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What started as a mockable fashion statement by a certain female politician has become a selfie signifier in the current election.
At the beginning of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, the pantsuit was a slightly embarrassing fashion choice for the former first lady, senator and secretary of state. But what’s she supposed to wear? On men, these are just called ... suits. And when she wore skirts, she opened herself to complaints about her shoes or the size of her ankles. So early on in the presidential race, her campaign made it clear that she was just going to go ahead and own the pantsuit.
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As an unpleasant primary set in, secret Clinton groups proliferated on Facebook as safe places where women who felt their normal political interactions were now tinged with a certain misogyny could blurt out their frustrations. Much more recently, these disparate groups united in a million-plus-member group called Pantsuit Nation. A viral video cemented the idea that matching jackets and slacks, often acquired at a local thrift store, would be the uniform for a certain sort of frustrated, empowered Clinton supporter.
And here we are. It’s election day, and members of Pantsuit Nation and its ilk are taking to Twitter to mark their votes with a heavy side order of symbolism.
Jerry, slaying in her white pantsuit! https://t.co/SyXJpgX3kp#iwaited96years #pantsuitnation #ImWithHer #Centenarian4Hillary #SlayAllDay
— Somchay (@somchayxe) November 5, 2016
Wearing my #SuffragetteWhite #Pantsuit to the polls this morning! Happy #Election2016 America!! #VOTE pic.twitter.com/1q7MX5dVYS
— Lisa Guerrero (@4lisaguerrero) November 8, 2016
#pantsuit my grandmother born a slave unable to vote or wear a pantsuit. #voted 2day 4 our First Female President 4 her #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/PRT8XGDjXU
— madamecain (@madamecain) November 8, 2016
It was the only #pantsuit I had. #voted #nyvotes #Election2016 #ImWitHer #nastywomenvote pic.twitter.com/kJxh8bXca0
— Psycho-Girl (@psychogirl_com) November 8, 2016
YESSSSSS. As seen in the Castro, San Francisco #pantsuitnation #imwithher #LGBTQ #vote pic.twitter.com/7x7MzKkyHD
— Lisa Edelstein (@LisaEdelstein) November 6, 2016
Joined my fellow #nastywomen at the polls today, rocking my #pantsuit in NYC. pic.twitter.com/PsFuPAtF5G
— Nora Burns (@Nora_Burns) November 8, 2016
TODAY ❤️ @HillaryClinton #thefutureisfemale #pantsuitnation pic.twitter.com/mLi62hr2AM
— Cree Summer (@IAmCreeSummer) November 8, 2016
Put on a #pantsuit pop a #tictac and #grabhimbytheballot I did! #ImWithHer #pantsuitnation pic.twitter.com/FhlKMHFdkp
— jennifer runnion (@sisterj1969) November 8, 2016
Today's a really good day to wear a #pantsuit and sensible shoes. #Election2016 #vote @HillaryClinton pic.twitter.com/0VUldSLXqh
— Liz Hobbs (@LizPop11) November 8, 2016
In honor of my grandmothers, I wore my white suffragette version of a #pantsuit. #herstory #WithHer pic.twitter.com/Ly0ZLgj6VI
— Hollye Dexter (@hollyedexter) November 8, 2016
Proud member of #pantsuitnation! Wearing my Hillary Blue! #vote pic.twitter.com/7SHSZIzyjA
— Peter Paige (@ThePeterPaige) November 8, 2016
Starting the day with a #pantsuit selfie and some optimism from Susan B. Anthony pic.twitter.com/HD2RHtSuTf
— Beth Skwarecki (@BethSkw) November 8, 2016
To make sure nobody has doubtsabout who I voted for I came to work wearing a #PantSuit #ImWithHer #myvote2016 #pantsuitnation #ElectionDay pic.twitter.com/v3WeD2nLlI
— Naftali Kaminski (@KaminskiMed) November 8, 2016
#pantsuitnation #pantsuit #suffragettecity #TheFutureisFemale pic.twitter.com/f5jeTxGXzd
— jennifer creelman (@pearlcreelman) November 8, 2016
.@shannonrwatts Wearing grandma's necklace & white #pantsuit with my #MomsDemandAction tee for final #GOTV shifts for @HillaryClinton pic.twitter.com/o1Ygp1BURF
— Judith Fardig (@FardigJudith) November 8, 2016
Pantsuit for Hillary! Also Rosie the Riveter bandana and Ann Richards inaugural scarf on purse. @madfoot for you to use as you wish... pic.twitter.com/MGqTeoh2fz
— Holly Hayes (@HollyTHayes) November 8, 2016
Let's do this America! And my lawyer suit still fits ten years later. Bonus! #pantsuit #pantsuitnation pic.twitter.com/Vzn4zmn4nY
— Leena D. Saini (@MasalaBabyFood) November 8, 2016
Of course, a pantsuit is not the only symbolic gesture breaking hearts on Twitter:
My favorite thing on #pantsuitnation so far. #ImWithHer pic.twitter.com/a1t92Mhgsp
— Jennifer Latham (@jenandapen) November 6, 2016
Thank goodness, all these ladies (and gents) had help from another Vox site, Racked!
Wondering what to wear to go #vote? Wonder no more, that's what a #pantsuit is for https://t.co/qtAlTzMiBX
— Racked (@Racked) November 8, 2016
This article originally appeared on Recode.net.
