Second Lady Usha Vance has humorously responded to a New York Times fashion critic's analysis of her maternity attire, sharing a receipt to highlight the modest cost of a dress featured in a recent video. The New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman examined the political messaging surrounding pregnant women in the current administration, using a Father's Day video of Usha and Vice President JD Vance as a focal point.
In a post on X, Vance stated, 'Now that we know the political significance of my $8.75 coral maternity dress from Old Navy, can't wait to hear what the New York Times has to say about my elastic-waistband pants and compression socks!' She included a screenshot of the receipt, which showed the dress was originally priced at $49.99 and marked down to $12.49, with an additional promotional discount bringing the final price to $3.74 less.
The New York Times article, titled "The Politics and Power of the Pregnancy Image," also discussed the recent pregnancies of White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Katie Miller, wife of White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller. Friedman noted that while these pregnancies were coincidental, they contributed to a consistent public image of the administration's focus on family and fertility.
The Father's Day video featured Usha Vance telling her husband that their growing family meant he would have more years of reading to children. Friedman's analysis suggested that Usha Vance's pregnancy, by emphasizing her condition, helped to humanize the Vice President. Friedman wrote that as second lady, Vance's role includes representing and humanizing the Vice President, and that highlighting her pregnancy served this purpose.