Clothes Don't Make the Candidate

The latest earth shattering politicial news that hit the airwaves this past week was that Sarah Palin's wardrobe cost nearly $150,000 and was financed by the Republican campaign. While I was shocked that the McCain/Palin PR team decided to spend someone's annual salary on some really cute red suits, I began to wonder why appearance is so important to voters.

While I have seen her wear a couple of fleece sweatshirts in a few photo-ops, I highly doubt that the old Sarah Palin would have been cruising the campaign trail in overalls and plaid shirts. I mean, she probably does have some nice suits in her closet and if it were me (not that it ever would be, but if it were), I would have been able to purchase an entire season of clothes from Ann Taylor, Lord & Taylor and Loehmann's and it would probably cost less than $3000.

Does she really need to be wearing designer suits and shoes as well as travel with her own make-up and hair team? I'm sure as a former beauty queen, she probably can do it herself or she can use those ladies from the Beehive salon in Wasilla and it would cost a fraction of what her peeps are paying now. Sure, since she's a woman she's being scrutinized much more than her male counterparts, but hasn't she read any of those "look great for less" articles that seem to be plastered all over the fashion and entertainment magazines these days?

While she announced that after the campaign she's going to donate her duds to charity, what woman who actually needs an outfit for a job interview is going to wear a freshly pressed Chanel suit that came straight off a Florida tarmac?

At this point in the game, clothes don't necessarily make the candidate but Palin's handlers are doing their best to at least have her dress the part. And trust me, every time I've overheard men talk about Palin, nine times out of 10, they've made remarks about her dazzling good looks and not her mastery of foreign policy.

While Sarah confided this week that she happens to love shopping at consignment shops, it's obvious that her people nixed the gently used business suits for Couture Barbie fashions. So Sarah if you're listening, tell your stylist to start shopping the sale racks. No one likes to be ripped off and at $150,000 - it looks like you've been taken to the cleaners.

For more of my musings about work, life and everything in between, visit me at Role Mommy.