Heidi Klum: 'Most Women In Politics Look Like Men'

Project Runway judges Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, and Tim Gunn got together to discuss the fashion world and the upcoming season of the popular show. They talked to Newsweek about their own prized possessions, the past winners of the competition, and getting caught in the "comfort trap." Ultimately the conversation turned political, with the panel pondering Washington's style:

How do you think the Obamas have influenced the fashion world? Gunn: Hugely.

Klum: I think it's the first time that people actually look at women in politics wanting to look like them. Most women in politics, they wear a suit and look like a man.

But the judges refused to name names.

Are you talking about Hillary? [Laughter]

Klum: No. I'm not picking a person.

And Michael Kors, who has dressed Michelle Obama, had nothing but praise:

Kors: I think the other thing that's interesting is that suddenly you have both a president and a first lady who are incredibly accomplished, incredibly bright, well read, obviously juggling 70 balls up in the air, and both very upfront about the idea that, you know what? It's OK to look great doing it. Like, it does not make you suddenly a second-class citizen, or shallow.

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Comments

[Elkims]

05:58 AM on 08/20/2009

Heidi, those women politicians who dress in suits and look like men are extremely smart, self accomplished and very well educated. They work very hard every day so that you and millions of people can live in a safe world. You on the other hard Heidi, can only strut around stages bone n aked so that YOU can eat and have the strength to make s t u p i d comments.

[IlooklikeGeorgeWyner]

08:52 PM on 08/19/2009

Case Study: Tragic Side Effects of Anorexia Nervosa

Without the proper nutritional elements,
First the brain tissue withers, the optic nerve decays and thus causing the model-rexic to live in a hallucinatory state of reality.

Lastly the jaw muscles flap involuntarily and incessantly.
Favorite topics include how “beautiful” they are, or how “unattractive” other women are.

[Elkims]

05:51 AM on 08/20/2009

LOL

[NOLA2]

01:59 PM on 08/19/2009

Let's have the male senators wear 4" heels, keep their make-up and hair looking great 15 hours a day, and see how much real work gets accomplished in a year. We won't even have them worry about their wardrobe yet.

[NoSillyName]

01:29 AM on 08/19/2009

Stupid Statement.

[rtb61]

12:21 AM on 08/19/2009

The real position here. As a woman if you do not slavishly follow the latest fashion trends as defined by the fashion marketing engine, the very same engine that pay's this air heads wages, the money for those wages of course coming from paying grossly inflated prices for some really useless, clothing, footwear, jewelry etc. then you are not a real woman, not a bona fide, hair coloured, groin hair pulled, silicone injected, botox dead faced, victim of marketing. If the face is pretty enough and the smile is big enough, it will generally hide the toxic personality behind it, at least for a time. In that last sentence I am not sure whether I am describing the air head or the whole fashion industry, I'll take the safe option, it describes both.

[AudreyH]

09:26 PM on 08/18/2009

Of course this comes from the mouth of a super model...She makes up in looks what she lacks in brains. Never really liked her, always thought she was annoying....Marissa Miller is my girl!

[yemaya]

02:04 PM on 08/19/2009

Heidi dear most of us were not blessed w/your genetics and alas some of us may not look as feminine as you would like us to. too bad for you because we are real women and we're not going anywhere and now I respect you less.

[mollymac]

06:17 PM on 08/19/2009

Never could deal with her. auf weidersohn Heidi.

[TheKidd]

11:31 PM on 08/19/2009

did you even read the article? she's not talking about their physical looks. sh's talking about the way they dress.

[LMPE]

06:37 PM on 08/18/2009

Yeah, so?

[sjanice]

04:54 PM on 08/18/2009

Since when is she the only accomplished first lady? Hillary was a graduate of Yale Law School and a partner in a prestigious firm. Michelle was a hospital bureaucrat. She dresses like a teenager. PLEASE!!!!!!

[grumbles]

02:55 PM on 08/18/2009

...........and most men in fashion look like women......your point???????????

[NoSillyName]

01:28 AM on 08/19/2009

Good one!

[mmgbizgirl]

12:55 PM on 08/18/2009

She's absolutely right.

If you send the message that to be taken seriously, you can't dress like women, that's what people will believe. Adjust the message and that is what people will begin to believe.

Our femininity does not have to be entirely stripped away to be power player.

[rubysecret]

12:41 PM on 08/31/2009

You, and she, miss the real point.
Femininity is completely irrelevant.

[mairs]

12:19 PM on 08/18/2009

Is she too young to know about JFK and Jackie and what a style icon she was? Or just clueless.

[Meggie]

12:39 PM on 08/18/2009

I think she's trying to stay in this century.
When I read what Klum said, I wondered why she thought the WIFE of the president is in politics. Hillary Clinton USED to be the wife of a president, but NOW she's in politics. Michelle Obama is not in politics. She's a spouse.
And when, outside the fashion industry, you want to be taken seriously in the meeting or the boardroom, you do not dress like Heidi Klum.

[yemaya]

02:06 PM on 08/19/2009

she's clueless half the time I've seen her on TV on someone's talk show. The other guests crack jokes and they all fly over her head, it's quite amusing. Happened on Graham Norton and Letterman and another one I can't remember, but yeah it's funny to watch.

[coco51]

11:17 AM on 08/18/2009

I take offense to Kors' "I think the other thing that's interesting is that suddenly you have both a president and a first lady who are incredibly accomplished, incredibly bright, well read, obviously juggling 70 balls up in the air" actually, Bill & Hillary Clinton (though I'm not crazy about her) were accomplished, incredibly bright well read etc, etc.

They were products of the time, scrunchies, headbands, padded shoulders, teased hair and thick eyebrows symbols of youth ala Brooke Sheilds. Guys wore faded grandpa jeans (which Pres. Obama pulled out of the closet quite recently) etc..

Former first couple Clinton was not bereft of intelligence, accomplishments and committment to the country not their pocket book. Like all of us they are human and so come with flaws. The more recent former first were to say the least decidely lacking in any quality that is worth mentioning.

[fabricnthreads]

11:16 AM on 08/18/2009

Sometimes, the modeling elite should refrain from commenting.

Revealing the brains behind the hair and body is not always a good thing.

Just saying...............

[chulanow]

11:10 AM on 08/18/2009

She must be talking about the politicians in her native country.....GERMANY!!!!

[lynnn]

11:39 PM on 08/18/2009

Very true.

[yemaya]

02:06 PM on 08/19/2009

she's swedish though right?

[mollymac]

06:18 PM on 08/19/2009

German.

[PlanoBlue]

10:25 AM on 08/18/2009

And we care what Heidi Klum thinks because............why??

[Meggie]

12:40 PM on 08/18/2009

T&A, PlanoBlue.