Gen Z’s Political Style

“How’s everybody doing?” Representative Maxwell Frost, the first and only member of Gen Z in Congress, asked onstage at a recent event.

At 27, Frost—a Democrat from Florida—stands out not only because of his age, but also because of what he wears. At this event, he had on a dark-green suit and dress sneakers— a sharp contrast with the formal clothes many older politicians don.

It’s not just Frost who’s using fashion to shake up politics these days. Young lawmakers across the nation are eschewing traditional dresses and black, blue, and gray suits with plain ties in favor of things such as bomber jackets, jeans, and bold-pattern tops. Relaxed styles, many of them say, reflect their personalities and appeal to their young constituents. And now, some older elected officials are starting to follow in their footsteps by dressing down more frequently. It’s a sign of the influence that Gen Z lawmakers—those born from 1997 to 2012—are beginning to wield in politics.

“A cool thing about our generation,” Frost says, “is that we’re super open to whatever fashion and whatever creativity people bring to the table.”

“How’s everybody doing?” Representative Maxwell Frost, the first and only member of Gen Z in Congress, asked onstage at a recent event.

At 27, Frost is a Democrat from Florida. He stands out not only because of his age but also because of what he wears. At this event, he had on a dark-green suit and dress sneakers. It is a sharp contrast with the formal clothes many older politicians don.

It’s not just Frost who’s using fashion to shake up politics these days. Young lawmakers across the nation are giving up the traditional dresses and dark suits with plain ties in favor of things such as bomber jackets, jeans, and bold-pattern tops. Relaxed styles reflect their personalities and appeal to their young constituents. And now, some older elected officials are starting to follow in their footsteps by dressing down more frequently. It’s a sign of the influence that Gen Z lawmakers—those born from 1997 to 2012—are beginning to wield in politics.

“A cool thing about our generation,” Frost says, “is that we’re super open to whatever fashion and whatever creativity people bring to the table.”

Fashion might seem trivial compared with the urgent issues that lawmakers often debate. But some Gen Z politicians say their clothing choices give them a chance to show their values and project their authenticity, a quality that’s especially important to many young people. In a 2021 survey of Gen Z Americans, 92 percent said authenticity was a priority. For young elected officials, that authenticity can be important as they do the less visible work of lawmaking.

Although many workplaces have relaxed their dress codes in recent years, some state and city governments have drawn attention for their still-strict policies. A flyer distributed to Florida legislators’ offices last January warned women not to wear skirts that landed more than 1 inch above the knee at the Capitol in Tallahassee, for example. That same month, the Missouri House updated its dress code, requiring female legislators and staff members to wear jackets; male colleagues have had the requirement for years.

Mazzie Boyd, a 25-year-old Republican in the Missouri House, says the new dress code hasn’t stopped her from embracing her personal style at work.

“I wear what I want to wear,” says Boyd. “I try not to match my skirt with my shirt.”

Fashion might seem trivial compared with the urgent issues that lawmakers often debate. But some Gen Z politicians say their clothing choices give them a chance to show their values. It is a chance to project their authenticity, a quality that’s especially important to many young people. In a 2021 survey of Gen Z Americans, 92 percent said authenticity was a priority. For young elected officials, that authenticity can be important as they do the less visible work of lawmaking.

Although many workplaces have relaxed their dress codes in recent years, some state and city governments have drawn attention for their still-strict policies. A flyer distributed to Florida legislators’ offices last January warned women not to wear skirts that landed more than 1 inch above the knee at the Capitol. The Missouri House recently updated its dress code, requiring female legislators and staff members to wear jackets. Their male colleagues have had the requirement for years.

Mazzie Boyd, a 25-year-old Republican in the Missouri House, says the new dress code hasn’t stopped her from embracing her personal style at work.

“I wear what I want to wear,” says Boyd. “I try not to match my skirt with my shirt.”

Boyd says that some older colleagues have commented on how her colors and patterns were a reminder that they “don’t have to wear black on black with a white shirt every day.”

In West Virginia, state Delegate Caleb Hanna, a 24-year-old Republican, also notes his clothes set him apart from colleagues. On Fridays, he says, there’s a tradition among some Republicans to wear camel suit jackets, a decades-old ritual in which he hasn’t participated.

“I think that politics today is a lot different from politics of the past,” he says. “Politics of the past, especially in West Virginia, has focused on this good-old-boy system, and it was more of a club.”

Nabeela Syed, 24, a Democrat in the Illinois House, often wears Adidas Stan Smiths; white sneakers have been a favorite since high school.

“I’m still sticking to what has been me throughout,” she says.

And in New York City, Councilman Chi Ossé, 25, a Democrat from Brooklyn, says he expresses his personal style through clothes with subtle details (a pair of pleated pants from Uniqlo) and accessories (leather platform Dr. Martens shoes). He’s also known for wearing a black beret at public appearances.

Boyd says that some older colleagues have commented on how her colors and patterns were a reminder that they “don’t have to wear black on black with a white shirt every day.”

In West Virginia, state Delegate Caleb Hanna, a 24-year-old Republican, also notes that his clothes set him apart from colleagues. On Fridays, he says, there’s a tradition among some Republicans to wear camel suit jackets. It is a decades-old ritual in which he hasn’t participated.

“I think that politics today is a lot different from politics of the past,” he says. “Politics of the past, especially in West Virginia, has focused on this good-old-boy system, and it was more of a club.”

Nabeela Syed, 24, a Democrat in the Illinois House, often wears Adidas Stan Smiths. The white sneakers have been a favorite since high school.

“I’m still sticking to what has been me throughout,” she says.

And in New York City, Councilman Chi Ossé, 25, a Democrat from Brooklyn, says he expresses his personal style through clothes with subtle details. He might wear a pair of pleated pants from Uniqlo and leather platform Dr. Martens shoes. He’s also known for wearing a black beret at public appearances.

Although Ossé says that he’s never felt pressure to dress formally, he’s noticed that he gets taken more seriously by some colleagues and constituents when he puts on a traditional suit and tie.

“People treat you differently,” he says.

That’s why some experts suggest young candidates choose outfits carefully.

“Our advice is to dress up, but that doesn’t mean you cannot be able to express yourself as well,” says Joe Mitchell, the founder of Run GenZ, which supports young Republican candidates.

Some have no choice but to dress differently, notes Amanda Litman, a founder of Run for Something, an organization that supports female candidates, L.G.B.T.Q. candidates, and candidates of color.

“They can only be who they are,” she says. “They are just unwilling to pretend, in a way that is really appreciated.”

It’s not only Gen Z politicians who are dressing more casually. Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, 52, a Democrat, likes wearing fuchsia. Senator John Fetterman, 54, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has made headlines for his hoodies and shorts (see “Staying Formal,” below). And in June, members of the recently formed Congressional Sneaker Caucus, led by Representatives Jared Moskowitz (43, a Democrat from Florida) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer, (55, a Republican from Oregon) hosted the first Sneaker Day on Capitol Hill.

“We don’t wear powdered wigs anymore in Congress,” Moskowitz says. Bringing youth fashion and culture to Capitol Hill, he adds, is “not a revolution; it’s an evolution of how we dress.”

Ossé says that he’s never felt pressure to dress formally. But he’s noticed that he gets taken more seriously by some colleagues and constituents when he puts on a traditional suit and tie.

“People treat you differently,” he says.

That’s why some experts suggest young candidates choose outfits carefully.

“Our advice is to dress up, but that doesn’t mean you cannot be able to express yourself as well,” says Joe Mitchell, the founder of Run GenZ, which supports young Republican candidates.

Some have no choice but to dress differently, notes Amanda Litman, a founder of Run for Something, an organization that supports female candidates, L.G.B.T.Q. candidates, and candidates of color.

“They can only be who they are,” she says. “They are just unwilling to pretend, in a way that is really appreciated.”

It’s not only Gen Z politicians who are dressing more casually. Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, 52, a Democrat, likes wearing fuchsia. Senator John Fetterman, 54, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has made headlines for his hoodies and shorts (see “Staying Formal,” below). Representatives Jared Moskowitz (43, a Democrat from Florida) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer, (55, a Republican from Oregon) recently formed the Congressional Sneaker Caucus. In June, they hosted the first Sneaker Day on Capitol Hill.

“We don’t wear powdered wigs anymore in Congress,” Moskowitz says. Bringing youth fashion and culture to Capitol Hill, he adds, is “not a revolution; it’s an evolution of how we dress.”

^{Rachel Janfaza writes about Gen Z political culture.}

^{Rachel Janfaza writes about Gen Z political culture.}