It’s every #gapol’s favorite time of year: best-dressed* lawmakers of the 2024 legislative session!
Many of the honorees were nominated by people who were outraged that their favorite fashionable lawmaker was not included in past years. That means YOU let ME know who should make the list.
If you NEVER suggested a person be included, DO NOT complain to me.
And yes, you can take your pick from a laundry list of more important things that have happened this session.
However, I was asked at least once a day about who would be on the best-dressed list or when it would be released, so it’s clear the Capitol crowd welcomed an opportunity to bring some silliness to the 40 days of the legislative session.
Plus, this year we launched the Fan Favorite Best-Dressed* Bracket Battle Royale! (It’s a working title.) The person named best-dressed* overall will be crowned next week. Keep voting! You can vote through my profile on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, or on this Google form.
Throughout the year, I’ve asked for nominations and been sent photos of legislators whose peers thought they should be included on the 2024 list.
This is the fifth time AJC.com has compiled this list, launching it in 2019 but deciding that 2020 (COVID-19) wasn’t a year we should spend time discussing fashion. So before you send me angry emails that your favorite wasn’t on the 2024 list, I ask (beg?) that you first check out the honorees from 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2019. With 236 lawmakers in the building, I can’t justify having repeat appearances yet. I think next year may be the year when there will be repeats. We’ll see.
Standing disclaimer time: Everything I know about fashion I learned from shows such as “Project Runway” and “America’s Next Top Model.” I do not claim to be an expert.
If you know me, you know that on any given day you can catch me looking like a disheveled mess. Two lucky (unlucky?) senators got to see me in my natural state via Zoom this year and can attest to that.
For the men on the list, it’s difficult to get too creative. Most wear dark tailored suits but play around with patterned ties, pocket squares and socks. The women have a little more leeway to have fun, but it usually came down to fit, tailoring and color to make the list.
This is completely subjective and boils down to what I think is fashionable.
Do with that information what you will.
And with that, I give you the AJC.com picks for the 2024 best-dressed* state lawmakers, in alphabetical order:
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Credit: Arvin Temkar
State Rep. Segun Adeyina, D-Grayson
Occupation: IT program manager
Fashion inspiration: “Growing up, my mom always made sure we dressed our best in everything that we do. Everywhere, wherever we would go, whether we traveled, whether we went to church — wherever we went, she made sure we dressed our best.”
Favorite fashion tip: “I have my wife. So, like, coming here today, I told my wife, ‘Hey, is this OK?’ As long as she OKs it, I’m good.”
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Credit: Arvin Temkar
State Sen. Matt Brass, R-Newnan
Senate Rules Chairman
Occupation: commercial roofer
Fashion inspiration: “I just like looking professional for work. Because I like to joke around, so I feel like I need to look serious.”
Favorite fashion tip: “The gig line. I like to make sure that my shirt line, belt buckle and zipper all line up. That’s a military thing.”
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler of Stone Mountain
Occupation: former accountant
Fashion inspiration: “My parents were dry cleaners and my mother was a self-taught seamstress. ... That’s where my fashion comes from — from my mother because she was a sharp dresser. She had a purse and shoes and gloves that went with every outfit.”
Favorite fashion tip: “I want the colors to blend. I love color. I don’t care how bright it is, I’ll wear it. I like my jewelry to match, even if it’s the same jewelry from day to day, I want to make sure that it’s the right match.”
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Credit: Arvin Temkar
State Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Buford
Senate Education and Youth Committee chairman
Occupation: real estate
Fashion inspiration: “My wife. She is the fashion person in our household. She says all my taste is in my mouth. So without her there’s no way I would have even been considered for this.”
Favorite fashion tip: “This year my wife is really big on sport coats (and) making sure they’re unique. And making sure that my pants fit correctly. Because I like my pants a little bit baggy, from growing up in the ‘90s, but making sure they’re tailored to perfection.”
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Credit: Arvin Temkar
State Rep. Saira Draper, D-Atlanta
Occupation: attorney
Fashion inspiration: “Clean lines, beautiful colors and quality fabrics. You can’t go wrong with classic pieces.”
Favorite fashion tip: “Machine-washable is key. I’m a mom of three little ones. As soon as I walk in the door after work, I’ve got tiny hands all over me. I wouldn’t have it any other way, but it means most of my clothes are durable and low maintenance.”
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Credit: Arvin Temkar
State Rep. Leesa Hagan, R-Lyons
Occupation: website builder
Fashion inspiration: “I’m more concerned with what colors look best on me and the fit of the clothes rather than trying to model it after any particular person. ... (I look best in) gray, black, cool colors, blues, greens and pinks if they have a gray undertone.”
Favorite fashion tip: “I will rarely leave the house without pearls on.”
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Credit: Arvin Temkar
State Sen. Derek Mallow, D-Savannah
Occupation: nonprofit executive
Fashion inspiration: “My inspiration is my clothier, Brandon Campbell. He is very dapper and well-dressed. He exudes what it means to be stylish, fly and dope.”
Favorite fashion tip: “Dare to be different and bespoke.”
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Credit: Arvin Temkar
State Rep. Yasmin Neal, D-Morrow
Occupation: filmmaker
Fashion inspiration: “Thom Brown. Because it’s so classy and funky and it makes dressing fun. You can be fully covered from head to toe and have on something abstract and look amazing. Just because you’re in a professional setting, you don’t have to be boring, right?”
Favorite fashion tip: “For women: Always have your eyebrows done. And make sure your clothes are well tailored. Having a good tailor is the key to having the right fit on your clothes.”
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Credit: Arvin Temkar
State Rep. Long Tran, D-Dunwoody
Occupation: coffee shop owner
Fashion inspiration: “There’s not a specific person. I like to wear vests with my suits or sport coats when I can. I learned something called ‘geek chic.’ As an IT guy, everything is built around that. And I try to incorporate color with the basics.”
Favorite fashion tip: “Make sure your sleeves are the right length for the shirt that you have on. And if ever possible, use a necktie bar or tie clips.”
Credit: Arvin Temkar
Credit: Arvin Temkar
State Rep. Marcus Wiedower, R-Watkinsville
Occupation: real estate
Fashion inspiration: “I don’t have a particular person I look to. But I do a lot of work with a guy back home, Johnny McCutcheon, and we pick out a lot of stuff. For me, the style breeds confidence.”
Favorite fashion tip: “The collar is a big deal for me. I like to keep that clean — the tie, the way the tie is put together and the collar stays are a big deal for me.”
*Disclaimer: No algorithms were used in creating this list.
Previous best-dressed* legislators:
2023: Sen. Tonya Anderson, D-Lithonia; Rep. Teri Anulewicz, D-Smyrna; retiring House Minority Leader James Beverly, D-Macon; retiring Sen. Shelly Echols, R-Alto; Rep. Scott Hilton, R-Peachtree Corners; Rep. Soo Hong, R-Lawrenceville; Sen. Nabilah Islam, D-Lawrenceville; Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, R-Bremen; Sen. Rick Williams, R-Milledgeville; and Rep. Inga Willis, D-Atlanta.
2022: Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell; then-Sen. Michelle Au, D-Johns Creek (now serves in House); Rep. Terry England, R-Auburn; Rep. El-Mahdi Holly, D-Stockbridge; Sen. Billy Hickman, R-Statesboro; Sen. Kim Jackson, D-Pine Lake; then-Rep. Josh McLaurin, D-Atlanta (now serves in Senate); Rep. Bonnie Rich, R-Suwanee; Sen. Randy Robertson, R-Cataula; and Rep. Erica Thomas, D-Mableton.
2021: Rep. Katie Dempsey, R-Rome; Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming; Rep. Matthew Gambill, R-Cartersville; Sen. Sonya Halpern, D-Atlanta; Sen. Emanuel Jones, D-Decatur; Rep. Donna McLeod, D-Lawrenceville; Sen. Nikki Merritt, D-Grayson; Rep. Bee Nguyen, D-Atlanta; Sen. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough; and Rep. Matthew Wilson, D-Brookhaven.
2019: Rep. Park Cannon, D-Atlanta; Rep. Matt Dubnik, R-Gainesville; Senate Majority Leader Mike Dugan, R-Carrollton; Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens; Sen. Harold Jones, D-Augusta; Sen. Jen Jordan, D-Atlanta; Sen. John Kennedy, R-Macon; Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta; Rep. Sam Park, D-Lawrenceville; Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, D-Dawson; and Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan.
About the Author
