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Provenance of the pantsuit: Hillary Clinton wore Ralph Lauren for her convention speech

Democratic nominee for president Hillary Clinton waves to the crowd at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 28, 2016. For the occasion, she chose a white pantsuit by American designer Ralph Lauren.
(Patrick T. Fallon / AFP / Getty Images)
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The former first lady, former U.S. senator from New York, former U.S. secretary of State and freshly official Democratic party nominee for president Hillary Clinton delivered her July 28 convention speech in a white pantsuit by Ralph Lauren.

The ensemble consisted of a tailored two-button notch-lapel jacket worn over a white, crewneck shirt and accessorized with what appear to be a pair of beige pumps.

The provenance of the pantsuit, which had remained unknown for several days, was first reported early Sunday morning, and has since been confirmed by brand representatives.

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Without the name of the designer revealed almost immediately (as tends to happen with high-profile dressing credits these days – political and otherwise) watchers of political style were left to weigh in on the symbolism of the all-white outfit, which ranged from a nod to the women’s suffrage movement (white was one of the official colors of the National Women’s Party, who knew?) to comparisons to the wardrobe worn by Kerry Washington’s Olivia Pope character in the “Scandal” television series.

The reveal that Ralph Lauren was the brand behind the nominee’s pantsuit comes as little surprise, since there are few labels that have allied themselves so closely with the notion of all things Americana over the last few years. For proof of that one need look no further than the upcoming Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro where the longtime official outfitter of Team USA has created the opening and closing ceremony uniforms athletes will wear.

Both of those looks, we might add, involve white pants – white selvedge denim for the opening ceremony uniforms and white cotton twill shorts for the closing ceremony outfits.

For more musings on all things fashion and style, follow me @ARTschorn.

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