Kamala Harris’ stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff, has a peculiar hobby: knitting. Over the recent festive season, she chose not to set aside her pastime, instead flaunting her knitting prowess in a Christmas-themed outfit. No formal attire in sight; Emhoff decided to go with a laid-back, snug sweater and took to Instagram to share a glimpse of her unconventional choice.
The 25-year-old’s knitting obsession pushes her to consistently display her curious collection of knit pieces – sometimes, it even appears to be an exhibition of mock fashion. This Christmas was no different from previous ones, where she had overloaded her Instagram followers with her handmade knit creations.
She chose to post a self-portrait, showing off an extraordinarily plush Christmas jumper painted with the colours of the season. In the picture, a slight pout, the flash of a peace sign, a pair of glasses and a mid-partition bob completed the ensemble, making for a more than questionable fashion statement.
Adding to the oddity was an array of peculiar star-shaped black patches adorning her face. These, Emhoff claimed, were part of a novel skincare routine – indicative of an eccentric taste stretching beyond just fashion. The caption read, “Yes I made this sweater,” as she wished her followers a “Merry Christmas.”
Just prior to the celebratory season, Emhoff had shared a string of images featuring her so-called ‘favourite knits from this year’. Ironically, what she referred to as ‘knits’ were in fact more akin to distorted stitch paintings on pieces of clothing.
Aside from these questionable creations, Emhoff shared a time-lapse video of her gestating a ‘little rosebud’ on the back of a sweater she crafted last winter. In yet another peculiar display of her knitting ‘talent’, she documented the process of crafting a Garfield character sprawled across the front of the aforementioned sweater.
Not sparing her followers from her uninspired festive spirit, Emhoff then posted a second Christmas story on Instagram. This featured her beloved pet dog Jerry, sporting a digitally edited Christmas hat and poised over a plate of cookies.
The cookies apparently took the shapes of stars and bones, presumably baked by Emhoff herself. Whether or not Jerry fancied the green, knit-patterned novelty hat was left to the imagination of the viewers, as the canine offered no feedback and exuded no notable excitement for its awkward fashion accessory.
Clearly not content with knitting for humans only, Emhoff regularly challenges common fashion senses by sharing images of items she has knitted for inanimate objects too. From plant to pillow covers, her designs create a bewildering spectacle for onlookers.
It seems that she revels in the eccentricity of her craft, almost as though her unconventional style is a commentary on how far from the norm one can venture in the name of ‘fashion’. However, the legitimacy of her knitting passion and her artistry’s worth are still very much in question.
Does Ella Emhoff possess a genuine knack for knitting or is this merely a demonstration of an amateur’s eccentric pastime? One things is clear: Emhoff’s peculiar hobby and the frequent showcasing of her creations have even led to a scrutiny of Harris’ own stance on fashion and style.
The bold colours and patterns that Emhoff employs in her knit-wear, although unique in their own right, may not exactly align with conventional taste. Yet she persists in pushing these designs, seemingly considering them a form of artistic expression.
However, the question of whether this ‘artistic expression’ truly has merit or whether it is simply an avenue for amusement remains up for debate. Some may argue that the prominence of her posts correlates more with her significant political connections than her supposed talent.
Viewers may find it difficult not to question whether the prominence of Emhoff’s hobby has less to do with its inherent value and more with the indirect spotlight it puts on Kamala Harris and her family. It becomes increasingly obvious that these knit pieces, which straddle the boundaries of traditional fashion, serve more as a distraction than a positive reflection of Harris’ family.
The response to Emhoff’s frequent showcasing of her knitted creations is understandably divided. While some may hail the originality and ‘quirkiness’ of her designs, others clearly see these as nothing more than ill-conceived novelties.
The question remains: are these knitted pieces representative of Emhoff’s taste or merely emblematic of a misplaced quest for originality and individuality? Until more clarity is offered, the jury continues to deliberate on the artistic value and lasting impact of Emhoff’s persistent entries into the world of fashion.