Kamala Harris wore a custom black sequin gown by New York designer LaQuan Smith to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards dinner in Washington on September 14, 2024. The long-sleeved column gown had a high, rounded neckline and a corseted waist.
What Harris wore to the Phoenix Awards
Harris wore the gown while addressing guests at the CBC Foundation’s 2024 Phoenix Awards dinner, an event recognizing people who have made significant contributions to American society. Then-President Joe Biden also addressed the room. Vogue, The Washington Post and Harper’s Bazaar published coverage of Harris’s look on September 15, 2024.
The Washington Post described a long-sleeved black sequin column dress with an unusual neckline and corseted waist. Harper’s Bazaar specified a high, rounded neckline and all-over black sequins. Together, the descriptions establish the look as a sleek, fully sequined gown with a defined waist; the reports do not describe it as an off-the-rack dress.
Harper’s Bazaar reported that Harris paired the gown with pointed black pumps. The shoes were separate from the custom dress.
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What LaQuan Smith said about the gown
In an email interview with The Washington Post, published the day after the dinner, Smith said Harris’s team contacted him and that he had a sketch ready within 24 hours. He described the gown’s purpose and design choices this way:
“The dress is meant to convey strength and elegance, a powerful blend of feminine energy with an edge.”
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Smith said the placement of the sequins was intended to catch the event lights without overwhelming the design:
“The sequined embroidery was meticulously placed to reflect the lights of the event, catching attention without overwhelming.”
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He also explained his thinking about the neckline:
“The neckline is a bold statement — structured and sculpted to elongate her silhouette, but still soft enough to maintain a sense of grace.”
Smith characterized the overall balance as a combination of authority and spectacle: “Power and glamour go hand in hand, and this gown was all about embodying both.” He also discussed how the gown’s structure and sharp lines balanced its ornate sequins. Those descriptions express the designer’s intent, rather than a general rule about political fashion.
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The designer connection and the event’s meaning
Vogue interpreted Harris’s choice of a Black American designer for an event celebrating Black achievement as intentional and celebratory. The Washington Post likewise placed the gown in the context of Harris addressing Black lawmakers and reported Smith’s comments about representation and supporting Black-owned businesses. These are the publication’s and designer’s interpretations of the look’s significance.
The gown was not Harris’s first reported custom look by Smith. Vogue noted that she had worn his gold sequin button-down to Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour in Maryland in 2023. Smith told The Washington Post that the gold top had also been made specifically for Harris.
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Can you buy the exact gown?
The published coverage identifies the Phoenix Awards gown as custom but does not establish that this exact dress is available to buy. LaQuan Smith’s official website includes a custom-services section, but that alone does not confirm that Harris’s gown can be ordered or reproduced.
If you are looking for a similar look, search for black sequin evening gowns and compare the details that define this one:
Quick Recap
- Silhouette: a close-fitting column shape rather than an A-line skirt.
- Sleeves: long sleeves for a more covered look.
- Neckline: a high, rounded shape rather than a plunging or strapless cut.
- Sequins: all-over coverage, or more restrained placement if you want less shine.
- Waist: structured shaping that gives the gown a corseted effect.
- Fit and budget: check the garment’s sizing, construction and price; a similar-style dress is not the custom LaQuan Smith gown.
