After Zohran Mamdani swept the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City earlier this year, the young state assemblyman was thrust (even more) into the public eye—and with that came fascination about his personal life. Of interest to many: his wife, Rama Duwaji, a 28-year-old illustrator and animator, whom he wed in a City Hall ceremony earlier this year.
Should Mamdani win the mayoral election on November 4, Duwaji would become the city’s first Gen Z first lady. When I initially met Duwaji on a Zoom call to discuss illustrations for a story about New York City’s garment workers, I was struck by the fact that she is (basically) my age. I imagined what it would be like if one of my friends suddenly became a public figure, losing anonymity overnight and possibly even trading their starter apartment for Gracie Mansion.
That also begs the question of what Duwaji would wear as first lady of New York City. Oftentimes, political figures are forced to adopt a bland, conservative wardrobe, with women in power (or adjacent to it) donning knee-length dresses or businesslike skirt suits in patriotic colors. Though she largely keeps out of the public eye, Duwaji’s style is anything but drab. Her Instagram offers a glimpse of her personal style—her fondness for chunky boots and layered gold jewelry, black tank tops, sheer turtlenecks, Bermuda shorts, and crisp white blouses. In June, when Mamdani celebrated his victory in the Democratic mayoral primary, she appeared beside him onstage in an elegant black boatneck dress, accessorized with her go-to gold jewelry. While she will probably not be wearing some of her more casual pieces for official engagements, Duwaji’s first lady style needn’t sacrifice her artistic inclination—or her youth.
Fashion has long been a tool in political messaging, from Michelle Obama’s embrace of high-low dressing to Kamala Harris championing Black designers. An artist with a clear reverence for craft, Duwaji’s wardrobe can be political while still adhering to her personal style. Take her front-row seat at Diotima’s spring 2026 show—a label known for its spellbinding crochet work—this past New York Fashion Week. Duwaji’s attendance signaled her values, aligning herself with a small New York brand, helmed by a queer Jamaican woman, who prioritizes craft in her work. She can use other labels to telegraph her principles—from Kallmeyer’s powerful, feminine suiting to Heirlome’s craft-forward design—without sacrificing style.
Putting our best civic foot forward, we combed through the New York shows for looks we’d love to see Rama Duwaji wear.
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