The Democratic National Convention came to a grand close on Thursday with Kamala Harris addressing attendees.
Several members of Harris’ family, including her niece Meena Harris, goddaughter Helena Hudlin and stepdaughter Ella Emhoff, also appeared on stage to share memories of the vice president.
Emhoff, 25, has made multiple appearances at the Democratic National Convention, but Thursday marked her first time on stage in person, wearing a custom dress created by buzzworthy designer Joe Andeau.
Ella Emhoff’s Democratic National Convention outfit was custom made
Emhoff, an artist, designer and the internet’s beloved “First Daughter of Bushwick,” wore a tea-length gown to attend the Democratic National Convention.
The dress featured an asymmetrical off-the-shoulder neckline and a fitted dropped-waist bodice.
Helena Hudlin, Meena Harris, and Ella Emhoff at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The white, flowy skirt contrasted with the sky blue bodice, with pleats draping around Emhoff, and the skirt’s pointed waist was also ruffled, lending a feminine touch.
Emhoff accessorized the look with clear glasses, black Mary Jane shoes and mid-calf white socks.
Ando custom designed the dress for Emhoff, as she documented on her social media pages, and she alluded to making Emhoff’s dress in a video she posted days before Emhoff’s appearance at the Democratic National Convention, in which Ando and Emhoff picked out the fabric for the dress.
Ando has about 3 million followers on both TikTok and Instagram, and frequently posts videos of her designing pieces for celebrities such as Rachel Zegler and Dakota Johnson. Ando graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2020 and her career has taken off in recent years after she began sharing videos of her designs on social media.
In an emailed statement to Business Insider, Ando said a mutual friend introduced the two men because Emhoff wanted to collaborate with an independent designer on costumes for the Democratic National Convention.
“I’ve made dresses for many different events and people, but this one felt very personal. I really wanted to help Ella have an elegant moment,” he said, explaining that the creation was a collaborative effort. “We wanted it to have an elegant tea party feel, but more modern and upscale.”
Ando said the dress took more than 75 hours to make, and that Emhoff crocheted the flower on one sleeve herself.
Ella Emhoff at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Win McNamee/Getty Images
“I knew this would be a good way to tie in with Ella’s career as an artist,” Ando said.
“I think she was amazing and really brought the whole look together,” he added. “I’m so grateful that she trusted me and let me be a part of this experience.”
Emhoff commented on Ando’s Instagram video, “Yay, Joe!!!!!”
She did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Emhoff is an emerging style icon
Emhoff’s look for the Democratic National Convention started off more casual: On Monday, the first day of the convention, she wore a Helmut Lang tank top and pants, paired with a camo Harris Waltz hat.
And on Tuesday, she traded in her casual attire for a designer ensemble to support her dad in a plaid Thom Browne set, which she paired with a playful cookie-embossed handbag from Puppets & Puppets.
Emhoff also carried a disposable camera as an accessory on both Monday and Tuesday.
Outside of the DNC, Emhoff’s presence in the fashion world has grown in recent years.
After garnering attention wearing a Miu Miu coat at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, she signed with IMG Models Worldwide in January 2021. Since then, she has walked runways for brands like Cecilie Bahnsen and Prabal Gurung and has been a frequent guest at Fashion Week events.
Emhoff has also been a vocal supporter and defender of his mother-in-law since the start of the campaign: His father, Doug Emhoff, married Harris in 2014, meaning Harris has been in his life since he was a teenager.
“Like many young people, I didn’t always understand what I was feeling, but through it all, Kamala was there for me,” she said in a speech Thursday night about Harris’ impact on her as a teenager. “She was patient, she was compassionate, she always took me seriously. She continued to listen to me, and she will continue to listen to all of us.”
After showcasing his unique style at the convention, Emhoff is likely to show off his more fashion-forward style throughout Harris’ campaign.
