RICHMOND, Va. – While it is customary for Virginia governors to don morning suits during their inaugurations, Governor Abigail Spanberger broke from tradition on Saturday. As the first woman to assume this role, she chose to wear white, symbolizing the women’s suffrage movement.

Virginia’s “Guide to Virginia Protocol and Traditions” outlines that men in the official party should wear morning coats, a formal attire characterized by long tails, while women typically opt for dark suits. Many attendees, including Spanberger’s husband, adhered to these conventions during the ceremony.

Spanberger’s office did not comment on her choice of attire for the inauguration. However, in an interview with NPR, she expressed her decision to diverge from tradition.

“I’m not going to wear a morning coat, not to disappoint anyone,” she remarked.

The governor’s outfit, featuring a striking long white coat adorned with gold buttons and complemented by white gloves, appeared to pay homage to the suffragists who fought tirelessly for women’s voting rights in America. During her speech, Spanberger acknowledged the significance of this historic day and paid tribute to the unwavering resolve of those suffragists.

“I maintain an abiding sense of gratitude to those who work, generation after generation, to ensure women could be among those casting ballots, but who could only dream of a day like today,” she stated.