STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

RE: RNC Spends $150K on wardrobe for Palin and family

Suasoria · Chanel

Yeah, I hesitated to comment because I'm really not sure how I feel. I like most of her clothes so I don't want to be critical (or hypocritical for that matter)...her shoes/boots and hair, not so much.

As the article mentions, if they donate the clothes then their retail value cannot be taxed as income - I would prefer she keep them and pay the taxes, because we need the revenue.

I've followed the campaign fashion a bit more than I should (guilty pleasure). Obama likes suits by Hart Schaffner Marx, a VERY conservative label - probably a habit he picked up from his days as a corporate lawyer. They retail for about $1500. He pays for them out of his own pocket.

He rightfully gets plenty of hisses and boos whenever he tries to wear casual clothes. He can't seem to escape being called Urkel because of the high-waisted "dad jeans," and he's awfully skinny.

On the other hand, McCain looks more at home in casual/weekend clothes. I cringe because his suits really don't fit well, and I wish someone would take more care dressing him so he doesn't give off such an old man vibe. I also want to yell at him whenever I see him outdoors without a hat: "John, pleaseohPLEASE, think of your skin!!"

I've heard Biden is a fan of the $20 haircut at a place in his hometown, but I have no idea how much the plugs set him back...

As for the wives, I'm more annoyed about Cindy McCain's $300,000 outfit for one night at the convention than $150K for Palin, but I didn't really hear too much snark over Cindy's spending. She clearly can afford it. I think most of Cindy's clothes are AWful - too bright, too shiny, too skinny, too preppy, too stiff, too unnatural, too...rich.

I think enough has been said about Michelle Obama's style and where she shops and all that. I find her extremely beautiful and even when I don't like her outfit, she wears it well, as the song goes.

Todd Palin I have not seen enough of to comment, and Jill Biden doesn't register with me on the fashion scale either. I cannot for the life of me remember a single outfit she's worn. She's pretty, but she needs a more stylish, modern haircut. I know she's a teacher and Elizabeth Edwards is an attorney, but Elizabeth always looked great AND she made no secret about the fact that some of her clothes came from thrift stores. (Apparently she had a bad habit of hitting thrift stores while campaigning in different cities.)

Back to the shopping spree, I've wondered at times what Palin is going to get out of this experience. From the conspiracy standpoint, I've thought about what her party might have offered her to get her to go along with all this. Obviously her family has suffered, as has her reputation and credibility, and who knows what kind of career she'll end up with. A lovely wardrobe might cushion the blow she's in for if everything goes the way the polls are telling us it will.

cahabo · Kate Spade

Wow, am I the only one who doesn't pay attention to what politicians are wearing?! I think they could easily look polished for a lot less than $150K! Also, I don't see how outfit changes are necessary and who cares if they wear the same thing twice.

I also heard about how they got the government to pay for Palin daughters' unnecessary plane and luxury hotel expenses. Kind of annoyed about the big spending. Makes me think that's how they'd be if they get in office.

lynnie · Chanel

It doesn't bother me. I am in NO way a Palin fan, but if anyone should be wearing expensive suits/clothing, it would be presidential candidates. As elitist as it sounds, a lot of people can tell the difference. This isn't the Look for Less, nor does it need to be if people chose to donate to the campaign.
I also think it's sexist and agree with D that it's all spin.
Also, in economics our teacher would always say- spend when no one else does, save when everyone's spending. Because both happen and we just have to accept that. Some people have to run counter to what everyone else is doing and those are usually the ones that understand the economy the best. If the current economic climate wasn't the way it is, no one would probably notice. But it's helping the economy in it's own way. Those that have the money shouldn't be overly frugal when it's not necessary.

joy0302 · Kate Spade

I agree that they whole thing is very sexist. Never have I heard the breakdown of any past candidates shopping trips. Why then, when it is a woman, is it suddenly in the spotlight?

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

I just thought of something - this sort of muck gets brought up once all other scandals have been tried. So in a way, Palin's court might want to be thankful that this is the worst that they could come up with.

Metric · Gucci

I have the distinct feeling that if the news had come out that Palin's camp had spent $750 at J Crew instead of the $75K at NM the media would have spun it into a "Palin is a cheap ass!" headline instead. JMO.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Metric wrote:

I have the distinct feeling that if the news had come out that Palin's camp had spent $750 at J Crew instead of the $75K at NM the media would have spun it into a "Palin is a cheap ass!" headline instead. JMO.

HA I think you're 100% right.

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

Metric wrote:

I have the distinct feeling that if the news had come out that Palin's camp had spent $750 at J Crew instead of the $75K at NM the media would have spun it into a "Palin is a cheap ass!" headline instead. JMO.

Hmmm, I have to disagree. Rememember when Michelle Obama wore that White House, Black Market dress on the view? People loved it and were thrilled with the fact that it was affordable. I think that it made her look much more human to people unlike the stiff outfits that Cindy McCain wears.

Elle · Hermes

Farrah wrote:

Metric wrote:

I have the distinct feeling that if the news had come out that Palin's camp had spent $750 at J Crew instead of the $75K at NM the media would have spun it into a "Palin is a cheap ass!" headline instead. JMO.

Hmmm, I have to disagree. Rememember when Michelle Obama wore that White House, Black Market dress on the view? People loved it and were thrilled with the fact that it was affordable. I think that it made her look much more human to people unlike the stiff outfits that Cindy McCain wears.

Yeah, I think part of the reason it's gotten so much attention is that it's in direct opposition to the 'regular Joe hockey mom' image she talks about having. It's unfortunate for all of us that it falls on a subject already overflowing with double standards, because IMO that fact gets lost in the rhetoric. This sort of situation gives sexist attitudes a pass, and they of course need even more validation

!

ILoveChoo · Hermes

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h21ZbzgPbTVRftcJPT5vkHkonY5QD942RMLO4

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

ILoveChoo wrote:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h21ZbzgPbTVRftcJPT5vkHkonY5QD942RMLO4

Interesting...so does that mean that she is going to go back to the thrift store to buy clothes should she become the VP of the most powerful nation in the world?

At first I didn't think it was a big deal, but now it is annoying to me because I feel like they are trying to blow smoke up everyone's butt about this issue. Me no likey smoke up my butt ashamed

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Suasoria · Chanel

That Nieman Marcus in Minneapolis is doing well on the campaigns. Apparently Senator Norm Coleman, running for reelection against Al Franken, was also the recipient of some lovely new clothes thanks to a wealthy donor. I don't know if I'll go along with people calling it "Suitgate," but it's certainly interesting in the context of Palin's wardrobe, and sort of minimizes the question of whether it's sexist to question how a candidate procures their clothing.

Miss Mabel · Kenneth Cole

The expenditure itself doesn't bother me, but the fact that it is so out of line with who she claims to be does bother me -- either she is not the "regular hockey mom" she claims to be, or she doesn't have the good judgment and foresight to realize that the expenditure would negatively affect her image.

I'm sure the Obamas spend waaaaaay more on their image, but they aren't trying to act like they are just "regular folk" or to hide any aspect of their spending, and I am much more comfortable with candidates being up front.

As D said, if this $150K had been on every aspect of Palin's image, that would be one thing. But the reporting clearly shows that her staffers went and made the purchases, and that the purchases were only for clothing. In my opinion, $150K is a bit excessive, and she should have been smart enough to realize just how excessive it would appear to her constituency, which is probably largely made up of people who make less than that in a year.