Style
By Rachel Tashjian and Lauren Bulbin | Apr 28, 2024
The drama was palpable on the red carpet at the 2024 White House correspondents’ dinner Saturday at the Washington Hilton. The carpet welcomed journalists and many celebrities amid growing protests outside the hotel. The glamorous guest list included Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Billy Porter and Molly Ringwald.
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Rosario Dawson, left, and Da'Vine Joy Randolph.
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Paul Morigi/Getty Images
The evening marked the rare overlap of high-wattage designer fashion and Beltway power. Vice President Harris, who always looks polished if not overly interested in clothes, wore a sequined column gown by Celine, the French luxury label designed by Hedi Slimane. Jost, host of the evening’s proceedings, wore a satin-trimmed navy tuxedo by Giorgio Armani, while his wife, the actress Johansson, wore a dress by Armani’s couture label, Privé.
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Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost, both wearing Armani.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Although the event is lovingly referred to as the “Nerd Prom,” classic prom dresses and ruffle-collared frocks had no place on this red carpet, or on the sidewalks outside, as a flurry of attendees made their way into the event.
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Vice President Harris.
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Bonnie Cash/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Actress Molly Ringwald in a resplendent marigold dress.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Even those who did not have a high-end designer behind their looks used the red carpet as a platform for statement-making. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), known for eschewing the suits and lace-up shoes typical of members of Congress, wore a hoodie printed with a bow tie and pleated bib, plus a carnation on the would-be buttonhole.
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Jennifer Griffin, of Fox News, in punchy blue.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Another attendee, a reporter at the Wall Street Journal, unfolded an enormous fan bearing the words “FREE EVAN,” a reference to her colleague Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia on espionage charges since March 2023.
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Billy Porter.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Alyssa Farah Griffin, a co-host of “The View” and former communications director for President Donald Trump.
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Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Caitlyn Jenner, left, and Jenna Talackova.
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Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Harris wasn’t the only White House attendee with a standout look. Naomi Biden wore a blue column dress with a rounded collar that recalled the 1960s styles of Jackie Kennedy. And White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wore a plunging black gown shot through with wiggles of silver glitter, sheer sleeves fluttering over her shoulders.
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From left, actress Sophia Bush, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and soccer player Ashlyn Harris.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
The guests’ dressiness made for a striking contrast with protesters who gathered outside to confront the mix of politicians, media types and A-list celebrities about the war in Gaza.
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Demonstrators try to block arriving guests outside the Washington Hilton.
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Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
The scene outside the hotel as USA Today's Francesca Chambers arrived.
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Kent Nishimura/Getty Images
The TV personality known as Kennedy. Does this plaid look mark the official invention of “libertarian chic”?
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Evan Ryan, White House cabinet secretary, and her husband, Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators attempt to impede arriving guests outside the hotel.
Kevin Wolf/AP
Kevin Wolf/AP
ABC's Rachel Scott in a bubble-gum-pink strapless gown with a wide belt that manages to be 1980s-ish without looking dated.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Kristen Welker, of “Meet the Press,” was one of a number of attendees whose look was vaguely vintage.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
CNN's Jim Acosta in a tux.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
The event always attracts an assortment of sterling Hollywood talent (the weekend also included a party hosted by talent agency CAA), but the number of celebrities heightened the evening’s glamour.
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ABC journalist Deborah Roberts.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Journalist Eena Ruffini's dress was an event unto itself.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Actors Zofia Borucka and Jean Reno pose in ensembles best described as cerebral formal.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Jose Luis Magana/AP
“Fox & Friends” anchor Steve Doocy, second from left, with his daughter Mary Doocy, left, as well as son and Fox White House correspondent Peter Doocy and his wife, Fox Business reporter Hillary Vaughn.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) in an elaborate gown of sequin scrollwork.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Margaret Brennan of “Face the Nation” wears a glittery nude gown with echoes of Marilyn Monroe.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Actress Lauren Ash in a classic blue gown.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
MSNBC's Alicia Menendez, left, and Symone D. Sanders buck Washington's reputation for sleepy pastels.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Democratic strategist and commentator Maria Cardona wore a sea-foam lamé plunge dress that was slightly disco.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
A Wall Street Journal staffer calls for the release of reporter Evan Gershkovich with an enormous fan.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
NBC's Lester Holt in a precise tuxedo. On his lapel is a pin in support of Austin Tice, a journalist who has been missing since he was kidnapped in Syria in 2012.
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Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Al Roker.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Actress and union glamazon Fran Drescher.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
The musician Questlove draped in classic Questlove fabrics.
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Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in a gold printed skirt and gorgeous earrings that skim her shoulders.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Rachel Brosnahan in a marvelous (ha-ha) dress by New York designer Jonathan Cohen.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
CNN's Brianna Keilar.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
SNL kingpin Lorne Michaels.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Lobbyist Heather Podesta in an emerald caftan gown that recalls the power-hostess gowns of the 1970s.
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Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Actress Lynda Carter in a glittery display of navy.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), doing his thing.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
CNN's Abby Phillip, who dresses better than most Hollywood actresses, wears a pleated gold dress by American designer Sergio Hudson.
Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Madison Prewett, a onetime runner-up on “The Bachelor.”
Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Peter Neal and Naomi Biden, granddaughter of President Biden, in a column dress that, in color and collar, is very Jackie Kennedy.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
CNN's Kate Bolduan, in a crimson satin skirt and a lingerie top, shows just how advanced the style standards for media and government power players have gotten. CORRECTION: A previous version of this caption incorrectly said satin trousers. The caption has been corrected.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Sunny Hostin of “The View” in a yowza lacquered red gown.
Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Paul Morigi/Getty Images
Gayle King wears a classic column, jazzed up with a wrap and handbag in warm pastels.
Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
CNN's Dana Bash in a brown geometric-print dress with a bouncy hem.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Model Coco Rocha in a pale pink dress by Christian Siriano.
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Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images
First lady Jill Biden glows in a hot-pink ensemble.
Bonnie Cash/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Bonnie Cash/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Eugene Daniels, White House correspondent for Politico, and Vice President Harris.
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Bonnie Cash/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
President Biden.
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Bonnie Cash/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
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Credits
Photo editing and production by Lauren Bulbin