the nape of her neck. Poppies are traditionally a symbol of those who died for their country.

As for her makeup, she stunned with a dramatic red lip.  

Tanno wrote in an Instagram caption that she used Haus Labs Le Monster Matte Lip Crayon in 1950 (a warm pure red) and RIP Lip Liner in Slayer (a deep burgundy wine) on Gaga’s lips.

In an interview with Vogue, Tanno went into detail about the rest of the look.

“While her makeup was classic and romantic, with the perfect shade of red lipstick, which felt appropriate for such a vibrant day, the rest of her makeup was soft and luminous,” Tanno told Vogue.

Tanno used a tawny shade (probably Cameo, if I had to guess) from Glam Room No. 1: Fame palette and contoured Gaga’s cheeks with Heat Spell bronzer in Desert and Head Rush blush in Flirt, all from Gaga’s beauty brand Haus Labs. Tanno used Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Mascara to define her lashes. 

Jennifer Lopez, who performed “This Land Is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful” injected with a line from her hit, “Let’s Get Loud,” stepped out in a high-glam, all white, suffragette-inspired look. 

Draped in Chanel that included a sweeping overcoat, sequined wide-leg trousers and a ruffled high-neck blouse, Lopez’s makeup was her signature dewy glam complete with a shimmery, smoky eye shadow, soft, flushed blush and a nude lip. Her hair pulled back into a silky high-ponytail. J.Lo also was glammed up by her typical team: styled by Rob Zangardi; nails by Eri Ishizu; hair by Chris Appleton and makeup by David Velasquez.

According to his Instagram post (@mugopus) he used Pat McGrath; Tom Ford Beauty; Chanel Beauty; Scott Barnes Cosmetics and Lopez’s brand, JLO Beauty. 

This means a little more history was made today. It marked the first time performers at the Inauguration both wore products from their respective beauty brands.

Today’s looks truly prove the point I will make until my dying breath: fashion and beauty are woven into every facet of our lives, including politics.