The Bidens, Kamala Harris, and Doug Emhoff make a joint statement in American designers on Inauguration Day

• Joe and Jill Biden, Kamala Harris, and Doug Emhoff all wore clothes by American designers on Inauguration Day.
• Melania Trump left the White House wearing European brands including Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana.
• The New York Times chief fashion critic and fashion director Vanessa Friedman called Trump’s choice “fitting.” 
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The president, first lady, vice president, and second gentleman honored American designers with their Inauguration Day outfits.

President Joe Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff both wore suits by Ralph Lauren, according to The New York Times’ chief fashion critic and fashion director Vanessa Friedman. The American designer has a history of dressing political figures and first ladies for inaugurations, campaign events, and other major events. 

Kamala Harris, who made history as she was sworn in, becoming the nation’s first female, Black, and Asian vice president, wore a bright-purple dress and coat.

Her look included pieces from two Black designers, including Christopher John Rogers, who’s from Lousiana and lives in New York City; and Sergio Hudson, from South Carolina, according to Deepa Shivaram, an NBC News reporter following Harris.

Read more: Meena Harris, niece of Vice President-elect Kamala, wants her new children’s book to inspire ambitious women (and girls) everywhere

Incoming first lady Jill Biden wore an ocean-blue dress and overcoat from Markarian, a New York-based luxury fashion label founded in 2017 by designer Alexandra O'Neill. Biden also wore a silk face mask from Markarian, which coordinated with the vibrant blue hue.

A representative for the brand told Insider that the shade of blue worn by Biden was chosen to "signify trust, confidence, and stability."  

Biden's dress included subtle sparkly details, including a neckline that was hand-embellished with Swarovski pearls and crystals. The same embellishments were included on her coat to reflect the light.

Biden's look was custom-made by a small team in New York City's iconic Garment District, and O'Neill finished the outfit in her studio in the city's West Village neighborhood.

"Alexandra is incredibly humbled to be a small part of such a historic moment," the brand representative told Insider.

Earlier in the day, Melania Trump departed the White House in an outfit from European brands

While the incoming president, first lady, vice president, and second gentleman donned American designers, Melania Trump left the White House for the final time wearing an all-black outfit.

Friedman tweeted on Wednesday that Trump's outfit consisted of a Chanel jacket, Dolce & Gabbana dress, and Christian Louboutin shoes. 

On Inauguration Day in 2017, Trump made her first appearance as FLOTUS wearing a powder-blue Ralph Lauren coatdress that conjured comparisons to Jackie Kennedy.

But throughout her time as the first lady, Trump was often pictured wearing European brands. Some people pointed out the irony in the first lady's apparent penchant for European clothes, considering her husband's "America first" platform and push to support domestic businesses and goods.

Friedman pointed out that Trump's final outfit as first lady on Wednesday included "her favorite brands" and that it was "fitting" for the outgoing first lady to wear the European labels.

That being said, many American fashion designers, including Christian Siriano, Zac Posen, and Marc Jacobs, refused to dress Trump. Many of the designers said that their beliefs didn't align with the Trump family's political views and therefore had no plans to dress the first lady or the president, according to Marie Claire. 

Representatives for Ralph Lauren, Christopher John Rogers, Sergio Hudson, Chanel, Dolce & Gabanna, and Christian Louboutin, respectively, did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

• Read more:
• What 16 first ladies wore at their husbands' presidential inaugurations
• Joe and Jill Biden have been married for nearly 44 years - here's a timeline of their relationship
• Kamala Harris will be sworn in on a Bible that belonged to Thurgood Marshall, the first Black Supreme Court justice