With the countdown to election day nearing the two-week mark, Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are canvassing the country and making key appearances in battleground states.
Harris’ decision to appear at Thursday’s 79th Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner via a recorded video versus in-person generated much pre-event analysis. (The Democratic candidate was campaigning in Wisconsin.) Trump’s often swiping speech and Harris’ call “to reach across divides,” as well as her plus-one of comedian Molly Shannon reenacting her “Saturday Night Live” character “Mary Katherine Gallagher,” weren’t the only takeaways from the benefit for Catholic charities.
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Historically, the annual bipartisan gathering has proven to provide some lighter moments between rival presidential candidates. But this year? Not so much given the polarity between the Democratic and Republican camps. If nothing else, many agreed on the dress code — guests like Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former New York Gov. George Pataki turned out in white tie. Trump opted for a black bow tie. Harris chose a black pantsuit, black crewneck top, a pearl necklace, American flag pin and Tiffany & Co. gold and pearl earrings. The former first lady Melania Trump went with a more formal route in a black tuxedo coat from Dolce & Gabbana at the Midtown Hilton hotel event. That was one of the few campaign appearances that she has made — and the commute to and from Trump Tower was a matter of blocks.
Former U.S. secretary of state Mike Pompeo, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and former New York state Gov. George Pataki at the fundraiser.
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Kennedy’s actress wife Cheryl Hines, who many know from her “Curb Your Enthusiasm” days, stood out in the sea of tuxedos wearing a shimmery gold, body-hugging, off-the-shoulder dress.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines stand with a guest during the annual Alfred E. Smith Foundation dinner.
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Melania Trump’s stylist Hervé Pierre said Friday that he saw the wide-shouldered tux coat “not a long time ago and thought it could be handy for an upcoming dressy evening. It was as easy as that. Melania Trump liked it as well. We fitted it and it was good to go,” he said.
Having worked with Trump, a former model, during and after her White House years, Pierre said a tuxedo coat is always “an evening saver, when you don’t have an evening dress handy.”
Melania Trump is a bit of a loyalist to designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, having worn a Dolce & Gabbana suit for her official White House portrait and for such major photo-ops as a 2016 presidential debate and a visit to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis. Acting as her awkward schoolgirl character, Shannon showed off her Catholic girl awkwardness in her signature uniform from her former “SNL” skit — white knee socks, a white blouse with a Peter Pan collar, a navy vest and plaid pleated skirt. She also reminded Harris, “Haters gonna hate. Shake it off.” — a reference to a song by another Harris supporter — Taylor Swift.
