Ella Emhoff Steals The Show At DNC 2024 With Two Completely Different Looks

In 2024, the four-day Democratic National Convention began on August 19 in Chicago. Despite all of the politicians there, it seems that all everyone can talk about is the appearance of Ella Emhoff, the 25-year-old stepdaughter of Vice President Kamala Harris, and her eye-catching fashion choices. The young artist, model, and fashion designer is the daughter of Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and his ex-wife, Kerstin Emhoff, and attended the DNC to support her father and Harris, who she jokingly refers to as "Momala," along with her older brother, Cole. 

Emhoff's antithetical style isn't constrained to a single genre, as evidenced by her Monday DNC 'fit — an unlikely combination of Helmut Lang pleated trousers and a camouflage print Harris-Walz cap. She threw everyone for a loop when she followed up with a preppy Thom Browne blazer the next day.

These looks may be described as casual yet refined, drawing enough attention to elevate her to style icon status among the younger generations. That said, Emhoff first established herself within the fashion sphere several years back when she made fashion headlines in a plaid Miu Miu coat at President Joe Biden's 2021 inauguration. Soon after debuting her bejeweled designer outfit, Emhoff signed a contract with IMG Models and became the face of the Adidas by Stella McCartney line all in the same year. Her sartorial prowess continues to attract attention by bringing a refreshing Gen Z flair to traditional attire in a way that's sure to influence the future of political fashion movements.

First, let's break down Ella Emhoff's viral camo cap outfit. For the first day of the DMC, she donned a monochromatic look with a sleeveless cream blouse with a cascading scarf detail at the back, along with straight-leg Helmut Lang trousers and silver jewelry. Together, these base pieces have the makings of an elegant campaign outfit that's fitting for the daughter of Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff. However, Emhoff's proclivity toward comfortable style influenced the rest of her look, which included barely-there makeup, retro aviator frames, and, of course, the cap. The $40 camo hat in question, as seen in her Instagram post, belongs to Harris' campaign fundraiser line — it's also available in white if you're interested — with a bold orange font that stands out from miles away.

Despite being a fashion designer herself, Emhoff admitted to not having anticipated the response to her style. "That's been really funny, because growing up, I never saw myself as someone stylish, at all!" she told Elle in 2021. "Obviously, I loved fashion and cared a lot about it. But I was really into doing my own thing and being really comfortable in my own body, you know?" Emhoff must have taken a few tips from stepmother Kamala Harris, who has undergone a stunning style transformation of her own in the last few years.

Preppy fashion has been big in 2024 so far, and Ella Emhoff's second DNC look lived up to everyone's expectations. This year, cinched-waist blazers have replaced 2023's oversized trend, and Emhoff showed us exactly how it's done with her Thom Browne ensemble. The designer suit featured a checkered navy blazer, which she paired with a white button-down shirt and matching checkered bottoms. The peek-a-boo white sleeves, signature Thom Browne armbands, and navy tie gave this a modern, androgynous feel that took everyone by surprise. "That suit is EVERYTHINGG," one individual commented on her Instagram post. "Cannot go wrong with a Thom Browne suit," another user wrote.

Interestingly, Emhoff is adamant that she never admitted to her talent for style and design. "I never saw myself as a 'fashion person.' And I don't know if my classmates did either!," Emhoff added to Elle. "But if I had to describe my style right now, it's not even a way of dressing. It's just wearing clothes that you feel good in, not really being influenced by what other people want you to be wearing." She added that it's important to try new things when it comes to style, and not worry too much about what other people think. Overall, Emhoff's dedication to being true to her individual sense of style is clear from the DNC looks we've seen so far, and her fans are beyond excited to see what she has in store for us next.