Sarah Palin’s expensive makeover fiasco easily avoided
My article today on fashion in politics didn’t mention the Sarah Palin controversy, because that story blew up after my deadline. But I do have a few words to say on the subject.
The most intriguing thing about Palin’s RNC clothing budget fiasco is that none of it would be an issue if she had just spent her own money to purchase those new duds. She might be a state governing hockey mom, but that doesn’t mean she’s devoid of the funds to buy a simple thoughtful wardrobe.
I can understand that the glare of high def television might require a little wardrobe boost, but $150,000 is excessive by any stretch. It’s nice (I guess) that she’s donating it to charity, but that’s hardly the point. It’s like gorging on an entire cheesecake and promising to hit the gym for an extra 30 minutes tomorrow.
If she had been spending her own money, I’m guessing that she would have been a bit more selective. Palin’s salary as Alaska governor was reported to be $125,000 in 2007.
To be totally honest, I don’t lament the cost of her makeover. I think people should spend whatever they want on clothes as long as it fits their budget. But in this case, I lament the fact that it didn’t fit into her budget.
And I’m not all that impressed with the results. Her wardrobe is very business contemporary, but it hardly necessitates the price.
As someone who spends a lot of time in and around stores, I’m a big proponent of value for the dollar. Palin’s six-figure wardrobe could be duplicated for a fraction of the cost and still retain a high level of quality.
I’m not offended by any one who can afford a $150,000 wardrobe, but I am offended by the notion that to buy good quality, durable clothing, you HAVE to spend large sums. And as if to prove my point, the Budget Fashionista took up the challenge of creating a vice presidential campaign wardrobe for under $2,500 and I think she did a great job. Check it out here. Above is a wool and nylon blend Antonio Melani “Essie” Coat from Dillard’s for $229. It rivals the $2,500 jacket from Saks Fifth Avenue designed by Valentino Garavani that she reported purchased, which was also lovely. But Palin could have probably afforded the former on her own.
Palin isn’t running for national stylist and she isn’t vested with setting an example for the rest of us, but if she can’t figure out how to live within her own means, how does she expect us to believe that she can help run a goverment that expected to live within our national means.
That’s why it’s not a big deal that Michelle Obama shops at Marshall’s for inexpensive deals on designer duds or that billionaire Cindy McCain can afford to wear exorbinantly expensive frocks and jewels. At least both of the women are shopping with their own money and looking darn good doing it.
A wayward soul from Las Vegas, Nevada, who now calls St. Louis home and believes that fashion is relative and capricious, but style is always in favor. 
Joe-Six-Pack in $150,000 clothes. Phonies! What’s Joe,the Plumber wearing?
Let me get this right.From Deb’s Style File we get her political leanings.Nice! I’d say Palin’s, actually the RNC is sharing the weath.Get it? And, hello, McCain’s running for president. VP’s attend funerals,open museums. Just ask AL Gore. Palin has an 86% positive rating in her State. Deb, please put down the kool-aid.BTW- Obama campaign has spent 21 million dollars on polling-repeat polling! I’d say that’s excessive.
Let’s see, Obama certainly will be the first president with a brother living in shanty cardboard box in Africa. According to “feed the children” it only takes 2.00 a month to sponsor a child or person. Plus you get a letter from the person. He made a statement that if someone does not take care of their family, they are not going to help others. I guess his socialist views are to benefit his own self. which would be to distribute your money, 401K, your housing, and your job. I wonder if he will ask him to the white house. Better yet give him a job in his cabinet.
Deb -
We all know who you’re voting for…you don’t need to tell us. And by the way, we’re getting tired of hearing about Palin’s clothes. As per Fox News:
“Of the $150,000 spent by the Republican National Committee on clothing for the vice presidential candidate, $50,000 worth of clothes was returned immediately after the national convention, $50,000 worth hasn’t been worn yet and $50,000 is being used by the Palin clan.
Sarah Palin told FOX News on Thursday that some of the clothes that were ill-fitting or just bought to be tried and possibly worn were returned right away.
Everything that “could be returned was,” she said. Another third of the clothing remains unwrapped and packed in the belly of the vice presidential candidate’s campaign plane and the rest is being worn.”
The American media has some unrealistic expectations of our public figures — let’s critique your hair, your clothes, your size and your politics. Oh, and get all that perfect AND campaign non-stop AND get an instant wardrobe. Do you think Palin came into this campaign with enough wardrobe combinations to last these first 52 days and who knows how many different campaign stops that includes? How about the entire campaign of 67 days she’s going to be involved? What happens if she gets photographed wearing the same thing twice — are we then going to criticize her for not being creative with her wardrobe? I thought one of the goals of the Women’s Movement of the 70s was the freedom to be seen for who we are and what we believe — not if our outfits fit into someone else’s clothing budget?
To know Sarah Palin’s true clothing budget, find out what she paid for her clothes BEFORE becoming a national figure. In the meantime, let’s stick to the intelligent issues that women are suppose to care about — life, liberty, freedom.
What I would like to know is — what does Palin do for diet and exercise, especially with her customary hectic schedule, that after 5 kids she can still fit into anything that Saks sells? A column about that would be worth reading.
Joe 6-pack. Hmm…. Maybe Palin’s husband drinks cheap beer, but Palin has expensive tastes and wearing clothes with the right label is important to her.
Sarah Palin is invited to meet with the Pope while he is vacationing south of Rome in Venice.
The liberal press reluctantly watches the semi-private audience, hoping they will be able to allot minimal coverage, if any.
The Pope asks Governor Palin to join him on a Gondola ride through the canals of Venice.
They’re admiring the sights and agreeing on moral issues when all of a sudden, the Pope’s hat (zucchetto) blows off his head and out into the water.
The gondolier starts to reach for the Pontiff’s cap with his pole, but this move threatens to overturn the floating craft.
Sarah waves the tour guide off, saying, ‘Wait, wait. I’ll take care of this. Don’t worry.’
She steps off the gondola onto the surface of the water and walks out to the Pope’s hat, bends over and picks it up. She walks back across the water to the gondola and steps aboard.
She hands the hat to the Pope amid stunned silence.
The next morning the topic of conversation among Democrats in Congress,
CBS News, NBC News, ABC News, CNN,
the New York Times, Hollywood celebrities, and in France and Germany is:
“Palin Can’t Swim.”
Who cares rather Debra Bass, fashion editor, votes for Obama or McCain? Now really, do you? Just make sure you get out and vote.
Now regarding the cost of Palin’s wardrobe, clearly it was not a wise move. If it were, the RNC and McCain camps would have stood by their decision. Instead, we were offered plenty of excuses and even an exit strategy plan (donate to charity) to cover their gaffe. Let’s be real, the economic times are hard. I have not changed my own spending habits during and do not expect others to do either–unless they must. Considering the McCain camp has identified itself so well as “Joe-Six-Packers” and “Hockey Moms”, it is interesting (and you have to admit that it is…) that the RNC would then use solicited funds to spend that kind of money in less than a month’s time frame on a wardrobe for America’s Hockey Mom.
I think that was Debra’s point…who cares rather she votes for them or not? I know I won’t be! But what I would love to know, which Goodwill will be getting Palin’s donations? I would love to pick up a few of her cute ‘fits. How funny is that? Do you really think the Goodwill shopping crew would truly appreciate the $2,500 jacket from Saks Fifth Avenue designed by Valentino Garavani that she reported purchased? I just might though…