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Who Is Christopher John Rogers? Meet the Fashion Designer Behind Kamala Harris’s Inauguration Coat

If you watched The Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, you’re probably wondering who designed Madame Vice President’s chic outfit. Well, you’ve come to the right place.

From an impressive lineup of celebrity fans to a unique upbringing, here’s what you need to know about fashion designer Christopher John Rogers.

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Who Is Christopher John Rogers?

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Rogers is now based in Brooklyn, New York. The 25-year-old designer attended Savannah College of Art and Design and he credits Instagram and "that nifty little DM button" for kickstarting his career.

He was the winner of the 2019 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, an Anna Wintour–led endeavor that acts as a fast lane for putting emerging designers on the map.

Who's Worn His Clothes Before?

Lizzo wore one of his neon green frocks (that was embellished with matching fluorescent feathers!) to the MTV Movie and TV Awards, while Michele Obama slipped into a sparkly green suit that was custom designed by Rogers. Other celeb fans include Gabrielle Union, Karlie Kloss, Priyanka Chopra, Tessa Thompson, Tracee Ellis Ross and SZA. Phew, what a lineup!

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Did he dress Vice President Kamala Harris?

That’s correct. Kamala Harris wore a purple coat and dress to The Inauguration of Joe Biden in Washington, D.C. The tailored ensemble was designed by Christopher John Rogers and complemented her pearls by Wilfredo Rosado.

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Victor VIRGILE/Getty Images

What Makes His Designs So Special?

Even if you couldn’t see yourself wearing a silver iridescent pleated skirt or two-tone top that mixes zebra print and a wonky checkered pattern in just a few inches of fabric, you can recognize the au courant creativity that Rogers has infused into each of his creations.

“I don’t think that the way that you dress should make you sacrifice your personality, or your point of view, or necessarily say anything about your intelligence,” he told NPR.

Oh, and did we mention that as of last year at this time, Rogers was still working out of his living room to create those incredible outfits? Yeah, he might be the literal definition of up-and-coming, but we’re confident that Rogers’s ascent will continue to be a steep and steady one.



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Fashion Editor

From 2019-2021 Dena Silver held the role of Fashion Editor covering product recommendations, trends, and what you should be shopping this season.

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Senior Editor

Greta Heggeness is a California-based editor at PureWow and has been writing about entertainment since 2015. She covers everything from awards shows to exclusive celebrity...