How Biden's Inauguration Day suit will be different from that of Trump? President-elect's tie will make a mark
With just a few days left for the inauguration of former Vice President Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States, tensions remain high in the country due to the aftermath of the failed insurrection attempt at Capitol Hill on January 6. The House of Representatives moved to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time for "inciting" it, and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed nearly 400,000 lives in the country and over two million across the world.
It is no wonder then that reports have suggested that Biden will be going for a "sober, unshowy" look according to Women's Wear Daily. Biden will be wearing a Ralph Lauren designed suit instead of one from Brooks Brothers, which has been the normal for many years for American presidents, including former President Barack Obama and Donald Trump. Biden's suit will be made in Rochester, NY, at the recently renamed Rochester Tailored Clothing, which has manufactured suits for Hickey Freeman for over a century. There is no deeper meaning to this other than that Brooks Brothers declared bankruptcy in 2020.
While it may not seem that fashion is not the most important statement of the day, all eyes will certainly be on Biden and the First Lady-to-be Dr Jill Biden, as well as the United States' first female Vice President-to-be, Kamala Harris, on what their outfit choices are. According to Women's Wear Daily, representatives for Jill Biden and Harris have said that they are not interested in conveying a fashion message, according to a few designers and executives, who were asked to submit sketches and designs for both women.
Nevertheless, the publication notes that what Biden wears on Inauguration Day will still be important. The inauguration activities are to be celebrated under the theme of "America United", which given the current circumstances of the country, holds more importance as the day nears.
As such, Biden is expected to wear a "single-breasted, notch lapel, two-button suits in navy or, lately, a lighter shade of blue." He will likely be wearing a simple, white shirt and blue tie to represent his status as a Democrat president. In 2017, Trump opted for a gray suit, a dark blue cashmere overcoat that was unbuttoned to reveal a starched white shirt with a tall spread collar and a very long shiny, red silk tie. What raised eyes then was that Trump's tie was deemed to be a few inches too long, and was mocked for being held together with a piece of Scotch tape.
Here is where things get interesting. The colors of the necktie Biden chooses to wear might be more important than ever. According to Live Science, whether the necktie is red or blue could indicate a sign of the times. Trump may have opted for red during his inauguration because the color conveys power, and more commonly, represents the Republican Party. Biden usually opts for blue, the color of the Democratic Party, and one that is often associated with peace. The publication notes that red is a color of vigilance, whereas blue is a color of safety.