Inauguration Outfit Meanings: From Lady Gaga's Brooch To Monochrome Outfits

Alongside her signature pearls (which have a significance of their own), the new Vice President's inauguration outfit was full of symbolism.

One of the many women who wore a monochrome outfit on Inauguration Day - a political fashion staple of recent times, that comes across as polished and flattering - Harris was also one of a few notable women present in purple.

With President Biden and Vice President Harris running (and winning) on a message of unity, this colour should not come as a surprise, since purple is a mixture of blue and red (the colours of the opposing political parties in the United States, the Republicans and the Democrats).

Purple is also, alongside white, seen as a feminist colour due to its links to the suffrage movement, and is possibly an homage to Shirley Chisholm (the first Black woman to run for president) who often wore the hue.

Lastly, Harris' striking two-piece was designed by a Black designer Christopher John Rogers, proving the glass ceiling-breaking politician looks to support minority creatives during her tenure.

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Lady Gaga raised the proverbial roof during her inaugural performance of 'The Star-Spangled Banner'. The 34-year-old chose a powerful Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown for the moment, paired with a large golden dove brooch.

While some Twitter users joked the brooch was reminiscent of dystopian novel and film franchise The Hunger Games' symbol of revolt, the Mockingjay, Gaga took to the social media site to explain its meaning.

'A dove carrying an olive branch,' the Italian-American explained, 'May we all make peace with each other.'

Though the world was distracted by just how great the former First Lady's hair looked (it started trending on Twitter), as much thought and attention was also put into her ensemble.

Just like Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris, Obama wore the unifying hue of purple, her's being more of a plum colour, rather than their royal, in a monochrome outfit.

The 57-year-old's three-piece, waist-cinching outfit was also by Black designer Sergio Hudson.

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For her performance of 'This Land Is Your Land' (with a side of 'Let's Get Loud') Jennifer Lopez wore an all-white ensemble by Chanel.

White, a colour connected to the Women's suffrage movement, became a colour of anti-Trump sentiment during his Presidency, with everyone from Hillary Clinton to Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez donning the hue in pointed protest.

The history-making new First Lady (Dr Biden will be the first First Lady to hold a paid job during their husband's tenure), joined the many other notable women at her husband's inauguration in wearing a monochrome outfit.

Unlike Harris, Obama, and Clinton, however, the mother and stepmother opted for a Democrat blue, no doubt in support of her President husband.

Keeping in theme with Clinton, Harris and Obama, the 69-year-old also wore an American designer, opting for emerging brand Markarian.

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Closing off the wonderful day with a performance of 'Firework' at the Lincoln Memorial, Perry chose a corseted dress and cape by American designer Thom Browne.

Not only was the main colour suffragette white, just like Jennifer Lopez, but it featured blue and red diamanté detailing, referencing the United States' national flag.

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Taking a cue from Harris and Obama, the former Secretary of State and First Lady also wore purple monochrome, pairing a royal purple pantsuit (a signature ensemble of the mother-of-one), with a matching scarf, and plum overcoat.

The 73-year-old also mirrored the new First Lady, Dr Jill Biden, by wearing an American designer, in her case Ralph Lauren, for the special day.

The Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman reflected the hopeful tone of her poem 'The Hill We Climb' in her sunshine-yellow coat and bold-red padded headband, both by Prada.

Gorman wore a pair of Nikos Koulis gold hoop earrings and a birdcage ring by the brand Of Rare Origin, which were both gifted to her by Oprah Winfrey.

While the ring is a specific reference to Maya Angelou's autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the gifts in general also have poignancy, since Winfrey sent Angelou herself gifts (a blue Chanel coat and gloves) for her address at Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration.

The former First Lady (notably married to a Republican president) also mirrored new First Lady Biden by wearing a Democratic blue monochrome outfit for Inauguration Day.

Harris turned to Sergio Hudson, a Black designer who has previously dressed Harris on her campaign trail, and dressed Michelle Obama earlier in the day, for her final Inauguration day look.

'We want to be uplifted right now,' Hudson told ELLE US of the choice to create a black and liquid glitter dress 'So I said, what if we make her something sparkly?'

'We kept the silhouette very structured and tailored, because that’s who the Vice President is,' the 36-year-old explained. 'But the liquid sequins give her glamour and shine, because her influence and the way she’s broken barriers is a light for so many of us. She shines so we can all shine.'

For her second ensemble of the day, the First Lady wore suffragette white like Lopez and Perry, this time by female, Uruguayan designer Gabriela Hearst.

The sustainable designer took to Instagram to share the inspiration for the flower-embroidered dress and coat she created was 'unity'.

'The blooming symbol to represent this message are the federal flowers from every state and territory of the United States of America,' Heart explained, 'The Delaware flower is positioned at the heart level of The First Lady, from there, all the other flowers branch out.'

Hearst also payed homage to the First Lady's career in education: 'Inside of the coat, representing the lifelong calling and service of Dr. Biden as an educator is a hand embroidery on the lining with a quote from Founding Father Benjamin Franklin “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”'

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Amara and Leela Harris, daughters to Meena Harris, wore leopard-print, faux fur coats as an homage to their history-making Grand-Aunt Kamala Harris.

Meena Harris shared a carousel on her Instagram showing her children in matching coats to the new Vice President when she was a young girl.

'Special coats to look just like Auntie's', she wrote under the post.