Clinton's Choice to Wear White at Debate Conveys Struggle of Suffragettes, Says Expert

ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images(LAS VEGAS) — Without saying any words, Hillary Clinton sent a message to voters the moment she walked onto the stage at Wednesday night’s presidential debate in Las Vegas.

Or rather the Democratic presidential candidate’s white Ralph Lauren pantsuit sent the message.

Clinton has worn Ralph Lauren’s designs often since kicking off her campaign. For example, she wore a cobalt blue Ralph Lauren suit for the campaign’s opening rally last year in New York City.

But it’s her choice of color — not designer — that’s significant.

“The choice of a white suit for Wednesday’s debate harkened back to the not-so-distant past, when suffragettes wore white to promote their struggle to gain the right to vote,” Booth Moore, senior fashion editor for The Hollywood Reporter and Pret-a-Reporter, told ABC News moments after Clinton took to the debate stage at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Adds Moore, “It also serves as a reminder to voters, during a time when Trump has been under fire for lewd comments and accused by 10 women of inappropriate sexual behavior, that she is the women’s candidate.”

And keep in mind, Clinton wore a similar white suit in July at the Democratic National Convention, where she accepted the party’s presidential nomination.

Even Trump’s ensemble — a dark suit, white shirt and red tie — sent a message, Moore told ABC News.

“The red tie is about the most traditional inside-the -beltway, GOP male power uniform you can get,” she said. “Seems to be trying to show he belongs.

And on a lighter note, many in the twittersphere argued that Clinton channeled “Scandal” character Olivia Pope, played by actress Kerry Washington.

hillz walking in like #debatenight pic.twitter.com/7hgdlnZCXg

— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) October 20, 2016

Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

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