Purple was the color of choice for many of the high-profile figures attending yesterday’s inauguration, with Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris all wearing the regal tone, said to represent bipartisanship.
First Lady Dr Jill Biden was no exception, sporting purple coat from Jonathan Cohen, as she stepped off the plane in Washington, D.C. after arriving from Delaware.
The choice, not only reflected colors of the Women’s Suffrage movement, but paid homage to one of her most famous predecessors Jackie Kennedy, who donned a very similar purple coat on November 8, 1960 – the night her husband John F. Kennedy was elected.
First Lady Dr Jill Biden sported a purple coat from Jonathan Cohen, as she stepped off the plane in Washington DC after arriving from Delaware (right at the Capitol) paying tribute to the election night outfit of Jackie Kennedy in 1960 (left)
Dr Biden’s choice, not only represented colors of the Suffrage movement, but paid homage to one of her most famous predecessors Jackie Kennedy, who donned a very similar purple coat on November 8, 1960 – the night her husband John F. Kennedy was elected
Dr Biden’s violet wrap coat and matching paneled dress were her first outfits of the move to DC, which she wore to attend a ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial to pay tribute to victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, before her husband’s inauguration.
Both the coat and dress came from New York-based fashion designer Jonathan Cohen’s upcoming autumn 2021 collection, which are currently available for pre-order.
In contrast to Melania Trump – who often wore expensive European brands while First Lady, it’s expected that the university professor will echo Michelle Obama and spend her time in the White House championing lesser known and independent American labels.
As well as praising the First Lady for wearing an independent designer, many were quick to point out the likeness to Jackie Kennedy, who famously sported a loose fitting plum coat while eight months pregnant, as she stood next to JFK when he gave his victory speech in 1960.
Dr Biden’s violet wrap coat (left) and matching paneled dress were her first outfits of the move to which she wore to attend a ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial to pay tribute to victims of the Covid-19 pandemic, before her husband’s inauguration. As well as praising the First Lady for wearing an independent designer, many were quick to point out the likeness to Jackie Kennedy (right) who famously sported a loose fitting plum coat while eight months pregnant, as she stood next to JFK when he gave his victory speech in 1960.
Jacqueline Kennedy and John F. Kenned on election day 1960 in Massachusetts
Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told Femail: ‘Dr Jill Biden looked chic in her regal purple dress and A line coat, which was from Cohen’s 2021 Fall/Winter collection.
‘The colour purple is a strong colour and shows support in the suffrage movement and could also be a blend of Republican Red and Democratic blue, which could be seen as middle ground.
‘There could also be a unity and nod to the Congresswomen Shirley Chisholm to celebrate America United.
‘I think she has taken inspiration from Jackie Kennedy as well as other presidents wives such as Michelle and Hilary Clinton. It brings a mix of tasteful and inclusive style that is the full colour yet classic and chic.
Melania Trump’s inauguration outfit four years ago was also compared to Jackie Kennedy’s, as they both sported Tiffany blue.
Stylist and fashion blogger Simon Glazin added to FEMAIL: ‘The color purple can mean a few things, including power and ambition. Not that I think Jill or in fact Jackie Kennedy are/were particularly power-hungry people (OK, so Jackie did like the limelight) but ambition is a good fit.
‘Being the First Lady must be a huge responsibility not least for your own family but for the nation. They want to be seen too, which is likely why Jill chose this ensemble.
‘A little-known fact also: The Queen wears bright colours all the time not because she’s a fan of the rainbow, but so her security details can always see her in a crowd, which might also be a reason for a strong colour.
‘Although she does like chic, with gloves in a similar hue, she’s no match for Michelle, who looked incredible from day one.
‘Jill is classy. She’s not trying to be next in line for a designer brand campaign, and you won’t see her in the latest trends, but this purple signifies she’ll be a First Lady to remember. Just like Jackie.
Democratic imperative: Joe Biden’s wife Jill joined him at the ballot box last year as they voted early in Delaware’s primary election
Message: The 69-year-old former second lady donned a pair of Stuart Weitzman’s 50/50 Vote boots that have the word ‘VOTE’ stenciled in funky silver letters
The similarity was also spotted by fashion historian who runs the Instagram account, BidenStyle.
‘The Power of Purple. I knew Jill’s ensemble rang a fashion bell from the book of Jackie Kennedy, they wrote.
‘Mrs. Kennedy wore this exact shade of purple in a a swingy button long coat styled seamlessly between her matching pill hat and low lavender heels. Both women look flawless to me. Does anyone else see the calming strength of this deep purple for the first impression look of the First Lady as similar as Jackie did?
Well, I do. Bravo!’ they wrote.
Inclusive style: Kamala Harris, 56, wore a purple outfit featuring pieces by two black designers and a Puerto Rican jeweler at the inauguration at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday
Karen Williams, who’s styled the likes of Beyonce and David Beckham, and stars in Netflix’s 100 per cent hotter, also saw the power in the colour purple.
She told FEMAIL: ‘There was no coincidence that the First Lady Dr Jill Biden, chose the colour purple to step out in for the inauguration on 20th January. We only have to look at the history of the colour purple and how it represented the women’s suffrage movement but also, purple is the mix of red and blue, the colours of the Democrats and Republican parties, which is the nod to bipartisanship, reinforcing her husband words after taking the presidential oath.
‘Style Icon Jackie Kennedy, wore the colour purple on the day after John F Kennedy took office in January 1961.
‘Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama also got the memo as they followed suit in their own dazzling tones of purple. We were certainly treated to some fashion eye candy by these powerful ladies. What a subtle but smart move this was!
Another win: Hudson also designed the plum suit Michelle Obama wore to the inauguration
Melania Trump’s inauguration outfit four years ago was also compared to Jackie Kennedy’s, as they both sported Tiffany blue.
As well as paying tribute to Jackie Kennedy, the choice of purple was a strategic one.
The color is traditionally recognized as a sign of bipartisanship as it’s a mix of the political party colors, Republican red and Democrat blue.
It’s also one of the colors of the women’s suffragette moment. The combination of purple, white, and gold was used by the National Women’s Party in the US and UK.
‘Purple is the color of loyalty, constancy to purpose, unswerving steadfastness to a cause,’ the organization wrote while describing the meaning of the colors in a newsletter published on December 6, 1913.
It’s not the first time Dr Biden has sported purple.
In September the mother-of-one joined her husband at the ballot box wearing a politically-minded pair of $695 boots with the word ‘VOTE’ written down the sides and purple shift dress.
Purple appeared to be the color of the day as Mrs. Clinton, 73, donned a bright purple suit and matching scarf. To keep warm, the former secretary of state also wore a dark wool coat over her suit.
Matching: Both Mrs. Obama (left and Hillary Clinton (right) wore shades of purple to the inauguration as a show of unity
All eyes on her: First Lady Jill Biden dazzled in an ocean blue tweed coat and dress by New York-based designer Alexandra O’Neill, the founder and creative director of Markarian
Mrs. Clinton told the Capitol Hill press pool that she wore ‘purple with a purpose.’
‘I knew the theme President Biden was striking was unity and I thought if you combined red and blue, the way that we are divided politically in our country, you get purple,’ she said with a laugh. ‘So I want to just to send a bit of a symbolic message that we need to come together.’
While Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Clinton’s looks complemented Ms. Harris’ outfit of choice, Mrs. Bush matched Dr. Biden’s second outfit.
The two first ladies dazzled in an ocean blue tweed coat and dress by New York-based designer Alexandra O’Neill, the founder and creative director of Markarian.
Mrs. Bush, 74, wore a powder blue coat with a dark lapel over a slate-gray dress and sheer tights. She accessorized the look with a long silver ball necklace, a light gray mask, and flats.