Harris chose tan boots with stiletto heels, a colour she mirrored in her belt and her blazer, pulling everything together neatly. She also did what pro fashion stylists call “the French tuck” with her black t-shirt nipped in just over the belt buckle, a styling trick that makes for more waist definition with a softer line. She finished the look with a double strand of her signature pearls, similar to the Irene Neuwirth set she wore in her vice-presidential portrait. 

Here at Zoomerist, we are always looking for the best outfit formulas of the moment – they take the guesswork out of dressing. Harris has kept her look flawlessly consistent in office and on the trail. She has a signature pantsuit formula that works so well for her, with a familiar colour palette – tan, black, brown, blue – and slim silhouette. 

But the jeans look here is a clever deviation from her usual uniform. Dark jeans are dressy, but give off a relaxed vibe. Let’s face it: when appearing beside Bruce Springsteen on stage, what else would you want to wear? The Born in the U.S.A. singer is deeply associated with all-American denim. And the tan blazer with tan accessories is classy and covetable. 

This is a very cool look, and one we want to copy immediately. Jeans aren’t an unusual look for Harris, we’ve frequently seen her in another iteration of her uniform – blazer, jeans and Stan Smith sneakers. She often wears this look getting on and off airplanes, but the jeans usually have a straight leg. With just a small shift in the cut of her denim, she caught our attention. Fashion is an important visual tool in public life. For generations on the campaign dias, men have quite literally removed their ties and rolled up their shirtsleeves on the stump to show they are ready to get down to work on behalf of the people. 

This is a star-studded weekend on the road for Harris. She is scheduled to appear Friday in Houston, Texas alongside Beyonce. And Saturday night, Michelle Obama joins her for a rally in Kalamazoo, Mich.. 

What Kamala Harris says and does are the important things, of course. But what she wears is a big part of the presentation of her overall messaging. Politics is theatre, and costuming is part of the show as much as this weekend’s special guest stars. Newly 60, Harris is a leader at home in her own skin, comfortable with her image and her wardrobe, glowing with confidence. Seeing a fun, small deviation in her outfit formula gives her image fresh energy, a “Kamala-pilled” momentum that may carry through to election day and beyond.

Always asking questions,

—Leanne Delap