An Indian designer, a symbolic tie, vintage finds and New York City’s most stylish swearing-in ceremony

Fashion has always been an unspoken language of politics. Still, on the very first day of the year, it’s safe to say that New York City witnessed a showcase on how style can communicate values in the most fashionable way ever! The city’s newly inaugurated Mayor and his wife stepped onto the public stage with grace that felt intentional, modern, and strikingly authentic. Their appearances offered a fresh blueprint for what political dressing will look like, one that blends progressive ideals, cultural identity, and a sharp understanding of visual storytelling.

At just 34, the Mayor made history as the first South Asian and Muslim leader of New York City, underscoring the significance of the moment by taking his oath on two family Qurans during both his private midnight swearing-in and the public ceremony at City Hall Plaza. The symbolism was clear, layered, and dignified, setting the tone for everything that followed.

Zohran Mamdani is not your ordinary democratic socialist!

Zohran Mamdani’s approach to inauguration dressing was understated yet layered with intent. He chose a classic suit from SuitSupply, allowing the focus to rest on a detail that carried both cultural and political weight. His herringbone silk tie, created by New Delhi–based label Kartik Research, featured delicate gold embroidery of four-petal floral motifs inspired by traditional Assamese jacquard patterns. Founded by designer Kartik Kumra, the four-year-old brand is known for its engagement with Indian craft communities, particularly artisans across Northeast India. Kumra, a semi-finalist for the LVMH Prize in 2023, has built Kartik Research on a philosophy of preservation, handwork, and quiet storytelling—values that mirrored Mamdani’s own positioning.

Advised by stylist and former Vogue editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Mamdani’s sartorial choices reflected fashion’s role within public life: subtle, symbolic, and deliberate. The tie functioned as a visual shorthand, allowing him to represent his heritage. In political dressing, meaning often lies in restraint, and Mamdani’s look demonstrated how clothing can communicate solidarity, lineage, and values without overt declaration. It was a reminder that in the public sphere, the most resonant fashion statements are often the ones that speak softly but with precision.

Rama Duwaji is artsy, a thrifter, and the first lady of New York City

As New York City’s youngest, first Gen Z and Muslim First Lady, Rama Duwaji’s fashion choices were anything but incidental. Each look felt like a carefully considered extension of her identity as an artist and cultural thinker, someone fluent in the power of detail, consistency, and nuance.

For the inauguration, Duwaji wore a vintage Balenciaga coat sourced from Albright Fashion Library, paired with culotte-style shorts from The Frankie Shop and sculptural earrings borrowed from New York Vintage. Her Miista boots, worn on loan from the brand, added a contemporary edge to the otherwise archival ensemble. Also styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, the look balanced structure with individuality, blending a sense of vintage gravitas with modern nonchalance.

Notably, the decision to borrow and rent key pieces was not accidental. It reinforced a commitment to sustainability and circular fashion, values closely associated with her generation. Karefa-Johnson openly addressed this choice, preempting criticism and reframing luxury as something that can be accessed responsibly and transparently.

Later, to greet the public, Duwaji changed into a chocolate-brown A-line coat with a funnel neck by Cynthia Merhej of Renaissance Renaissance. The sculptural silhouette, paired with silver tusk-shaped earrings, felt effortless yet intentional, the kind of look one might see at a downtown Manhattan dinner rather than a formal civic event. For the second swearing-in, she returned to Merhej, wearing a custom brown coat dress adapted from the designer’s Fall Winter 2023 collection, once again spotlighting an independent Middle Eastern woman designer with deep ties to craftsmanship.

Fashion as consistent storytelling

Together, the couple presented a unified fashion-forward visual philosophy rooted in intention, sustainability, and cultural awareness. Karefa-Johnson’s involvement brought coherence to their public image, aligning her own anti-establishment sensibilities and lived experience as a woman of colour with the couple’s broader political messaging.

Rather than defaulting to traditional power dressing, they leaned into personal narratives, independent designers, borrowed pieces, and heritage craftsmanship. Each choice reinforced the idea that fashion, when used thoughtfully, can reflect belief systems, community ties, and a forward-looking vision of leadership.

A new blueprint for modern political style

In an era where optics are scrutinised as closely as policy, New York City’s Mayor and First Lady have demonstrated that authenticity is the most compelling aesthetic of all. Their approach to dressing does not distract from their politics; it deepens it. By embracing sustainability, cultural representation, and independent design, they have positioned themselves not just as leaders but as cultural signifiers of a changing world.

This is not fashion as decoration. This is fashion as alignment, intention, and quiet conviction—and in 2025, it may be the most powerful statement of all.

Image credits: Getty Images

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