Rama Duwaji Is Rewriting What A First Lady Wears, And We’re Stealing Her Looks
The First Lady of New York City is giving us all a lesson in style.
If you’ve been anywhere on the internet since the turn of the new year, you already know her. Rama Duwaji – the 28-year-old animator, illustrator and wife of newly-elected New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani – has gone from creative to cultural fixation almost overnight.
Long before the Mamdani buzz, she’s built a stacked resume, with her work featured on Vogue, The New Yorker, The Cut and more. But it was Mamdani’s swearing-in ceremony on January 1 where she was thrust into the spotlight. For the occasion, the First Lady wore a pair of lace-up boots from Miista. The controversy? The fact that they cost US$630 (S$796).
Styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson (who’s also styled Hailey Bieber, Anok Yai and Kendall Jenner, BTW – just to name a few), the look was finished with a vintage Balenciaga coat.
Rama Duwaji wearing a vintage Balenciaga coat and now-viral Miista boots at Zohran Mamdani’s private swearing-in ceremony at the old City Hall subway station.
The internet was rife with discourse about the First Lady’s choice of footwear, but ICYMI, Karefa-Johnson explained on her Substack that the boots were on loan – along with the rest of the items in the look she’s been going viral for. According to her, Duwaji is a huge fan of thrifting and supporting independent labels rooted in heritage and meaning, so this circular approach (read: circular fashion, which refers to an approach that keeps garments in circulation for as long as possible, rather than the traditional buy-wear-dispose mentality) to her dressing should come as no surprise.
Scandalous? More like fabulous. Ahead, we sample from her most talked-about looks so far, along with some of her personal OOTDs — and show you how to channel a little of that Duwaji energy yourself.
DUWAJI’S CAMPAIGN LOOKS
Rama Duwaji wearing a coat from Lebanon-based couture label Renaissance Renaissance during Mamdani’s inauguration.
Max Mara cotton-blend shorts, US$106 (S$136), www.ssense.com
Shorts in the winter might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they’ll definitely work in our never-ending tropical climate. The pleated details make them a little less casual, perfect for those smart casual dress codes.
Miista leather lace-up boots, US$630 (S$796), www.miista.com
Who says you can’t wear boots in Singapore? Pair them with a pair of shorts and you’ll be looking effortlessly chic. These are the exact ones that Duwaji wore too, so you know they’re First Lady-approved.
Duwaji casting her vote on polling day.
Paris Georgia lyocell T-shirt, US$130 (S$167), www.shop.parisgeorgia.com
Duwaji rocked a layered look on polling day with a sheer black top over a long black dress, and we think this one will do the trick perfectly. Plus, the breathable material definitely deserves some bonus points in Singapore’s humidity.
Lyocell-blend midi skirt, S$105, Massimo Dutti
A simple black midi skirt is a great way to look more put together, especially for the corporate girlies.
DAILY LOOKS
Skims cotton tank top, S$61, www.skims.com
Duwaji’s go-to outfit combo seems to be a simple black tank top with knee-length shorts and leather boots – something we can easily recreate here. This one from Skims is always a reliable staple.
14K gold vermeil box chain necklace, S$155, Wanderlust + Co
You’ll never catch Duwaji without her stack of gold necklaces, so a gold chain is a must when trying to channel her vibe.
Love 18K yellow gold earrings, S$3,100, Cartier
Complementing her gold necklaces is always a pair of gold earrings – more often than not, they’re a pair of chunky gold hoops.
Campana leather shoulder bag, $6,480, Bottega Veneta
No outfit of Duwaji’s is complete without a reliable shoulder bag. The Campana from Bottega Veneta is roomy enough to fit everything you need if you’re on-the-go like her – art supplies and journal included.
This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.