In the wee small hours of this morning, Kellyanne Conway gave an interview to The Hollywood Reporter. While the delicious irony of Conway giving an “exclusive” interview to one of the most industry publications in the oh so evil “Hollywood Elite” is more than obvious, the content is what I found particularly shocking.
Conway’s interview went through the normal warm-ups, from regaling us with stories of her first visit to the high profile and well connected New York City lunch spot Michael’s, to finally giving us the origin story of how she met Mr. Trump himself (she sat on a condo board with her husband and Mr. Trump attended these meetings, leading to the “inevitable” conversations about politics.” While none of this was neither particularly interesting or compelling, one small phrase I found extremely telling.
First some quick history; On the morning of Mr. Trump’s inauguration, Ms. Conway wore a $3,600 Gucci coat to the event, which she said she considered “Trump Revolutionary Wear.” In what has become and will surely continue to be a theme, Ms. Conway had not done her research. The coat is from Gucci. It did cost $3,600. It also is from Gucci’s 2017 resort collection, which was to “give a special tribute to England’s rich costume history.” England.
One of the only bright shining moments from the abomination to the United States of America last Friday was the various memes that went viral spawned from Conway’s choice of garment. From The Nutcracker to Woody Woodpecker, people were relentlessly hilarious.
Now the tipping phrase; in the first paragraph of her interview in The Hollywood Reporter, Ms. Conway said the following; Kellyanne Conway says she’s “sorry to offend the black-stretch-pants women of America with a little color.” Conway is referring, of course, to the $3,600 red, white and blue Gucci military-style coat — meant to signify the Donald Trump revolution — that she wore, accompanied by her husband and four children, to the Jan. 20 inaugural ceremonies.
Now when I think of women who have changed the game of fashion, I I think of Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Von Furstenberg, and Donna Karan. Ms. Conway is nowhere near the list.
Ms. Conway is from Camden, N.J. (hardly a fashion capital) and moved to Atco, N.J. where she lived most of her life. At twenty years old when some fashion plates were being signed to modeling agents or getting their first taste of walking a runway, Ms. Conway was....winning blueberry competitions. At age sixteen, she won the New Jersey Blueberry Princess pageant. She followed up at age twenty when she won the World Champion Blueberry Packing competition.
Her humble berry picking beginnings in the woods of South Jersey certainly did not leave much time for fashion runways, so I find it perplexing as to where Ms. Conway seems to think she has earned the right to make an overly superior remark like offending the “black stretch pants women of America.”
I am going to go out on a wild limb here and assume that a large (ok a substantial) number of the voters that voted for her candidate are quite familiar with stretch pants, black and otherwise. I was proudly raised in New Jersey, and I know many of the women here are familiar with them as well. For her to suddenly forget her humble beginnings and think she is suddenly separate from many of these smart, educated and hard working women, in New Jersey or otherwise, reeks of exactly what she consistently parrots about her candidates’ detractors; she is elite. she is in a bubble. she is not in touch with “real America.”
I suggest that during the next spring harvest, she bring herself to New Jersey, toss on a pair or her old overalls (which I know damn well she had) and pick some blueberries. Spend some time in solitude and remember where you came from Kellyanne. At one time, you were not the talking head for the man you helped snatch the title of “leader of the free world.” You did not say things like “Alternative Facts” on national television and frankly, become a national joke that is lampooned on “Saturday Night Live” weekly (which I for one, could watch on a constant loop; Kate McKinnon is an absolute genius).
Kellyanne Elizabeth Fitzpatrick is a long way from the blueberry patch. She is sitting in the very office that Valerie Jarrett occupied under the sorely missed Obama administration. Ms. Jarrett chaired the White House Council on Women and Girls, as well as the White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic, and Youth Sport. In addition, she co-chaired the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. She did amazing work. She was busy. She did not have time to go on national television almost daily and come across as shall we say, not ready for primetime, nor did she have time to go on “The View” where you have demonstrated that you are clearly unprepared to take on the likes of Whoopi, Sunny, Jedediah, Joy, and Sara (admittedly, they are a tough bunch).
Women of America, of every single continent on the planet for that matter, just marched last week. You don't need me to remind you of this nor explain why; the reasons are crystal clear. I’m sure you watched it. While Kellyanne Conway may look Mr. Trump and smile blithely and nod, like many women have done before you in his presence, I somehow think when Kellyanne Fitzpatrick shuts the door to her office and has a moment of reflection, she harkens back to the blueberry patch. Way before the Gucci coat and the television appearances, something tells me that you don’t necessarily miss that much more simple life. Something tells me, much like I presume your candidate feels, you wonder how this all happened.
That being said; you don’t have to agree with the Women’s march, nor with Mr. Trump’s detractors. You have many more things to handle than insulting people of your own gender with a flippant remark on their choice of casual wear, when not that long ago you were one of those women.
And you never know. When this national nightmare is over, those “black stretch pants women of America” will be a large part of the call in audience that you will need to win Season 35 of “Dancing With the Stars." It may be a good idea not to start off on the wrong foot.
In case this past weekends events did not show you, women are not the ones you want to get on your bad side.
(Photo Credit 1-The Hollywood Reporter)
(Photo 2-Net A Porter, Gucci)
Photos 3, 4 &5-Twitter)