Biden inauguration: Why did US Vice President Kamala Harris wear purple?

Vice President Kamala Harris as well as former first lady Michelle Obama opted to wear shades of purple to the US presidential inauguration. In 2016, democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Senator Elizabeth Warren also arrived at the ceremony in purple, while incoming First Lady Jill Biden wore it for Tuesday night's vigil at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

This fashion choice isn’t a coincidence. Purple is the perfect mix of Republican red and Democratic blue. And is traditionally seen as a symbol of bipartisanship in the United States and the colour that represents the women's suffrage movement.

Back in the day, Hillary Clinton confirmed that she wore purple to send out a message of unity.

Acording to media reports, Clinton said, "I did wear purple with a purpose because I knew the theme that President Biden was striking was unity. I thought as you combine red and blue, the way that we are divided politically in our country, you get purple. I wanted just to send a bit of a symbolic message that we need to come together."

Senator Elizabeth Warren also attended the inauguration in a purple scarf and face mask.

Kamala Harris, the USA's first woman, first Black and first South Asian Vice President, opted to wear an outfit by black designer Christopher John Rogers. "Thank you, Madam Vice President. We are so honoured and humbled to have played a small part in this historical moment," Rogers wrote on Instagram.

Harris completed her look with pearls, a nod to her membership to Alpha Kappa Alpha, her sorority at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Jill Biden also wore purple to the COVID memorial service - a purple coat and dress.

Michelle Obama, meanwhile, opted for a plum and burgundy outfit with a statement belt. Her outfit by LA-based Sergio Hudson earned her a ton of compliments, with hundreds of people praising her style on social media.

Accoring to news reports, this inauguration, Melania Trump also broke decade old tradition as her final act as first-lady: The new first lady, Jill Biden wasn't invited to tea and a tour of the White House family quarters. Usually, the first ladies' have a transfer-of-power tradition in which they meet over tea, but Melania gave it a miss.