Maison Élection
“Coconut”, “brat”, “pets”, and “trials” seem more like a New York Times Connection group than references of the 2024 United States presidential election. From the days of the Gettysburg Address to Trump on X, the social conversation of politics has changed dramatically. The role of the politician has transformed from state figure to online sensation within the 21st century. While rallies continue to swing states, it is fair to say that the Internet is the true political battleground. Other than the “middle ground”, both “merch” and “meme” start with the same letter as “media”.
Three key events are held during the fall: the election, an October surprise, and New York Fashion Week. Full of influencers and trendsetters, the industry took the backseat to the presidential election. Fashion is known as a statement, an expression that can easily turn political. As photographers capture models both on and off the runway, NYFW street fashion is dotted with Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s merchandise. Unlike the nature of camouflage, hats made of that print are used to make the wearer's opinions noticeable. Darting from Park Ave to Rockefeller Center, figures are seen in partisan t-shirts and sweaters, some even DIY-ing their own accessories. Designers have also been partaking in the craze, with Willy Chavarria basing his collection on, “... [giving] power to the people…and the people who make this [country] run” [1]. If fashion can experience trickle-down trends, will it carry electoral attitudes too?
We all are familiar with the rabbit-hole thought of how much we would sacrifice to get what we want. Donald Trump just happens to take it to a different level. Indicted for paying off an adult-actress, the desires or more so needs of the MAGA leader could be seen again with his shoes. I’m not talking about the designer oxfords that the former president stamps red carpets with, but the “Never Surrender High-Tops” that are both a pain to the eyes and wallet. Priced at $399, the golden shoes debuted at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia amongst other collector items [2]. This veil of conspicuous consumption funnels into the gash that numerous lawsuits left in the Trump fortune. It comes to no surprise that a business man would try to capitalize every part of his personal brand. His campaign also includes paraphernalia that is branded with his mugshot. Buoyed by his outrageous tweets and lies, the former president has become a living meme. Now, let’s hope that he walks on cloud-like soles, not free from court.
Without context, the hollowness of a coconut mimics the sound of a skull with no brain. For what originally was a point of criticism for the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris’s team reclaimed “coconut” through the power of memes. Posting various TikToks and making references at rallies, the Vice President truly added the media to her arsenal. Other than gearing her policy towards previously unmet demographics, her campaign team has followed that objective by adopting the iconic neon of Charlie XCX’s “brat” album following the singer’s endorsement [3]. Similar to how neon green is attention grabbing, so is the leader for the new generation of politics.
Some people, however, are not so lucky. Donald Trump’s claim that the Haitian immigrants are eating pets continue to haunt the corners of X and Truth Social. Rather than taking accountability for the false accusation, he doubled down with AI generated images of patriotic pets. While these images are satirical, true panic was stemmed from the creation of these faux-paws. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, even claimed that they were willing to create false stories to gain attention. The question around AI has changed from, “Will it take my job away?” to “Will I be able to decipher fear-mongering from true accounts?”. Transported to the Web from Springfield, the debate surrounding propaganda also changed from the advancement of technology.
While the candidates are in their tailored suits, it’s not to say that they do not have a fashion statement. Coupled with celebrity endorsements and posted bails, this presidential election proves to be full of turns. Much like how trends swing from the polar end, so do the general opinions of polls and states. Being the catalysts for such media frenzy, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump may not be runway models, but carry that impact as running candidates.
