Former Vice President Kamala Harris made her first major appearance since President Trump took office, attending the 2025 NAACP Awards on Feb. 22 in Pasadena, California. Harris is receiving the Chairman’s Award, an honor given to those who “excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change.”
For the event, she opted for a custom look by one of her go-to designers, LaQuan Smith. She wore a black silk pussybow blouse and pinstripe, heavy silk cummerbund-waist trousers, which she paired with a satin evening blazer. “It has been an absolute honor to design for Vice President Harris over the years. She embodies strength, confidence, and sophistication, and her style is a reflection of that,” Smith tells Vogue. “Dressing her is always a thoughtful process because she gravitates toward pieces that make a statement while staying true to her identity. It’s inspiring to create for someone who uses fashion as a tool for empowerment.”
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Harris has never shied away from meaningful clothing choices—often celebrating young Black designers , and making sartorial nods to her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. This event is not different. Despite the 2024 election loss, she was still the first Black woman to serve as VP and receive the party nomination. Her look, according to Smith, is a reflection of that. “Dressing Vice President Harris for this moment is incredibly meaningful. The NAACP Image Awards celebrate Black excellence, achievement, and impact, and to see her being honored is truly inspiring,” the designer explained. “Her leadership continues to break barriers, and being a part of her journey through fashion is something I don’t take lightly. It’s a privilege to contribute to moments that recognize and uplift powerful women like her.”
This, of course, isn’t the first time Harris selected Smith’s designs for a major moment. In 2023, Harris wore afitted gold sequin button-down by the designer to Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, and then in September 2024, she wore a custom black sequin gown to the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Foundation’s 2024 Phoenix Awards.
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