Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez, the face of the progressives among US Democrats, was an unlikely
presence at the Met Gala 2021, one of fashion’s biggest events. But as is typical
of Ocasio-Cortez, her presence was stellar and made a statement. Donning a
white dress with the message “tax the rich” emblazoned in red, Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez sent tongues wagging. When critics disparaged her for what they
called a hypocritical and tone-deaf move, Ocasio-Cortez set the record straight.
“The medium is the message,” she wrote on Instagram.
Explaining her
decision to attend the Met Gala, the young New York congresswoman said, “NYC
elected officials are regularly invited to and attend the Met due to our
responsibilities in overseeing the city’s cultural institutions that serve the
public. I was one of the several in attendance. Dress is borrowed.”
“The time is now
for childcare, healthcare and climate action for all,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote.
Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez’s dress was designed by Aurora James, a Black immigrant creative
director and the founder of Brother Vellies, a luxury brand.
Aurora James told
CNN in an interview that the purpose of the dress was to send out a message. “When
you get a seat at the table, you have to decide what the message is that you
want to deliver”, she said.
On being asked how
James knew Ocasio-Cortez, the designer said that the New York congresswoman had
followed her work during her bartending days.
“Fashion is
changing, America is changing,” James told Vogue adding, “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.”
Alexandria’s supports
and fans hailed her dress and some even went so far as to call her an “anti-capitalist
queen”. One of her supporters tweeted, “AOC wearing this dress at an event full
of rich people…this woman has more balls than any man in Congress.”
Detractors,
however, called her out for what they say is hypocrisy. “If AOC hates the rich
so much, why is she attending an event that only the wealthiest people in
America can afford to attend?” asked writer David Hookstead, according to
Guardian.
