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For her first appearance at the Met gala, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had to make a political statement. It was only right. And since she was at fashion’s glitziest night, surrounded by some of the most powerful and famous people in the world, what better medium to get her message out about taxing the rich than, well, to have it written in red on her dress? The Democratic socialist congresswoman wore a white gown by Brother Vellies, splashed with the political slogan across the back (the bottom curve of the C in “rich” nicely mirrored the tulle hem).
“We can never get too comfortable in our seats at the table once they’ve been given,” Aurora James, founder and creative director of Brother Vellies and the founder of the 15 Percent Pledge says. “We must always continue to push ourselves, push our colleagues, push the culture, and push the country forward. Fashion is changing; America is changing. And as far as this theme goes, I think Alexandria and I are a great embodiment of the language fashion needs to consider adding to the general lexicon as we work towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and empowered future.”
The outfit was finished by a pair of red shoes from Brother Vellies, with long laces and bright flowers along the heel. Her bag also read “Tax the rich,” to drive the message home. Ocasio-Cortez is far from the only politician to attend the Met gala—Hillary Clinton came in 2001—but she is the only one who has used her time on the carpet to make a controversial political statement. Of course, who else in Washington would dare?
Director: Billie JD Porter
DP: Billy Voermann
Editor: Phil Ceconi
Producer: Naomi Nishi
Producer, On-Set: Katie Nixdorf
Hair: Eric Williams
Makeup: Cassandra Garcia
AC: Marcus Odom
AC: Connor Peterson
Audio: Travis Jones
Filmed on Location: The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel
VP, Digital Video Programming and Development: Robert Semmer
Entertainment Director, Vogue: Sergio Kletnoy
Director of Content: Tara Homeri
Showrunner: Lila Benaissa
Production Manager: Emily Yates
Post-Production Manager: Marco Glinbizzi
Production Coordinator: Kit Fogarty
Production Assistant: Baldeep Pabla
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