Pearls have long adorned the necks of senior political figures in the US. From Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s iconic pearl collar to the pearl necklaces favoured by the likes of Jackie Kennedy, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama and Barbara Bush, it’s safe to say that pearls are a staple of American political fashion.
Recently, pearls have become synonymous with the current Democratic nominee for President Kamala Harris, who typically wears the gems with her favourite sneakers, chucks. This simple but significant sartorial choice brings politics to the fashion world in a refreshingly authentic way.
Read on to find out more about how Harris wears her pearls to make a powerful political statement.
What are chucks and pearls?
First thing’s first: what exactly are chucks?
“Chucks” refer to the classic Converse All Stars sneakers. Harris is renowned for wearing chucks, even discussing her love for the shoes as far back as 2018. According to fashion experts, they’re both practical and iconic, indicating Harris’s ‘can do’ attitude and hands on approach to politics.
While Harris is known for her beloved chucks, she’s now just as famous for wearing them with pearls.
In fact, Harris graced the cover of Vogue in chucks and pearls, marking only the second time in the magazine’s history that Converse have featured on its front cover.
Why does Harris wear chucks and pearls?
Kamala Harris’s affinity for pearls began during her days at Howard University, a historically Black research institution with notable alumni including Zora Neale Hurston and Chadwick Boseman.
Whilst there, she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), one of the USA’s oldest sororities which boasts members like Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Rosa Parks.
The original leaders of the 1908-founded sorority are known as the ‘Twenty Pearls’, and contemporary membership badges are often encrusted with twenty pearls in homage to this group.
Today’s members of the sorority are also known as ‘pearls’, and Harris continues to wear these gems in honour of this group.
Pearls have featured in Kamala’s wardrobe at all major significant moments in her life. They featured at her 1986 graduation from Howard University, her inauguration as San Francisco’s district attorney, when she was sworn into Congress and during her victory speech in 2020.
Pairing her chucks and pearls allows Harris to make a political statement via her fashion and jewellery choices. Chucks have long been a symbol of US patriotism, worn by people of all genders, ages, races, class and sexual orientation. As Harris has said in this interview: "We all at some point or another had our Chucks, right?"
As for Converse, the company have expressed their pride that Harris chooses to wear her chucks ‘as a reflection of her personal identity in a historic moment’.
Power pearls: Embrace Kamala’s Style
Women across the US are channelling their inner Kamala, with initiatives like Chucks and Pearls Day on January 20th, 2021, bringing the trend to the masses.
In fact, the group behind this day has even called for the 20th of each month to be known as Chucks and Pearls Day on an ongoing basis, celebrating Harris’s trailblazing role and inspiring commitment to unity and empowerment through accessible style.
Want to channel Kamala’s iconic style? Here’s how to incorporate pearls into your wardrobe.
Multi strand pearl necklaces
Multi strand pearl necklaces are an enduring favourite of Kamala’s.
Keep it classic with our white freshwater pearl double strand necklace. Pair with a trouser suit and heels for a smart evening look, or dress down with jeans, a boat neck top and your favourite chucks.
Alternatively, choose a contemporary twist on the classic design with our white freshwater pearl triple strand necklace. Wear with matching white pearl earrings for double impact. Classic white pearl stud earrings are always sleek but understated, or go for a white pearl drop design with a low bun.
If white’s not your colour but you still need a work-appropriate multi-strand necklace, choose a design like our grey freshwater pearl five strand necklace. The cool tones of ice blue and silver wear well as a statement piece or with our matching grey freshwater pearl five strand bracelet.
Single strand pearl necklace
If a multi strand design isn’t your style, keep it sophisticated with a subtle single strand pearl necklace.
The vintage glamour of our silver-black Tahitian pearl necklace will see you from morning meetings through to evening drinks, especially when worn with our black Tahitian pearl and amethyst white gold ring. Plus, you’ll be emulating the necklace Kamala wore in 2017 when she was sworn in as a US Senator.
Kamala’s a fan of pearl necklaces combining different size gems. Choose a design like our white freshwater pearl mixed size single strand necklace or the same design in multiple colours to follow her lead.
Our award-winning black Tahitian pearl and sapphire necklace combines delicate grey sapphire briolettes with baroque Tahitian gems to make a punchy pearl jewellery design. Just don’t forget your chucks!
South Sea pearls
South Sea pearls rank amongst Madam Vice President’s favourite pearl types.
Produced in white, silver and gold-lipped oysters, these distinctive gems have overtones ranging from white and silver to pale pink, light gold and even a burnt orange.
A design like our gold South Sea pearl necklace makes for eye-catching neckwear. Wear with your hair up and pearl drop earrings like our white South Sea pearl and diamond gold huggies.
Alternatively, choose a chunkier piece like our golden South Sea baroque pearl and citrine ‘coco coral’ necklace, inspired by the abstract structures of the Philippines’ coral reefs.
Design your own Kamala-inspired pearls
Looking for something uniquely yours? Book into a bespoke pearl jewellery consultation with us and design a one-of-a-kind pearl piece to wear with your very own set of chucks.
We’ll bring your ideas to life, creating a Kamala-inspired design that tells your story and highlights your natural beauty.
