Julie Barrett is a freelance writer and photographer based in Plano, TX.

I Wish I Had That Kind of Money for Clothes...

Fresh when it gets here from Julie Barrett
Thursday, October 23, 2008


If I did, the bills would all be paid and the kid would be sailing through a very expensive college, because fancy clothes are not a high priority for me.

That's why I'm scratching my head over the GOP's decision to spend $150,000 to dress Sarah Palin and her family. $75,000 at Neiman Marcus? Most people don't make that in a year. This, IMO, is not the way to reinforce her image of a middle class, hard-working woman.

Sure, the party claims that clothing will go to charity in the end, but this still sends the wrong message.

Most of the pictures I've seen from her days before she ended up on the GOP ticket show her dressed like the rest of us. Yes, she's a bit dumpy looking in some of the pictures, but when do most middle class women lugging around four or five kids have the time or energy to shop at the best stores? And this isn't a knock against her or her state when I say that dressing in layers is probably the norm where she lives.

If she wants to put out the message that she's one of us, she should tell her handlers to buy her clothing where the rest of us shop. I dunno. Kohl's or Target may not send the right message to the big donors, but it might send a message to those of us who scour the sales and bargain racks to make our clothing dollars stretch. Heck, Macy's would have been better than NM. There's a difference between looking good on a budget and spending ginormous amounts of money on designer clothes.

Of course, there will be a faction of the party that's mightly offended by THAT idea, so she's probably screwed either way.

I'm not a fan of Palin, but I think she could have taken the reigns on this one and turned it to her advantage.

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Filed under: Politics            

  8  Comments
 

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lisa said:
And yet, no one is commenting on Obama or John McCain's clothes. Are they wearing expensive shoes? Who made their suits and how much did they cost? Is that a designer tie? I am sure Michele Obama is being fronted some cash to look glam, but that is OK so it seems. You are right though, Julie. If she shopped at Kohl's, they would do a whole magazine on how fashionable and fab Michele is and how dowdy and dumpy Sarah is. She just can't get a break. Can you tell I am just a bit touchy about this? :)
Date: 10/24/2008 7:35:13 AM Date: 10/24/2008 7:35:13 AM

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Julie said:
I saw something yesterday afternoon on McCain's expensive shoes. I'll bet the RNC didn't pay for them, though. Michelle Obama can afford the clothes, but I wouldn't be surprised if she has a consultant. I saw a story on TV this morning about a $150 dress she wore on The View.

I really don't disagree with the makeover. It's kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't. But it bugs the heck out of me to hear any politician say about how they're in touch with the middle class while one article of clothing they're wearing costs more than everything I have on. A few years ago I went to the local Republican HQ because I wanted to hear a guy who was running against our poster boy for term limits. I thought I dressed nice, though I wore slacks. (I think I have one dress to my name.) Some of the women there were probably wearing stockings that cost more than what I was wearing. The shoes were certainly of the $2-300 variety. They kept staring at me like I was some poor person in need of assistance.

Funny thing is, the Republicans moved out to the rich side of town and now the Dems have their county HQ there. I haven't walked in, but I have this feeling I'd get a different reception. Of course, they're the party out of power here, and that makes a difference.
Date: 10/24/2008 8:17:44 AM Date: 10/24/2008 8:17:44 AM

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lisa said:
Well, I don't disagree with the point you are making. I guess I am just frustrated that the media has made this a point at all. Not that this is new or anything. They even had a news segment on Hillary and is she wearing too many pantsuits! I do agree with you that is hard to listen to them talk about how they are the "average Joe", while wearing your mortgage payment on their feet. Either way it goes, I will be sooo glad when the election is over!
Date: 10/24/2008 9:10:46 AM Date: 10/24/2008 9:10:46 AM

Gravatar
Julie said:
Yeah, a woman decides to dress for comfort and it's a terrible thing. And I agree, November 5 cannot come too soon!
Date: 10/24/2008 9:50:50 AM Date: 10/24/2008 9:50:50 AM

Gravatar
lisa said:
And yet, no one is commenting on Obama or John McCain's clothes. Are they wearing expensive shoes? Who made their suits and how much did they cost? Is that a designer tie? I am sure Michele Obama is being fronted some cash to look glam, but that is OK so it seems. You are right though, Julie. If she shopped at Kohl's, they would do a whole magazine on how fashionable and fab Michele is and how dowdy and dumpy Sarah is. She just can't get a break. Can you tell I am just a bit touchy about this? :)
Date: 10/24/2008 7:35:13 AM Date: 10/24/2008 7:35:13 AM

Gravatar
Julie said:
I saw something yesterday afternoon on McCain's expensive shoes. I'll bet the RNC didn't pay for them, though. Michelle Obama can afford the clothes, but I wouldn't be surprised if she has a consultant. I saw a story on TV this morning about a $150 dress she wore on The View.

I really don't disagree with the makeover. It's kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't. But it bugs the heck out of me to hear any politician say about how they're in touch with the middle class while one article of clothing they're wearing costs more than everything I have on. A few years ago I went to the local Republican HQ because I wanted to hear a guy who was running against our poster boy for term limits. I thought I dressed nice, though I wore slacks. (I think I have one dress to my name.) Some of the women there were probably wearing stockings that cost more than what I was wearing. The shoes were certainly of the $2-300 variety. They kept staring at me like I was some poor person in need of assistance.

Funny thing is, the Republicans moved out to the rich side of town and now the Dems have their county HQ there. I haven't walked in, but I have this feeling I'd get a different reception. Of course, they're the party out of power here, and that makes a difference.
Date: 10/24/2008 8:17:44 AM Date: 10/24/2008 8:17:44 AM

Gravatar
lisa said:
Well, I don't disagree with the point you are making. I guess I am just frustrated that the media has made this a point at all. Not that this is new or anything. They even had a news segment on Hillary and is she wearing too many pantsuits! I do agree with you that is hard to listen to them talk about how they are the "average Joe", while wearing your mortgage payment on their feet. Either way it goes, I will be sooo glad when the election is over!
Date: 10/24/2008 9:10:46 AM Date: 10/24/2008 9:10:46 AM

Gravatar
Julie said:
Yeah, a woman decides to dress for comfort and it's a terrible thing. And I agree, November 5 cannot come too soon!
Date: 10/24/2008 9:50:50 AM Date: 10/24/2008 9:50:50 AM





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