New York stepped into 2026 with more than fireworks and confetti, it welcomed a new mayor, and an unexpectedly stylish one at that. Just minutes after the Times Square ball dropped, Zohran Mamdani took his oath in a surprisingly quiet setting: an abandoned subway station near City Hall. It was intimate, almost secretive, with only close family and a few reporters present. No grand stage, no big spectacle—but the clothes still told a story.
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani takes the oath of office during a swearing-in ceremony in the Old City Hall subway station, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Mamdani skipped the usual stiff political uniform and went for something softer, almost romantic. He wore a black velvet suit with a long, sharp jacket and a clean white shirt underneath. But it was his tie that caught the eye. A herringbone piece stitched with tiny gold four-petal flowers, it came from Kartik Research, the New Delhi label by designer Kartik Kumra. It felt like a quiet nod to global craft, Indian design woven into a deeply New York moment. No drama, no flash. Just intention.
By his side, Rama Duwaji was doing her own thing, and doing it well. For the midnight ceremony, the artist leaned into sleek black layers, an asymmetrical funnel-neck coat from Balenciaga’s vintage archives, wide-leg shorts, and lace-up boots with attitude. She finished the look with sculptural gold earrings and stacked bracelets, adding just enough shine. The vibe? Confident, contemporary, and very much her own.
ಜೋಹ್ರಾನ್ ಮಮ್ದಾನಿ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವಚನ ಸ್ವೀಕಾರ
The next day, for the public inauguration outside City Hall, the couple kept the same energy but switched the mood. Mamdani stayed in tailored territory, swapping his statement tie for a deep burgundy silk one. Duwaji moved into warm browns, wearing a coffee-coloured funnel-neck coat by Renaissance Renaissance, reworked just for her with faux-fur details and a slightly retro, maxi feel. Lace-up heeled boots and worn-in silver hoops sealed the look – strong, stylish, and quietly powerful.What stood out most was how natural it all felt. No costumes, no over-styling. Just clothes worn with confidence and purpose. In a city where fashion speaks louder than words, New York’s new mayor and first lady seem to know exactly what they’re saying, and how to say it without raising their voices.
