Sarah Palin's $150,000 Wardrobe Malfunction?

Sarah Palin, small-town hockey mom and everywoman? More like Sarah Palin, pampered princess. Jeanne Cummings at Politico reports that the RNC’s monthly financial disclosure reports reveal that the Republican National Committee has spent tens of thousands of dollars on the vice presidential candidate's wardrobe and accessories since she was nominated, including $150,000 in September alone.

So it seems you can take the girl out of the beauty pageant, but you can’t take the beauty pageant out of the girl.

Palin's clothes came from retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Barneys New York, and expenses included nearly $5,000 for hair and makeup. Maybe this is actually her one-woman economic stimulus plan. Lord knows the retail sector needs it.

Still, voters must find it unfathomable for Palin, who has been presented as a woman “like us,” to spend that kind of money on clothes in these difficult financial times, to see her speaking so passionately about Joe the Plumber while plumbing campaign coffers for Valentino jackets and pencil skirts. And yet, they’ve eaten it up, tittering on chat sites about Palin’s Kawasaki eyeglass frames and her Naughty Monkey red peep-toe pumps. (See our earlier take on Gov. Palin's style here.)

Palin’s spokewoman is saying this is much ado about nothing, that we should be talking about more important issues. But can you imagine the outcry if it were revealed that Hilary Clinton’s rainbow of pantsuits was paid for by campaign contributions? Or if college kids’ $50 checks to the Biden/Obama campaign were putting those men in $5,000 custom suits? (Obama’s suits are by Hart Schaffner Marx out of Chicago, and cost in the $1,500 range.)

In Palin’s defense, being a woman in the public eye has its own kind of pressures. And it’s unlikely she has been stepping off the campaign trail to join the ladies who lunch for shopping sprees at Neimans. Instead, she is probably working with a wardrobe stylist, who brings her things to try on and choose from. But the issue of clothing and hair expenses has always been a land mine for politicians (John Edwards' $400 haircuts), and someone should have been sensitive to that.

You also have to wonder how it feels, as a woman, to have everyone know that you really have been dressed up and trotted out like a beauty queen for the American public to wag their tongues at. Caribou Barbie indeed.

-- Booth Moore, Los Angeles Times Fashion Critic

Photo: Republican VP candidate, Gov. Sarah Palin at a campaign rally in Carson, California on October 4, 2008. Michael Robinson Chavez/Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[Scott]

What the heck does this have to do with the issues affecting our country? This is a typical left wing biased media article. Way to get to the serious journalism!
You are a socialist idiot!

[edge]

How much did Obama spend renting Denver Stadium "to make himself look good"?

Or is that racist to ask Obama any questions?
This whole one sided rooting by the media is ridiculous!

edge.

[BILL SHAW]

YOU ARE LIBERAL IDIOTS!!! OBAMA IS OUT SPENT ANYONE IN THE HISTORY OF POLITICS! IDIOTS YOU ARE!!

[Davis]

These types are all the same. You knew it was coming.

[Tom]

Oh come on now! You can't be that short of news in the West and of all places LA. Anyway, this made me laugh and I thank you for that.

You don't want to labelled as 'sexist" so we'll be expecting the next article to be on "The Suit's and Stylists of Barak, John and Joe. We want to know the number, labels, tailor, hair dresser, or wig maker.

[Achshav]

Sarah Palin is turning out to be every Republican's worst nightmare: a welfare queen. But say, that girl do look nice . . .

[SURAJ CORDA]

I FEEL SO BETRAYED I DONATED SOME MONEY TO THE MCCAIN CAMP HE PULLS OUT OF MICHIGAN SAYING LACK OF FUNDS AND BUT ALL THIS MONEY ON THAT DUMB LADY SORRY MCCAIN YOU JUST LOST ANOTHER VOTE I FEEL SO BETRAYED YOU ARE NOT A MAVERICK YOU ARE A WOLF IN THE SHEEPS CLOTHES SORRY BUT I THINK OBAMA DESERVES MY VOTE

[Hank]

Who says journalists don't investigate any more? The newspapers are getting to the bottom of Sarah Palin's clothing costs. No news yet on Barack Obama's dealings with Rezko or Ayers, or how his wife nearly tripled her six figure income at a hospital when became a US Senator and then got earmarks for it. But first things first, I'm sure.

[Denfenster]

The LA Times demeans Sarah, a real shocker. This paper hasn't said a positive word about anything that isn't left wing in years. Credibility is laughable. It should be the Oboma times. Who are they going to insult with a full on lib congress and pres. ?

[rks]

Chalk yourself up as a sexist attacker. Ever look into other politicians spend rate for atire?? Didn't think so..... This is what Obamaites are all about - misdirection from the real issues, no real plans or answers.

[Michael Brennan]

Are you kidding me.. Don't we have other things to talk about. You know that women's clothes cost way more then mens and that every women is judging her for her clothes. Granted they may cost a lot, but how many suits have McCain and Obama gone through over the last two years, and yes $1,500 per suit is not relevant either.. Will somebody please talk about issues like taxes and growth and stop worrying about stupid crap like this.

[someone]

Why the bad rap. Do you want your vice president to look like hillary?

[Andy McLean]

Reminds of of the $2,000 haircuts that Al Gore used to get while on the campaign trail.

Am I the only one that thinks that the tone of this article is, at best, catty and irrelevant and perhaps may even be an inept editorial attempt at petty partisan politics?

[AweStruck]

Is it just me, or is Sarah Palin the embodiment of PEGGY HILL?

[J T]

Sarah calls herself a "Walmart mom". She should've shopped at Walmart, save some $$$ and passed it to her friend, Joe the Plumber.
The mainstream media should be more forceful in unmasking the hypocrasy of the republicans.

[Karen Riley]

There must not be anything important happening in the U.S. for this story to be considered real news. This would never pass the Ida Tarbell test for serious journalism.

[Steve]

I can't imagine getting all dolled up like that just to sling mud.

Don't get any on you.

[Christopher Tracy]

Seems to me this is just proof that the GOP knows how to treat a woman better then the Democrats do.

[KMason]

If I were trying to get a job of that magnitude, I'd spend that much on my wardrobe!

[notworthreading]

And where do obama and biden shop. both sides or else its not worth reading....

[JRG]

Indeed. How can any small contributor to their campaign reconcile the fact their money is being wasted on such extravagance? I can't wait until 5 Nov, when this baloney is over and Obama takes charge. Palin will be nothing but a memory.....

[notworthreading]

And where do obama and biden shop. both sides or else its not worth reading....

[dumbak]

Only happens in America, GOD bless America.

[Am]

No kidding! She definitely does not represent ME -- not her views, values, ideals, or wardrobe!

[John Mills]

Why is it even a story that a political party whose members took the lead in giving $700 billion of taxpayer's money to hedge fund adminstrators and bankers might be spending $150K a month on Sarah Palin's wardrobe?