Staff Reporter: New York City’s first lady Rama Duwaji appeared to wear $630 “artisan” leather boots from a high-end designer to her Democratic socialist husband Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral swearing-in ceremony — a luxury look that flew in the face of the politician’s “everyman” image, eagle-eyed critics said Thursday.
Duwaji, a 28-year-old artist, gave more socialite than socialist on New Year’s Day as she apparently rocked one of the fashion house Miista’s pricey boot designs — one which is said to be crafted from “vegetable tan cow leather” and feature an “ultra-cushioned memory foam insole.” The fashion firm charges $630 a pair for the so-called “Shelley Boots,” which feature a 6-centimeter (2.3-inch) heel and a lace-up back.
But her high-end fashion statement — which came as she stood next to Mamdami while he took the oath of office just after midnight — is out of touch, considering Hizzoner’s equity-for-all policies that include tax hikes on the rich along with his man-of-the-people air, some observers slammed. “Mamdani’s ‘affordability agenda’ is a scam. His wife parades in $600 Miista boots while he pushes rent freezes that’ll collapse housing stock. They’re moving into Gracie Mansion to dodge the chaos their policies create,” @CityDeskNYC tweeted Thursday.
“Remember: this ‘man of the people’ met his designer wife on Hinge while crafting a luxury aesthetic for his campaign,” the account continued. “Real New Yorkers can’t afford boots or rent — they’re stuck with Mamdani’s performative socialism and a city sliding into activist-run decay.” Another critic proclaimed, “They’re $600. But when he seizes the means of production, everyone will be able to afford them.”
Duwaji, an animator and illustrator, also wore a black coat and skirt with gleaming earrings to the ceremony, where she held the centuries-old Quran on which Mamdani rested his hand.
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