Let’s be real here, fashion is a very powerful tool. The use of fashion is notable within the world of politics and social movements. When used correctly, our styling choices can truly make an everlasting statement. It can gain attention from the media, allow us to convey our message visually, and become a symbol of unity. Let’s dive into why the color white remains a lingering symbol for women and the fight for equality.
The National Women’s Party was founded in 1913, with the purpose of fighting for
women’s suffrage and equality. During the movement, they used the colors purple, gold, and white to identify themselves and their message during events such as marches. Purple symbolizes loyalty, gold represents the color of light, and white symbolizes purity. White dresses worn with a gold and purple sash quickly became the staple outfit for those involved in the movement.
We have seen other politicians use this method of styling over the years. Of course, Hillary Clinton has been seen wearing white suits on multiple occasions, especially during her Presidential Campaign. Female members of congress have also worn “suffragette white” to make a statement and subtly thank the women who paved the way for them. Many of them specifically chose to wear white at the 2019 State of the Union Address, which does an amazing job of showing how unifying our fashion choices can be.
Most recently, we saw our future Vice President, Kamala Harris paying tribute to the
National Women’s Party by sporting an all white suit at her victory speech. The Vice
President-Elect has made history by not only being the first woman, but the first woman of color to hold the position of Vice President. Seeing this historic moment take place was a breath of fresh air for a lot of people, especially for the young girls who can finally relate to someone in a high position within our government.
We have come a long way since 1913 and the color of white remains a symbol of
sisterhood and unity. Even a hundred years since the National Women’s Party was founded we are still using the ideas from their movement today. Wearing white not only honors the women of the past, it also serves as a reminder to all of us that the fight is not over and there is still so much work to be done.
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