Hoda Kotb pays stylish homage to the blazer that led to her big break

when Hoda Kotb One week off today Dubbed the “Hoda-Bration!” respected The long-time host's last day On Friday, Jan. 10, she dressed the part in a familiar Veronica Beard white blazer suit that, ironically, felt like a full-circle moment that honored her legendary career.

Kotb, 60, has been part of the fabric at NBC News for nearly 30 years (he announced that he would departure September 2024), it is hard to believe that he faced almost the same rejection. He was turned down 27 times for television work before someone finally said “yes,” and he says a jacket led to his big break.

On her first day, an anchor fell ill so she filled in for the evening newscast. “The litmus test for who covers the news at Mississippi's WXVT News Center 15 in Greenville is who shows up to work with Blazer,” Kotb said in an interview with PR for anyone.

“I remember (Stan Sandroni(the late news director) walks in, and he goes, 'Okay, who's got the blazer?' I go, 'What?' 'A jacket. Who has the jacket?' I go, 'A jacket? I have a jacket. It's hanging in the hangar.' 'Oh good, you have to be a news anchor, because Anne (Martin) Sick,” he recalls. “I was like, 'Okay!'”

He often looks back on that moment and says it only takes one person (and a blazer) to change your life, which makes his smart suit seem more appropriate for his farewell. A proud wardrobe repeater, Kotb has always kept her work uniform simple and streamlined.

“I don't know how many times I've worn the same dress. I wear everything again,” Kotb said in an interview with 2020 glamour. “One woman tweeted me, 'I've seen that dress 57 times,' and she was right!”

Kotb continued: “Our staff even took pictures of how many times I was dressed. I thought it was funny … there are people who are way cooler than me, who have way cooler fashion sense than me. It is none of my business.”

is echoed by his pragmatic sensibilities Savannah Guthrie A video Shared via YouTube on Friday, January 10 “He's about what's important,” Guthrie, 53, said Then, she jokingly grabbed Kotb's “red carpet purse,” which was a ziplock bag containing lip gloss, a compact, cash, and a banana for a snack. Guthrie ended on a more serious note: “I love you deeply. Whether you sit next to me or not we get up at 4 a.m. or not, I'll always be by your side.”

In fact, Kotb took a similarly sentimental approach with her accessories: stacks of bracelets, rings and necklaces for her finale that she said are near and dear to her heart.

She pointed out, “This top bracelet that says, 'With you,'” a gift she got from Guthrie, before showing a ring Guthrie gave her that said, “Love.”

For her part, Guthrie chose a black dress for the farewell ceremony, as she was “mourning” her beloved colleague's final days. Talk about wearing your heart on your sleeve – or blazer.