Fashion Statement: Hillary Clinton’s White DNC Pantsuit

Hillary Clinton on stage at the DNC in a white Ralph Lauren pantsuit.

Hillary Clinton looked beautiful at last week’s Democratic National Convention in her nomination speech wearing one of her trademark pantsuits–this time in blinding white.   But her acceptance speech white pantsuit may have been about more than just looking striking on TV (which she did.)   Hillary has always favored pantsuits, but this is the first time I have seen her in an all white ensemble.  As some commented on Twitter, it’s a brave choice to wear all white at such a public event as it can be very unforgiving.

Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst wearing white from head to toe.

So why did Hillary choose white? Who else wore all white when making history? The early suffragettes.  When the suffragettes were fighting for the right to vote  in the early 20th century in the UK and the US, they frequently wore white.  This was to make themselves visible and to stand out.  It also was thought to represent “purity.”   The suffragettes might have taken to the streets to protest, but they wanted it to be clear they weren’t women of the streets–as they were cruelly derided by many male commentators of the time.  If you saw the excellent movie 2015 movie Suffragette,  the movie vividly depicted how women suffragettes suffered to get the vote enduring imprisonment, force feedings and beatings.

“Because it’s not something a lot of people know [that suffragettes wore white], but once people are aware of that, it does reinforce the historical importance of Hillary hopefully becoming the first women president,” said Valerie Steele, director of the Museum at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in New York City, speaking to The Guardian.”

I think Hillary was using fashion to make a statement last week–visually showing what a long way women have come in the last 100+ years.  Whether you like Hillary Clinton or not,  her appearance was striking and symbolic of the ground women have gained.  Alice Paul, Emmeline Pankhurst, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony,  Emily Davison, Inez Milholland, Countess Constance Markievicz and Amelia Bloomer, how proud they would’ve been to have seen that white pantsuit on the first woman presidential nominee in the United States.

Chelsea Clinton wore a figure flattering red dress by designer Roland Mouret.

PS–if you’re wondering what Chelsea Clinton wore at the DNC last week, it was a raspberry Roland Mouret dress that retails for over $2,000.