RICHMOND, Va. – Breaking with a longstanding tradition, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger opted for a white ensemble at her inauguration on Saturday, departing from the customary morning suit typically worn by her predecessors. By choosing white, Spanberger honored the suffragette movement, marking her historic inauguration as the first woman to hold the state’s highest office.

Virginia’s inauguration protocol, as outlined in the “A Guide to Virginia Protocol and Traditions,” traditionally dictates that male officials don morning coats—formal suits with long tails—while women don dark suits. Many participants, including Spanberger’s husband, adhered to this dress code during the ceremony.

Governor Spanberger’s office did not issue a statement regarding her choice of attire. However, in a previous interview with NPR, she made it clear that she would not follow the conventional dress code.

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

Spanberger’s choice of a white outfit, complemented by a long coat with gold buttons and white gloves, served as a tribute to the suffragette movement that was pivotal in securing voting rights for women in the United States. In her inauguration speech, she acknowledged the significance of the occasion, paying homage to the unwavering determination of those who fought for women’s rights.

“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,” Spanberger said.