Jill Biden's Sustainably Made Dress Did, in Fact, Send a Message at the Debate

Getty / Scott Olson

Although our first glimpse at a Jill Biden fashion statement was quite literal – she wore a pair of Stuart Weitzman “Vote” boots while leaving the polls – her second was less obvious, but just as important. Dr. Biden showed up to the first 2020 presidential debate between Donald Trump and her husband, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, and this time around, she wasn’t wearing any slogans that made her message explicit; instead, she wore a jewel-toned fringe cocktail dress by Gabriela Hearst. It was perfectly appropriate, complete with an envelope-style clutch, Valentino Rockstud heels, pearl drop earrings, and her Athleta face mask, worn out of respect and for the safety of those around her.

Hearst’s dress was not just appropriate, it was a repurposed look from fall 2017 that Jill previously wore to the fifth annual Save the Children Illumination Gala three years ago in New York City, and then again for a 2020 appearance on MSNBC. Not only is rewearing an article of clothing, rather than purchasing something new, a sustainable practice, but this dress is also specifically made from recycled fabrics, as Hearst’s brand is wholeheartedly committed to eco-fashion, which you can read about on her website.

“What a surprise and honor to see that at last night’s debate Dr Jill Biden repurposed a GH dress she wore three years ago. Climate change is the biggest threat we are facing as a species. Sadly what we lost we can’t recover (60% of wild life in 50 years) but we can preserve and restore. We need the policy to do it and there is only one side right now unfortunately that is willing to admit what is real against all scientific proof. Vote this November,” Gabriela Hearst wrote on Instagram underneath a picture of the Bidens on stage.

Here, Hearst brings the conversation about Jill’s style move full circle, in order to make the connection about how our clothing choices affect the environment. We’re guessing Gabriela Hearst isn’t the only eco-friendly brand in Jill Biden’s wardrobe, and we commend her for her outfit choice at the first debate – which we’re delighted to bring to your attention since you may not have noticed, due to some other blood-boiling distractions.