Are you a Chanel Flap girlie? Maybe, you can’t leave the house without your L.L. Bean tote? Or, perhaps, you have a bit of an affinity for those slouchy crescent bags?
From the bag alone, Beverly Hart may know who you’ll be casting your vote for this Fall.
The content creator previously worked for Congress, but now she’s on TikTok, seeing if she can guess where people fall on the political spectrum, based on the way they dress. Many of her followers say she is spot on.
Several of Hart’s videos have gone viral — ones in which she analyzes people’s shoes, jewelry, nail polish, headbands, and earphones. Then she poses the question, is this ‘giving Republican or Democrat?”
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“I worked in Congress for over five years and on our morning coffee run my friends and I would sometimes play a game where we tried to guess if staffers were Republicans or Democrats based on their outfits alone,” Hart told The Post.
She said the game was mostly “for fun,” but they started noticing patterns.
“That makes sense because political affiliation can be a form of social learning theory. Human nature is to surround ourselves with people who agree and think like us — of course that trickles into what we wear,” she explained.
The trend Hart has observed holds ground. Research shared in the Wall Street Journal indicates that Republicans and Democrats have different brand preferences when it comes to a variety of items — everything from sneakers to cereal.
Clothing has been used to communicate political messages for years, and the last decade has seen no shortage of controversies over political fashion choices. There were Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “tax the rich” dress, and supermodels wearing Story Daniels t-shirts following the hush-money scandal.
But, it’s not just celebrities and politicians — regular people show their support on the day-to-day too, more explicitly with MAGA hats or ‘Kamala is Brat’ merch, but also with ‘Vote’ necklaces, rainbow pride socks, and so on.
Hart seems to have discovered that there are even more subtle ways that reveal someone’s partisanship, too. Supposedly, the handbag brand tells all.
In one of her viral TikTok clips, she told her followers that this game would be ‘Is your bag giving Republican or Democrat?”
See her predictions below, and find out where you can shop styles to show your support, on the low.
First on the list was the L.L. Bean Boat Tote. This simple stitched canvas bag is handcrafted in Maine, comes in a sea of colors, and retails for under $45.
Hart says it’s pretty clear what the L.L. Bean Tote type is.
“This girl, to me, knows what rank choice voting is. She’s been to a few national parks, but it’s not like it’s her whole personality,” she suggested. “She mostly wears like blue, navy, gray.”
“She’s a Centrist Democrat.”
Next up, a Chanel Flap Bag.
Chanel’s revolutionary Flap Bag features sparkling metal hardware and a chainlink shoulder strap that made it one of the first designs to allow women to go hands-free. A brand-new Chanel Flap can cost upwards of $10,000, but the RealReal has some available for just under $3000.
“You guys know exactly what I’m going to say here,” said Hart. “She drinks exclusively Pinot Grigio and the Chanel Flap girl like always has a Cartier Love Ring. The Cartier Love Ring doesn’t always have a Chanel Flap.”
“Definitely that girl that’s like ‘I don’t talk about politics. But, she’s a Republican.”
The lead-free, ethically made Baggu Crescent Bag hails from a Brooklyn-based reusable bag company. It is certainly a more casual style, considering the wrinkly texture and larger, slopey build. But, Hart says it’s a great choice for city living.
“The Baggu crescent bags — these are actually great if you live in a big city,” she noted. “She probably volunteers at a local community garden. She also, like, rolls her eyes at couples who are in ‘closed relationships.’”
“Socialist,” she quickly concluded.
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Hart continued, “Next, we’ve got the BÉIS The Work Tote.”
The practical tote features a chic croc exterior and spacious interior, which the brands says is to help you “make the most of your busy schedule” and “stay organized and efficient.”
“This is the like ‘work has been insane this week’ girl — when really, she got off work at 6 p.m. every day. She is a rockstar in the workplace, and I see her being like very loyal to one airline. Probably Delta. The BÉIS work tote can go either way.”
Hart thinks the BÉIS babes are bipartisan.
The hand-beaded Staud Tommy Bag is one of the more playful purses on Hart’s list.
Styles range from floral artwork to animal-print patterns, colorful abstract shapes, and sequin-filled styles. Depending on the imagery, a Staud Tommy Bag might go between $250 to $350.
“The Staud Tommy is fun because it very much depends on the pattern,” explained Hart. “Like clearly the sardine one is a Democrat. I don’t know why, but like sardines and like anchovies equal to me — Democrat.”
“Whereas, this one is more Republican,” she said pointing to the Aurora colorway, a flower-covered pink and purple option.
She then turned to a red and white zebra print, adding “And, this one could go either way. This tells me nothing.”
Hart is not too pleased with this selection, but she still sees it all over the place.
“Last one, the Christian Dior Tote,” said Hart. “You guys throw this bag out. I see this bag so much on Canal Street. It is so easy to dupe.”
The brand has described the tote as a “staple of the Dior aesthetic” that is constructed to carry all the daily essentials. It’s offered in multiple elaborately decorated colorways and most are priced between $2,000 and $3,000 on the RealReal.
“It’s giving definitely doesn’t vote, but goes to events at Mar-a-largo,” concluded Hart.
Hart’s followers were quick to add more commentary to her fashion analyses.
“It’s horrifying how accurate this video is,” one person wrote. “I feel naked now with my L.L. Bean bag.”
Others offered input on more bag brands that Hart had not touched on.
“Longchamp is bipartisan! Kate Spade is Republican,” one suggested, while others pointed out that classic Coach leather bags are “hard to clock.”
Some admitted that the video was influencing them to make some new purchases.
“The way I immediately went to the Staud website and ordered the sardines bag,” another shared.
For more handbag recommendations, head to the Post Wanted shopping section.