Zoran Mamdani becomes New York City’s first Muslim mayor
Zoran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s first Muslim mayor with a historic oath and street party.
Rama Dowaj’s styling choices have already established her as New York City’s first lady.
The Syrian-American illustrator and animator, and wife of newly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, wore a custom brown faux fur and wool coat from Renaissance Renaissance, a brand by Palestinian-Lebanese designer Cynthia Melhaj. The brand says the coat, which features a three-tiered fringe detail, is based on a design from its Fall/Winter 2023 collection and is entirely sourced and manufactured in Beirut, Lebanon. She paired the coat with brown lace-up boots.
Stylist Gabriela Karefa-Johnson worked with Dowaj on the low-key inaugural look for Mandani’s private inauguration ceremony, which took place just after midnight on New Year’s Day at a former subway station below City Hall. Karefa-Johnson wrote on her Substack that the piece was a collaboration with designer Melheige’s female family, and the artist called it “a testament to the superhuman strength of women and our community.”
“On her first official day as First Lady of New York, Ms. Rama is wearing clothes by a petite, independent female designer from the Middle East,” Karefa-Johnson added. “That expression resonates. It resonates because fashion communicates. Fashion sends a message.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Mamdani’s team for comment.
Douwaj’s midnight inauguration outfit was a combination of a cozy, minimalist vintage Balenciaga coat and archival gold sculptural statement earrings from New York Vintage, both of which she rented, according to her stylist. Karefa Johnson said she wore knee-length formal shorts from New York clothing store Frankie Shop with black ankle boots borrowed from London-based Mista.
Dowaj, 28, favors an understated, modern look with a creative-class sensibility, and has continued to subvert expectations with her sartorial choices as the next first lady. “I love fashion, I love being creative, I love putting things together, I love styling,” Dhwaj said in an article published on December 23, before boasting about hidden savings she found around the city.
Online, she has been seen in similarly modernist looks, and when Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, gave his victory speech in November, Douwaj stood by his side wearing a dark denim square-neck top by Palestinian-Jordanian designer Zaid Hijazi and a black skirt by Ulla Johnson, as well as statement dangling earrings by fellow New York jewelry designer Eddie Borgo.
she told The Cut. “It’s nice to be able to analyze the clothing a little bit… It’s nice to be able to send a message about Palestinians by wearing a Palestinian designer on election night.”
