Taking a look at iconic moments in political fashion history
From Zoot suits to Dr. Martens boots, fashion has had many political moments. Let’s take a look at some iconic political fashion moments throughout history.
1. Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress
Lady Gaga’s illustrious career has seen many controversial moments, but the meat dress is by far the most memorable. At the 2010 VMAs, Gaga would change into a dress made entirely out of raw beef. The dress was designed by Franc Fernandez and styled by Nicola Formichetti. The dress drew major criticism and backlash, including from major news outlets and PETA. When she took the stage to accept her award for the Video of the Year, her speech became an opportunity to speak up against the “Don’t ask, don’t tell" rule for the military at the time. The rule prohibited LGBTQ+ members from enlisting in the military. She continued to wear the dress afterward for pictures and interviews, including one with Ellen DeGeneres for The Ellen Show. The meat dress was later preserved and placed in The Gaga Archives.
2. Jacqueline Kennedy’s Pink Suit
When people think of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, they often think of the First Lady in a pink outfit on that fateful day in 1963. The ever-classy style icon’s most famous look comes from Chanel, which she had worn on several occasions before. The skirt suit was wool with a navy trim and gold buttons, which was complete with a matching pillbox hat. Following the assassination, Jackie continued wearing the suit for several hours, which was covered in her husband’s blood. According to Vogue, the suit now resides in a vault at the National Archives and was donated there by Caroline Kennedy in 2003. The moment has inspired many women to recreate the look, as well as the 2016 film Jackie starring Natalie Portman.
3. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Collars
The iconic Supreme Court Justice was known for more than her dissents. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, along with Sandra Day O’Connor frequently wore collars and jabots over their traditional black robes. “The standard robe is made for a man because it has a place for the shirt to show, and the tie,” said Ginsburg for the Post in 2009. The collars added a feminine flair to the stiff and masculine judicial robes, which also made room to show personality. Ginsburg’s collars became synonymous with her legacy as a feminist pioneer. According to TIME Magazine, the justice’s collars also shed some insight into her opinions and rulings; for example, her “majority collar” which she wore when she announced a majority opinion. Another collar she wore, called the “family collar,” is a handmade collar made by M.M.LaFleur. The collar featured a stitched quote from her late husband Marty Ginsburg that states, “It’s not sacrifice, it’s family.”
4. Fur Protest on the Runway
In 2002 during a Victoria’s Secret fashion show, protestors stormed the catwalk to protest against the use of fur in the fashion industry. The protest interrupted supermodel Gisele Bündchen’s walk, who seemed unfazed by the demonstration. The protestors, who were advocates for PETA, held signs that said “Gisele: Fur Scum.” The protestors targeted Bündchen because she had recently signed a deal to be a spokesmodel for furrier Blackgama. Following the protest, Bündchen vowed to stay away from fur campaigns and later became a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Environmental Programme.
5. Princess Diana’s Revenge Dress
The true people’s princess, Diana Spencer was iconic for many reasons, including her sense of fashion. The late Princess of Wales made history when she stepped out in a black off-the-shoulder dress for a party at Vanity Fair. The very same day, it was announced to the world that Diana Spencer would become divorced from Charles III, the future King of England. This dress became known as “the revenge dress” because it displayed Diana’s independence. She was known to bend the rules of the Royal Family to its very end, so attending an event in a short and more suggestive dress was very much against the Royal Family’s dress code. The divorce was just another example of Diana’s ability to fight for herself, even in the face of such a grand organization that tried to control her. Diana choosing this dress, which was shocking to many, became a symbol of strength and freedom.
Alyssa Guevara is a blog writer for Revolution. This article was edited by Meliha Ural.