Truemors
The revelation that the Republican National Committee shelled out over $150,000 on a new wardrobe and makeover for Governor and Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin has reignited the focus on fashion among the big-name players in the US election.
Michelle Obama is often touted as a fashion icon, who enjoys big-name designers on occasion but can also ease effortlessly into a $35 H&M dress, and recently made Vanity Fair's Best-Dressed List as an influential fashion figure. She's known for her ballet flats, brooches, sweater-sets and cardigans - and for providing attainable style inspiration for middle-class women. Do not be surprised if brooches come back into style - I recommend you check out your local thrift store to see if there are any great finds to be acquired before the trend emerges full swing!
MC: Are you much of a heels gal?
MO: I’m 5'11", so typically, I’m in flats. They’re much better for keeping up with the girls and the pace of the campaign trail.
MC: Has your style had to change as you’ve taken on the role of candidate’s wife? More pearls and Jackie O. dresses?
MO: You know, Barack has been in politics for a long time, and my style really hasn’t changed since he started running for president. I don’t have a stylist, but for special events, I work with designer Maria Pinto here in Chicago, who’s not only a great designer but also a good friend.
Michelle Obama set White House / Black Market ablaze with fervent shoppers after her appearance on The View wearing a $148 Donna Ricco dress, and has had no shame slipping on an $80 Gap sundress or admitting that she prefers shopping at Target. She often works with Maria Pinto for special event garments, and has a penchant for designers Thakoon and Narciso Rodriguez as well. I love that she doesn't utilize a stylist, and is upfront about admitting that the closest she comes would be consulting with her designer/friend Maria Pinto - who happens to be a Chicago-local designer who built her business from the ground up.
Looking at the other potential first-lady, Cindy McCain, shows a level of style and sophistication that is well on par with Michelle Obama's - though Cindy has her own personal fortune with which to populate her closets with expensive clothing, and doesn't shy away from splurging for pricier items: the outfit she donned at the Republican National Convention was apparently worth a staggering $300,000.
Cindy McCain's style may be a bit over-the-top, especially in contrast to the way most American women are living, but at least she's spending her own fortune to maintain that element of luxury in her wardrobe. Which brings us to Sarah Palin, who has been strung up over the $150,000 of taxpayer dollars spent on clothing, beauty and accessories.
On top of more than $150,000 the Republican National Committee spent to outfit her and her family with shopping trips to Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, McCain campaign paid $22,800 to makeup artist Amy Strozzi, in the first 15 days of October after sending her $13,200 in September, financial disclosure reports show.Strozzi, who has a long Hollywood resume, was nominated for an Emmy for her work on “So You Think You Can Dance.” The category: Outstanding Makeup for a Multi-Camera Series or a Special (Non-Prosthetic).
Yesterday, Palin vaguely denied that the clothing that was bought for the RNC was worth $150,000:
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin insisted in an interview with the Tribune on Thursday that she did not accept $150,000 worth of designer clothes from the Republican Party and "that is not who we are."
"That whole thing is just, bad!" she said. "Oh, if people only knew how frugal we are.
"It's kind of painful to be criticized for something when all the facts are not out there and are not reported," said Palin, saying the clothes are not worth $150,000 and were bought for the Republican National Convention. Still, she has been wearing pricey clothes at campaign events this fall. She said they will be given back, auctioned off or sent to charity. Most of them, she said, haven't even left the belly of her campaign plane.
To know that expensive garments were sitting unworn in the bottom of Palin's plane kind of adds insult to injury to those less fortunate who neither have spare unused clothes lying around, nor a plane in which to store them in.
The backlash over this wardrobe revelation has eclipsed nearly every other aspect of the McCain campaign, but it does bring campaign spending to light - particularly with respect more frivolous purchases, such as one's wardrobe and hair:
"With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses," said spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt. "It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign."The business of primping and dressing on the campaign trail has become fraught with political risk in recent years as voters increasingly see an elite Washington out of touch with their values and lifestyles.
In 2000, Democrat Al Gore took heat for changing his clothing hues. And in 2006, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) was ribbed for two hair styling sessions that cost about $3,000.
Then, there was Democrat John Edwards’ $400 hair cuts in 2007 and Republican McCain’s $520 black leather Ferragamo shoes this year.
A review of similar records for the campaign of Democrat Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee turned up no similar spending.
Looks like the Obamas have a shining record when it comes to spending their own money, and spending it wisely. Michelle may splurge on the odd designer dress, but at least she's doing so with her own cash, and for appropriate events. The fact that she has no shame in throwing on a $30 frock the next day speaks volumes to this end.
Speaking of shame, McCain scrambled to address public and media anger over Palin's $150,000 shopping spree, and though Palin may have tried to downplay the spending McCain readily admitted it as truth:
Presidential candidate John McCain isn't happy about having to explain why the Republican Party has had to buy running mate Sarah Palin $150,000 in clothes, hair styling and accessories.McCain was asked several questions on Thursday about the shopping spree - and he answered each one more or less the same way: Palin needed clothes and they'll be donated to charity.
"She needed clothes at the time. They'll be donated at end of this campaign. They'll be donated to charity," McCain told reporters on his campaign bus between Florida rallies.
Asked for details on how they'll be donated, McCain said, "It works by her getting some clothes when she was made the nominee of the party and it will be donated back to charity."
Asked if he was surprised at the amount spent, McCain said, "It works that the clothes will be donated to charity. Nothing surprises me."
McCain offered no further comment, except to say that the Republican National Committee doesn't buy his clothes.
I'm sure Sarah Palin isn't the only American who will be 'needing' clothes in the coming months, and I certainly hope the Republican National Committee will be there to bail out all the other 'everyday Americans' that Palin so ironically aligns herself with.
Related NowPublic.com Stories:
Sarah Palin's "Consultant": Details Emerge in McCain Scandal
Palin Stylist Draws Higher Pay Than Foreign Policy Advisor
Palin Shopping Spree May Have Violated McCain's Finance Reform
Republicans Spent $150,000 on Outfits for Palin
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