The Democratic National Convention ended Thursday with a big crowd, as Kamala Harris finally gave a speech to the attendees.
Several members of Harris’ family also appeared on stage to share their stories of the vice president, including his niece Meena Harris, his goddaughter Helena Hudlin, and his stepdaughter Ella Emhoff.
Emhoff, 25, has made several appearances at the DNC, but Thursday marked the first time she took the stage in person — and she did so in a custom dress designed by the viral designer. Joe Ando.
Ella Emhoff’s DNC appearance was routine
Emhoff, artist, illustrator, and internet darling “Bushwick’s First Daughter,” wore a tea-length dress for her DNC appearance.
The dress featured an asymmetrical, off-the-shoulder neckline that flowed into a form-fitting, low-waisted design.
Helena Hudlin, Meena Harris, and Ella Emhoff at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The white soap, which contrasts with the blue sky, falls in ropes around Emhoff. The flared waist of the skirt was also decorated with ruffles, giving it a feminine edge.
Emhoff accessorized the look with clear sunglasses, black Mary Jane shoes, and white socks that hit mid-calf.
Ando made Emhoff’s dress himself, as he wrote on his social media pages. She teased that she made Emhoff’s dress in a video in the days leading up to her DNC appearance, where she and Emhoff chose the fabric for the piece.
Ando has nearly 3 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, where he regularly posts clips of celebrities, including Rachel Zegler and Dakota Johnson. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2020, and her career began when she started sharing videos of her designs on social media a few years ago.
Ando told Business Insider in an email statement that a friend put her in touch with Emhoff because she wanted to work with an independent designer for her DNC look.
“I’ve made dresses for so many different events and people, but this one felt so personal, and I really wanted to help Ella have a great time,” he said, describing creation as cooperation. “We wanted it to feel like a beautiful tea party but modern and upscale.”
Ando said the dress took more than 75 hours to make, and Emhoff knitted the flower that sits on one arm.
Ella Emhoff at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Win McNamee/Getty Images
“We knew it would be a great way to adapt to Ella’s situation as an artist,” Ando said.
She added: “I thought she looked amazing and put the whole look together. I’m just grateful that she trusted me with this and included me in the experience.”
Emhoff said in Ando’s Instagram video, “WE DID IT JOE!!!!!”
He did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Emhoff is a growing style icon
Emhoff’s approach to the DNC began in a traditional way. On Monday, the first day of the convention, he appeared in a tank top and trousers from Helmut Lang paired with a Harris Walz camo hat.
Then, on Tuesday, she swapped her casual look for a designer ensemble, cheering her dad on in a Thom Browne set, which she teamed with a playful cupcake bag from Dolls & Dolls.
Emhoff also hauls discarded cameras as equipment on Monday and Tuesday.
Outside of the DNC, Emhoff’s presence in the fashion community has grown in recent years.
She signed with IMG Models Worldwide in January 2021 after turning heads when President Joe Biden was inaugurated in a Miu Miu dress. She has walked the runway for brands such as Cecilie Bahnsen and Prabal Gurung, and is a frequent guest at Fashion Week events.
Emhoff has also been a vocal supporter and defender of his stepmother since her campaign began. Emhoff’s father, Doug Emhoff, married Harris in 2014, so Harris has been in his life since he was young.
“Like many young people, I didn’t always understand what I was hearing, but no matter what, Kamala was there for me,” he said of Harris’ influence on his teenage years. during his speech on Thursday night. “He was patient, caring, and always took me seriously. He never stopped listening to me and he will never stop listening to all of us.”
With her one-of-a-kind passion for convention, Emhoff is likely to sport a fashion-forward look throughout Harris’ campaign.