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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Einav Rabinovitch-Fox

Model candidate: the style lesson Kamala Harris can learn from Shirley Chisholm

a side-by-side image of Shirley Chisholm and Kamala Harris
There is no playbook for how a woman can ‘look presidential’, but Harris can reach to the past – and to the only other Black female Democratic presidential candidate, Shirley Chisholm – for inspiration. Composite: Corbis, CQ-Roll Call, Getty Images

The energy that Kamala Harris’s candidacy has injected into the Democratic party has taken over the election. With standing-room only rallies that have rock concert vibes, Harris has not only sharpened her rhetoric and message since her 2020 bid for the presidency, but she has also brought new spirit for the campaign.

However, Harris’s style – which could be employed as a political tool to aid her candidacy and connection with voters – has shifted only slightly. Despite wearing a few outfits that have more color than her usual choice of navy and black, Harris has so far shied away from bold fashion statements that would convey the historic nature of her candidacy, or the excitement she stirs. While the campaign has certainly expanded the political imagination of what Harris can achieve, it still needs to hone in on what image defines her new status as a presidential nominee.

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