John Fetterman got a new suit for his Senate swearing-in

Pennsylvania lawmaker joins Washington establishment. Sort of.

John Fetterman has a new costume.

On January 3, the young senator from Pennsylvania, whose fondness for Carhartt sweatshirts, Dickies and baggy shorts was as much a part of his political brand as is any stump speech, was sworn in as part of the 118th Congress wearing a relatively personalized, never-before-seen light gray two-button number. That's a big deal, in part because during his tenure as lieutenant governor, Mr. Fetterman made a point of saying he only had one dark suit.

On a day marked by chaos surrounding the election of the Speaker of the House, this suit, along with the light blue striped tie and polished black lace-up shoes , Mr. Fetterman also wore, perhaps the biggest political fashion statement of the incoming class. It was even more symbolic than Nancy Pelosi's bright pink handover outfit, or the little suffragist white worn by some Housewives, or even J.D. Vance's Trumpian uniform consisting of a navy suit, a white shirt and a bright red tie.

And that confirms Mr. Fetterman as one of the most unexpected image-makers in Washington. It's not that he dresses particularly well, although the new costume was a step up. It's that he dresses with a purpose.

Indeed, Mr. Fetterman's new suit was as remarkable as any fashion statement made by various members of Congress since clothing began to play a bigger role in election communication. To wit: January 2019, when a large group of women from the newly elected 116th Congress wore white as they took the oath in honor of their suffragette predecessors (and as a counterattack to the goal of creating image of the Trump administration).

Or, for that matter, almost every state in the Union and major public events since then - most recently in December , when a number of lawmakers wore yellow and blue in Congress to speak Volodymyr Zelensky. If there is a photo shoot, there is usually a thoughtful fashion decision.

Silent communication through clothing has become a standard part of the box with political tools. It is wielded with increasing dexterity, for example, by elected officials like Kyrsten Sinema, who has used his goofy wardrobe of sleeveless tops, colorful wigs and occasional denim jackets to telegraph his independence from well-known political norms. before it officially became independent.

Also Jim Jordan, who symbolized his will to fight during committee hearings by ditching his jackets and rolling up his shirt sleeves. Washington's wardrobe is so standardized that any deviation from the norm stands out, especially on television.

Unless, of course, your position default is a deviation from the norm - in which case a return to business as usual becomes the surprise. As Mr. Fetterman well knows.

Before heading to the Capitol for his swearing-in, he tweeted, "For those of you asking, yes, there will be a Fetterman in shorts today, but that's not me.(It was one of his sons, bravely continuing the family campaign to free the knee.) Rather than denying the idea that whether he's thinking about what he's wearing, or his staff denying it for him, Mr. Fetterman has long since turned his wardrobe into an asset: the subject of amusing asides of self-deprecation, social media jokes and of a fairly powerful public appeal.

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