Delegates to the Democratic National Convention are dressing for the lady they want — whether that's Vice President Kamala Harris or, say, Taylor Swift.
Sometimes both!
For some attendees at Chicago’s United Center, their outfits scream their identity.
Ashley Fedan, a Washington state delegate, said her “Gina the stuffed cat” purse has a message to deliver to Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance, whose views on “childless cat ladies” has earned him widespread rebukes.
"She's going around and meeting everybody to prove that sometimes, even if you don't have children, you have value and you can be fun,” Fedan told Raw Story.
And, of course, T. Swift isn’t the only music icon to win the hearts, minds and closet space of Democratic delegates.
Fedan’s recycled white dress and sparkling hat is a nod to Beyoncé — "she revolutionized country music with one album with Cowboy Carter. We’re Cowboy Kamala” — that accompanies her Ruth Bader Ginsburg frill, an homage to R.B.G.’s advocacy for women as a Supreme Court justice and jurist.
Her fellow Washington state delegate, Andrew Ashiofu, came decked out in a traditional Nigerian handwoven top in white and patriotically painted nails.
“For a long time, the colors of America, red, white, blue and the word ‘patriot' has been taken from us by the MAGA Republicans,” Ashiofu said. “Also, they have this whole gender fight against people who are non-binary. In painting my nails red, white, blue, I’m taking back the word ‘patriot’ from them."
But it wouldn’t be a convention without a Florida woman (or two).
Of course, there’s always lots of pithy walking political billboards around every corner of the convention hall. One of the more common slogans represented here in Chicago is a jab at former President Donald Trump as they declare “Voting is my ‘Black job.’”
Many delegates are also paying their party’s respects to those who came before them, especially Illinois favorite son, former President Barack Obama, and favorite daughter, former first lady Michelle Obama.
On Wednesday, the day after the Obamas addressed the convention, five-time Mississippi delegate Kelly Jacobs said she had to forgo her four Kamala Harris-themed dresses and rock one of her old Obama-themed dresses.
Jacobs says her eye-catching political dresses are more than just fun — she says they come in handy while door knocking in African American communities throughout Mississippi.
“That’s actually why I have so many Obama dresses, because when white girl goes knocking on doors, they’re like, ‘Of course you’re a Republican, we can’t believe anything you say.’ But when I’m knocking one of my Obama dresses, they’re like, ‘Oh, come in. Let me get you some water,’” Jacobs told Raw Story.
There’s also been a number of brave cheeseheads rocking Green Bay Packer yellow on Chicago Bears turf. Still, there’s only love in the air here, even amongst rivals.
"The big thing is just we're gonna see Kamala Harris speak. That’s pretty exciting,” Brandon Williford, a Wisconsin delegate, told Raw Story.
Carl Donovan, delegate from Great Falls, Mont., who donned an Uncle Sam-style hat, attended his first convention in 1976.
Classics never grow old, as is the case with good ole red, white and blue — the foundational colors to any political fashion in these United States.
The first national convention Jackie Nophlin attended was in 2000.
"It’s been so exciting, I can barely contain myself,” Jackie Nophlin, a Virginia delegate, told Raw Story.
While the Democratic National Convention is taking place inside the home of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks, it seems Benny the Bull and Tony Hawk got the week off, but there’s been at least one blue donkey spotted throughout the convention hall.
Alas, you can’t have a convention without a plethora of politicians, so, of course, there’s plenty of monkey suits around.
With unrest in the party’s progressive ranks over Israel’s war in Gaza, some attendees have used their wardrobe as olive branches — and to make statements.
Outside Chicago’s United Center the theme has been Palestinian Black, white, red and green.
There’s also plenty of blue on the city’s streets, though not Democratic Party blue.
Chicago Police Department blue mixed with day-glo neon green and billy club brown can be seen on every street corner near the United Center.
