1. Introduction: I Will Not Be the Last

The suffragist parade in 1913 on the eve of President Wilson’s inauguration was marred by violence, but that was not going to stop the movement. Rather, this unifying gathering was one of the first visible campaigns by women who were no longer satisfied without having their voices heard in the U.S. government. The American suffragists, the first-wave feminists, wore sashes in purple, gold, and white on top of brilliant white dresses. It becomes clear that the suffragists set the stage for feminists to embrace identifying markers and signifiers connected to fashion, all of which correspond to the changing nature of feminism, as exemplified by the developments of second-, third-, and forth-wave feminism. Beginning with Kamala Harris’ memorable white suit on her way to the vice-presidency, this chapter then explores the suffragists’ choices and significance while ending with the important work of Jeanine Michna-Bales and her recreation of Inez Milholland’s final campaign for the vote before her untimely death. This chapter sets the stage for the rest of this book, while connecting the threads of early feminists to contemporary intersectional practices which lay the groundwork for the following chapters.