Cathy Horyn's snarky piece in today's NY Times, "Wrapped in Their Identities," about Sarah Palin and Michelle Obama's style, has us Bitches on a Budget thinking. In our usual favorite fashion writer's piece comparing Sarah Palin's style to Michelle Obama's she takes to task Ms. Obama's fashion choices. Ms. Horyn writes: "Is this how a modern, educated, working woman wants to be viewed in her first historic year -- as a maven, an icon? Who's Barbie now?" Meanwhile, Ms. Horyn extolled the simple, chic, everywoman style Sarah Palin exhibited pre-RNC-bankrolled shopping spree.
Wow.
Just like some of us love our pho (a delicious noodle soup) filled with veggies and topped with loads of fresh chopped cilantro, for others that cilantro sets our teeth to chattering. Is there one right way to make a pho? Absolutely not. Is there one right fashion look? Absolutely not. Are there ways to make fashion faux pas? Without a doubt. But the only false moves we've seen for either woman has been in Governor Palin's choice of having someone else spend so much money for her clothing while she was busy running a campaign as Mrs. Everywoman Populist. It was the cognitive dissonance of a Neiman Marcus binge that set the world to chatter.
We're stumped about why Michelle O's chic and broad-ranging style is a matter of debate. An accomplished woman, how she chooses to spend her money on her clothing is her choice and business. Besides, isn't it refreshing to have a first lady who has a sense of style adventure and spirit, who isn't a slave to a single designer, who isn't too uptight to be seen in Target clothing and jean shorts? Isn't that how real people dress? What smart woman doesn't dress high and low, classic and trendy, biker jacket and floral print?
We think Sarah Palin is incredibly attractive, and looks great in a tailored and crisp style that suits her look. Michelle Obama experiments with looks, a seeming reflection of the many moods, roles, and self-images of women today. More power to them both, as they reflect, via their sartorial choices, on the multi-tasking challenge of all modern women.
We won't go so far as to comment on their politics, but we will speculate that the exploding Facebook fan base for our book (release 12/29!) says something to how exhausted women are... about the alienation that comes from feeling unable to achieve, let alone afford, all of the unattainable and unrealistic standards set for them today.
And unlike men, who have less identity multi-tasking pressure than us, our clothes become a reflection of the many roles we play. We can be freed from ourselves by our clothes, but also trapped by them. This is the paradox of fashion -- the paradox of the public eye -- and in this ever-connected world it's impossible for anyone to opt out of the game. Ms. Obama and Ms. Palin represent the many parts all women today play, and calling either of them Barbie seems beyond the point.
Mother, sister, wife, party girl, caretaker, bread winner, Victoria's Secret model, budget maker, housekeeper. Who are you? How does your style relate to your identity? Big questions, but something tells us that today's women are grappling with them in a new way.
It's no wonder that in a country whose governing leaders are mostly men, whose major corporations are by and large led by men, that women are left feeling exhausted and unempowered. We need a voice that understands that we want to be attractive and smart and have careers -- and we want to be heard and represented -- and we want to dress on our own terms, and look amazing, and know it. All without getting fleeced.
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One was a mayor, governor, and Presidential Candidate.
The other rode on her husbands coattails, fist bumps in public(very elegant), and listened to Rev Wright for 20 years.
Why was it OK to excoriate Nancy Reagan for her designer-wear but gush about how chic MO is? And yes, yes, yes I voted for Obama and will do so again - despite his lackluster handling of the economy, health care bill, and foreign affairs. Horyn's much larger point - which the "Bitches" blog seems to miss entirely is that MO's sartorial choices reflect and underscore the image of a WH removed - and indifferent?- to the lives, realities and suffering of ordinary Americans. Yes, a little glam and elegance is important for national pride - but MO's pre-occupation with ultra-designer choices seems vain and self-indulgent. And I agree with Horyn's other point: it is depressing to watch a strong, well-educated, professional woman like MO be reduced to a domesticated Barbie by a WH determined to let her discuss only her garden, her dog, and how much she loves kids. Let's be honest - if the R's were in the WH we would all be mocking this as a caricature of a 1950's sitcom.
Does it seem ridiculous to anyone else that when 10% of this country is unemployed and so many women are trying to keep their kids' clothing in shape for one more year (or their own for one more season) that we are so focused on the most superficial facet of either of these women?
Palin, on the other hand, is a former beauty contestant and clothes horse who has little in the way of brain power to offset her "style".
However, it's been weird reading comments from people who would say she looks fabulous if she wore a ratty old bathrobe. They aren't credible.
But enough about clothes, Michelle will be our first female POTUS, you heard it here first ;-).
At least a few made it.
Joan Osborne
Spider Web
Funny how these things work out.