What Kamala Harris’ style has looked like throughout her career, from suits to sparkling gowns

• Kamala Harris’ lengthy political career has been accompanied by a professional style evolution.
• She’s experimented with conservative suits, sparkling gowns, and lots of jewelry.
• Designers have said her fashion speaks to her strong will and consistency.

Kamala Harris has consistently merged personal style with politics throughout her career.

She was elected district attorney of San Francisco in 2003, and later elected attorney general of California in 2010 — a role she held between 2011 and 2017. Throughout that time, Harris began to craft her uniform of sharp suits, feminine jewelry, and casual sneakers.

The former vice president of the United States still wears those staples today, aside from occasions when she takes a more glamorous approach. Sparkling gowns have seemingly become a favorite.

“Her style is reflective of her leadership: strong, polished, and always intentional,” the designer LaQuan Smith, who has dressed Harris, told The Washington Post. “She gravitates toward pieces that empower her but also speak to her individuality, and that’s what I love about working with her.”

Here’s a look at her earliest career fashion moments, what she wore on the presidential campaign trail, and how her style has evolved since then.

Kamala Harris has been sporting classic office attire since the start of her career.

When working as San Francisco’s district attorney in the early 2000s, she was often photographed wearing neutral-colored suits and conservative tops.

Pearl jewelry, typically in the form of earrings, was also a staple of Harris’ early wardrobe.

Outside work, Harris has always dressed more casually with subtly chic pieces.

For example, at the 2011 Kidstock benefit, she arrived wearing blue jeans, a plain black top, and a zip-up jacket.

But to accessorize the look, she sported her signature earrings and a black Hermès belt with the brand’s initial in the form of a golden buckle.

Little did Harris know at the time that she was way ahead of the quiet status symbol trend.

Harris’ style evolution can most clearly be seen in her red-carpet attire, which was once simple and shiny.

At an Emmys soiree in 2012, Harris blended a work-appropriate silhouette with California glamour.

She wore a gold satin dress from Ralph Lauren. It was shapeless in design and reflected the light around her. It also had a single thick strap across one shoulder and a knee-length skirt.

Harris completed the outfit with yellow bangles, strappy black sandals, a Bottega Veneta clutch, and hoop earrings.

The outfit was subdued enough for a state’s attorney general but still fun enough to show her personality.

Over time, Harris began experimenting with more daring details for evening events.

At the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar party, Harris sported a sleeveless black Pamella Roland gown featuring three sheer panels across its sequined bodice.

The dress, which had a floor-length skirt, was accessorized with the same Bottega Veneta clutch she’d carried years earlier and a gold bracelet.

Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, walked the carpet alongside her in a navy suit and silver tie.

Harris frequently wears pantsuits, but skirts and dresses have also been part of her wardrobe.

Harris was photographed wearing the latter in 2017 while going to a closed intelligence briefing.

Her navy dress was the same shade as her matching blazer, both subtly nodding to the Democratic Party she belongs to.

She also added a hint of old-school style to the look with layered pearl necklaces and studded pearl earrings.

Sustainability has quietly been a big part of Harris’ fashion over the years.

Rather than updating her style every few months with changing trends, Harris has found specific pieces — her Bottega Veneta clutch being one example — that serve as regular wardrobe staples.

Look no further than the J. Mendel gown that Harris wore to the 2014 LACMA Art and Film Gala. The sleeveless dress had a V-neckline, fitted waist, and silver fabric decorated with a floral lace overlay.

Harris wore the gown for the first time that night and donned it again four years later at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner in Washington, DC.

By rewearing pieces, Harris has shown both the consistency of her style and a commitment to sustainability — something she’s discussed throughout her career.

She also often dresses to support causes she cares about.

That’s especially true for Pride events that Harris has attended over the years.

A standout example was in 2019, when Harris spoke at San Francisco Pride wearing one of her flashiest outfits to date.

She donned white jeans, her signature Converse sneakers in cream, and a denim jacket bedazzled with the colors of the rainbow.

Harris made one of her biggest fashion statements at Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021.

Rather than wearing the traditional colors of blue or red, Harris arrived in a purple coat and matching outfit designed by Christopher John Rogers.

The choice of color could have been a nod to the suffragette movement, which often used purple in its early days, or as a symbol of bipartisanship, mixing the red and blue colors of Republicans and Democrats to create purple.

Harris also could have been referencing Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for president. She wore purple throughout her campaign.

Her style continued to evolve during her time as vice president.

For a White House event in December 2022, Harris wore a black gown by Vera Wang, which featured a peplum waist and a crystal belt.

She also sported opera gloves, a fashionable accessory that screamed sophistication and style.

Eventually, Harris started to show what her presidential style would have looked like if she’d been elected.

Throughout her 2024 presidential run, Harris’ fashion was simultaneously practical, feminine, and patriotic.

She wore various shades of blue on the campaign trail in honor of her party.

She also mixed more formal workwear, such as ocean-blue blazers and pearl necklaces, with simpler dark jeans and her favored Converse sneakers.

Statement gowns from young designers became a new staple for the politician.

For the Phoenix Awards in September 2024, designer LaQuan Smith created a black, sequined gown with an asymmetrical neckline for Harris.

He told The Washington Post that he conceptualized the long-sleeved dress over a single day.

“I believe what appeals to her about my designs is the boldness, the confidence, and the unapologetic glamour I bring,” he told the publication. “My garments are for powerful women who are comfortable standing out, and I think that speaks to her strength as a leader.”

Harris seems especially fond of eveningwear covered in sparkles.

Harris wore a sparkling Sergio Hudson design when she returned to the Phoenix Awards during the 2025 Congressional Black Caucus’ Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.

The burgundy dress had long sleeves, an off-the-shoulder neckline, and a form-fitting, floor-length skirt.

Most noticeably, though, it was covered from top to bottom in sequins.

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