We’re nearing the end of New York Fashion Week, and the city’s first lady Rama Duwaji made a point of turning out for Diotima’s fall 2026 show.
She wore a knee-length cream and brown check coat with wide lapels, a polka dot shirt with a rounded collar, and mini coordinating trench underneath. Duwaji styled the look with a grommet-studded black handbag and black knee-length leather boots. Her hair was, of course, styled as the “Rama,” with mini-bangs and a cropped, tousled cut that falls between a bob and a pixie.
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It’s not the first time Duwaji has attended a Diotima show; she sat front row for spring 2026 runway. Diotima—a craft-led New York label known for its captivating crochet work and sensual take on tailoring, helmed by the talented Rachel Scott, a proudly queer Jamaican woman—speaks to Duwaji’s own values. It’s only right that now, as first lady, she continues to champion the city’s talent like Scott, doing her second runway show for her brand. (It’s also a major NYFW for the designer, who also debuted her first full-fledged collection as creative director of Proenza Schouler.)
Rama Duwaji is New York’s first lady, an artist, illustrator, and bona fide fashion girl. For her husband Zohran’s more intimate, subway-set swearing in ceremony on January 1, she wore a funnel neck coat by Palestinian-Lebanese designer Cynthia Merhej’s Renaissance Renaissance label, and a pair of statement lace-up boots. For the public event, Duwaji opted to rent a vintage funnel-neck wool Balenciaga coat from Albright Fashion Library and sculptural gold vintage earrings from New York Vintage. She also borrowed a pair of wide-leg shorts from The Frankie Shop and pointed, lace-up Shelley boots from London-based brand Miista. Another appearance saw Dujwai wear an embroidered top by London-based Palestinian artist Zeid Hijazi.
Duwaji has worked with Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, the stylist and editor (and a former global contributing editor to Vogue), who also sat alongside her on Diotima’s front row.
From brooches to ballgowns, a first lady’s sartorial sensibilities can tell the story of her husband’s (or her own) politics and priorities—for Rama Duwaji, it’s New York’s indie best that buoys her chic, modern style.
