The Inauguration Day Looks That Crashed Sergio Hudson’s Website Are Finally Available

Shop the history-making looks worn by Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris.

The Inauguration Day Looks That Crashed Sergio Hudson’s Website Are Finally Available

Dressed in those perfectly-tailored burgundy pants and waist-hugging belt by Sergio Hudson, when former First Lady Michelle Obama walked down the steps of the United States Capitol on inauguration day, a moment in fashion history was marked. And the Sergio Hudson-magic didn’t stop there. On the very same evening, our first female Vice President Kamala Harris wore a custom sequined dress and sharp coat, also by the L.A.-based designer.

“It was more than just another moment to build my brand,” says Hudson. “The moment was so important, especially with our new Vice President. I went into the moment knowing how important it was for every Black woman in my life. It was a signal of change. So for me to have the opportunity to be part of that was much more than just building a brand.”

Still, we can’t deny the impact first lady style has had on those labels and designers responsible for it. When first lady Dr. Jill Biden wore Markarian, it quintupled sales for the emerging label. The effect of Obama and Harris both wearing Sergio Hudson on such a historic day was just as significant. In fact, Hudson explains that on inauguration day, his website crashed three times.

I’m not surprised at all. I’ll admit that over the years I, too, have rushed over to his website after seeing some of his impeccably tailored pieces—from that white suit with satin lapels which Demi Lovato donned during her Super Bowl performance in 2020 to the slick catsuit with the dramatic plunge that Kendall Jenner wore on her 20th birthday.

Since the 34 year-old South Carolinian launched his collection back in 2014, there have been so many eye-catching fashion moments. One of the reasons why so many women keep flocking to Hudson’s creations is because of what has been dubbed as his “magic fabric;” a double-faced wool crepe that’s both structured and elastic. “The clients love it, especially in my signature dress,” Hudon elaborates. “The fabric looks like a traditional, structured material, but it’s actually really stretchy. It lays on the body and hugs in the right places to create the silhouette that people want.”

And do the people want it—for years, it has been pretty much impossible to get our hands on that “magic fabric.” But thanks to the brand’s recent launch of e-commerce and a capsule collection on Moda Operandi, his pieces are much more accessible. On Moda’s website, you’ll find black-and-white versions of Harris and Obama’s inauguration day looks. And on the brand’s website, you’ll see the newest ready-to-wear blazer dresses, jumpsuits, pencil skirts, high-waist trousers, turtlenecks and silk blouses in vibrant orange, yellow, blue, purple, and pink hues.

“After inauguration day, there was a change overnight in the business,” says Hudson. “We are just trying to parlay that momentum into something that can be long-lasting and help to change the face of what American fashion is all about. That’s always been my goal.”