It’s well-known that in 2010, upon being asked what designers she prefers, Hillary Clinton responded, “Would you ever ask a man that question?”
Because Clinton was the first woman ever to make it to the presidential debate Monday night, what she wore to the event that had been anticipated for months was naturally going to be questioned. However, what Trump wore at the presidential debate was just as important, if not more.
Although Trump and Clinton don’t seem to see eye to eye on most any issue, the two appeared to make an agreement to switch colors.
Clinton came out in the color of a bright flame from stage left in a red pantsuit. Trump so wonderfully complemented her, as he appeared in a navy suit with a white dress shirt and an electric blue tie. Together, the two matched the shades of the American flag perfectly. Perhaps it was a symbol that, although they are battling against one another for the presidency, there is still a mutual respect for the other’s political party.
Following the entrances, Clinton opened with a two-minute statement on the topic of jobs in the United States.
The torch was quickly passed to Trump, who made his first statements by saying how tragic it is that jobs are fleeing to other countries such as Mexico and China.
As Trump continued to stress the problem with jobs traveling overseas, it was easy to get distracted by his fancy suit, which mimicked the style and seriousness of numerous GOP candidates before him, and his tie, so new that one could see it shine through the television screen.
His words and his attire raised a question. If we looked at the tag on your shiny tie, sleek suit and finely pressed dress shirt, would we see “Made In USA” written on all three?
If he was wearing pieces from his own clothing line, the answer is no, as we know from the clips of Donald Trump on the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” which Clinton has put in her campaign advertisements. On the show, Leno pulls out a dress shirt from Trump’s clothing line that reads “Made in Bangladesh” on the tag.
Although the debate commenced with a seemingly peaceful shaking of hands, any sign of civility quickly vanished as Trump’s shirt collar seemed to get tighter and tighter around his neck as he got frustrated with Clinton’s rebuttals.
While Trump’s annoyance toward Clinton became more and more apparent throughout the debate, her deep red suit seemed to make up for her lack of facial expression.
The selection of an outfit that was bold red from head to toe was not by chance — it was, in fact, a statement.
The presence of red, from the shirt, to the pants, to Clinton’s vibrant rouge lips, set the tone that Clinton was not afraid of the intense questioning of her every move but instead welcomed it.
Every hit Trump made against Clinton didn’t lead to her cutting him off or an outlandish facial expression. Instead, the vigorous woman in the defiant red suit let out an occasional grin from her brightly colored lips. It perfectly displayed her power and restraint. This all may seem like a subtle move, but it indeed speaks volumes about Clinton.
It’s by chance that the presidential debate falls on the final week of fashion month. Every year, the media claims one brand to reign as the best collection of the season, and if Clinton were a designer and the debate were fashion week, she would indeed be declared the winner of the runway.
apoudrie@indiana.edu
