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By Jenni Fink
Senior Editor
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Usha Vance is about to become second lady and embark on her first term in the White House with her husband, Vice President-elect JD Vance. As with other women in her position, her fashion choices are likely to become political talking points.
Why It Matters
Usha was thrust into the national spotlight when her husband was selected as Donald Trump's running mate in July. Her fashion choices for the inaugural events have nodded to her Indian-American heritage.
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Her style has also been seen as different from that of the typical women in Trump's circle, who take on a Miss America type of look, with perfectly styled hair and makeup, and they often wear noticeable designers. Usha has so far opted for a more understated look compared with other Republican women in the spotlight.
Who Is Usha Vance?
Usha got her law degree from Yale and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh before he was on the Supreme Court, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts. She met JD at Yale, and he credits her with being a core part of his life and for encouraging him to reconnect with his Christian faith. Usha was a registered Democrat, according to records reviewed by Newsweek, but has since switched to being a Republican.
What Usha Vance Wore Last Night
On Sunday, Usha wore to the Candlelight Dinner a purple gown that was designed by Gaurav Gupta. Gupta, an Indian designer, is only the second Indian designer to be invited to show at Paris Haute Couture Week. Usha was born and raised in San Diego, but her parents are both Indian immigrants.
Earlier in the day, Usha wore a white coat to the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. It was made by Sergio Hudson, an American fashion designer. It's common for women in the new administration to choose U.S. designers for the inauguration.
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The night before, on Saturday, Usha wore a black velvet gown from Oscar de la Renta. It was custom-made for her and featured a sweetheart neckline and floral accents.
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What Usha Vance Wore to Inauguration
Usha joined the Trump family at Washington, D.C.'s St. John's Church ahead of the inauguration. She wore a pink coat with a belt. She paired the outfit with a pair of suede boots. After church, she and J.D. met with Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff at the White House ahead of the inauguration ceremony.
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Usha and JD Vance's Children
Usha and JD Vance have three children. Their sons, Ewan and Vivek, are 7 and 4, and their daughter, Mirabel, is 3. The three kids will wear Anagrassia, a South Bend, Indiana, brand, for the inauguration.
The boys will wear matching wool double-breasted navy jackets with gold buttons and the designer-embroidered "USA" under the collars of the jackets. The Vances' daughter will wear a wine-colored double-breasted wool cape with gold buttons, similar to her brothers.
Anagrassia designer Mary Grace Godfrey said she used as many American-made products as she could find for the outfits.
What People Are Saying
**Summer Anne Lee, presidential fashion historian and professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, told Newsweek: "**The SLOTUS's light pink coat and flower earrings really stand out to me because of how soft and feminine they are, which is a big contrast to the achromatic, sharply tailored ensemble the First Lady was seen wearing this morning. I also can't help but be reminded of the pink tie her husband wore to the Vice Presidential debate in October of 2024, which made a few headlines itself!"
Mary Grace Godfrey told IndyStar: "It was awesome. I'm speechless."
Gupta told Vogue in June: "The brand has been experiencing a significant moment with global expansion, exposure, celebrity dressing—and, of course, Paris Couture Week being the pinnacle of our efforts."
Vanessa Friedman, a New York Times critic, wrote after the Republican Convention: "She looked like someone who had other things on her mind than dress (like maybe how much her life is about to change) and wasn't all that interested in devoting a big chunk of time to catering to the male gaze. You could imagine her before the event, looking at her closet and exercising her own judgment about what seemed right....
"She arrived as herself. That may seem minor, but in a campaign that prizes the visual message and is trying to position itself as a broader tent, one in which her husband's political consistency is under scrutiny, it is a statement in itself," Friedman said.
Commander-In-Chief Inaugural Ball
Usha and JD were seen arriving at the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball on Monday night hand in hand. Usha was seen wearing a blue sparkly dress. It is immediately unclear to Newsweek who designed her dress.
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What's Next
As the Trump administration embarks on its second term, fashion will continue to play a significant role in shaping public perceptions. Usha's fashion choices—often grounded in simplicity and craftsmanship—may inspire a broader shift within Republican circles, emphasizing authenticity over spectacle. With such events as state dinners and global summits on the horizon, her evolving style will likely remain a focal point for political and fashion observers alike.
Update 1/20/25 10:51 p.m. ET: This story was updated to include what Usha wore to the Commander-in-Chief inaugural ball on Monday night.
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