Walz straddles class boundaries and appeals to blue-collar voters that Harris (with her San Francisco upbringing) risks alienating, one expert said.
In his video introduction to the world as Kamala Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz wore white sneakers, khaki pants, a black T-shirt, and, of course, a signature camo cap.
The now-viral video cuts between Walz, holding his phone on a chair, and Harris, sitting in an office. Immediately, their sartorial differences were stark, with a polished Harris wearing in a muted blouse and navy blazer.
In the days since, Walz’s style has graced headlines for achieving what is so often elusive in politics: a real sense of authenticity. Moreover, it’s an aesthetic that could squarely appeal to the very voters Harris needs, experts told Business Insider.
The Minnesota governor’s closet consists of Carhartt jackets, LL Bean barn coats, well-worn Red Wing boots, and hunting camo — all clothing that connotes his blue-collar, rural background, says Derek Guy, a menswear writer known for his popular X account.
But the VP candidate has a rare ability, Guy said.
« Tim Walz is one of the few politicians who looks good in casual wear and also looks natural in it », Guy told Business Insider.
When other politicians try to craft a working-class image — like when Donald Trump Jr. wore un-creased hiking boots — they can risk looking phony, but Walz doesn’t face the same dilemma given his background.
And even when he’s dressed up in a suit, Walz is dressed down, said Anne Higonnet, an art history professor at Barnard College who teaches a class on clothing and political power.
