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

[jules59]

Hmm, $150K for make up and clothes at Neimans and Saks; all expenses paid trips to NYC with prego teen daughter compliments of the "good people of Alaska- the real Americans"; a top of the line English "pram" for new baby; daily half caf/ vente/slim/iced/vanilla/lattes from Starbuck's; time in the day to train for a marathon... That's it, I'm quitting my job and becoming a "Hockey Mom".

[cal]

More like dressing up the prize porker for the county fair that a potential beauty queen. The woman is 40++ years old and has had more kids than any sane person would want. Since when has being passably well preserved and the ability to kill wolf pups been sufficient qualifications to be a potential president. Given some of the comments she's made can she really be trusted with the red phone

[ashamed]

I can not believe that our money is going to pay for her wardrobe!!!

My 3 children need me to put food on the table every day, and Sarah has spent more on a single dress than I make in four years?

This is an eye opener.

It was nice to think that a woman was finally going to stand for people like me and my family, but clearly I was very very wrong.

[Joe the Webguy]

Amazing all the people who seem to be completely missing the point which the author actually spelled out... if this were Obama or Clinton it would be blown even further out of proportion. I don't know how many Democrats would be upset about their campaign contributions being used like this but i can assure you all my Republican newsletters would be stuffed full of outrage even if it wasn't their money.

Yeah, i'm a registered Republican, i just know hypocrites when i see them. This party isn't Republican.

Anyway all this effort and financial investment just goes to prove the old adage "you can dress them up, but". And the article doesn't mention lipstick expenses... i wonder if they just picked up a pit bull at the pound?

[sara]

I as a democrat do not condone this story however Palin must be cautious and stop portraying as a wal-mart mom. RNC has the money to spend it on her, nothing wrong with it but they are foolish to do it and then go around defending Joe the plumber as if RNC is all for middle class when they are not.

[nolipstickrequired]

Oh and Scott, this has about as much to do with the issue we face as a country as the "issues" Sarah Palin is talking about.

[Grumpy]

I feel like banging my head against a wall when I read this stuff. I can't afford my mortgage needless to say new clothes for my children.

I kinda understand obtaining necessary clothes but can anybody here attempt to explain the price tag as in-line with any of her message?

I'm due to have my home repossessed and I find out about this?!?!

Oh, and by the way... to all the people responding with less than a civil attitude... I hope you learn some manners some day.

[Nelson]

Ah, the pleasures of the rich, government employees, candidates spending their conributions and "dependents" of candidates spending their contributions.

Now I would like to hear more about the Lobster that Michaell had for a snack that cost $436.00

[shmohog]

It seems the devil really does ware Prada

89 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes

[Cameron Hinkle]

I don't understand how news is deemed newsworthy in this country. Obama announces his Socialist tendancies by saying he's going to "Spread the wealth around", Barney Frank says on national television that we need an across the board spending increase, and Joe Biden assures us that we will be attacked by terrorists if Obama is elected...and what's on the front page of Google News? SARAH PALIN'S WARDROBE BUDGET???

[Zack]

This is almost as stupid as the Republican talking points. Say she's a terrorist because of her clothes, then you'd sink to the Republican level.

[Matt]

I'm a republican. I must say there have been some blunders in this campaign. However, they haven't been in relation to the candidates attire. The blunders I speak of have more to do with the shortfall on behalf of the McCain ticket to uncover and expose the connections between Obama and the economic mess we are in. From Acorn to Barney Frank to Democratic pressure on banks to lend money to low income risky first time home buyers at below market sub prime rates...come on America, are we really this stupid that we are focused on Palin's wardrobe and not the billions of dollars that have been lost because of socialist policies that lead to big government putting pressure on the banking system to lend risky loans or they won't be insured? Talk about the last 8 years, it hasn't been all Bush ya know!!! How's that "share the wealth" thing working so far????

[RW]

In our great grandkid's history books this will be referred to as the "SHOPPING SPREE TO NOWHERE".

I'm curious if Cindy McCain was out slumming with Sarah Palin buying clothes righ off of the rackor did she decide to do this on her own? What I want to know is who's credit card did they put these charges on? That person should explain why they allowed these outrageous.

Even though Sarah Palin has been seeking the second highest job in the federal government she frequently uses the term "Feds" in a disparaging way. I wonder what she will think of the "Feds" when they come to get the taxes for this $150,000 of income she owes the IRS. With penalties and interest she may have to change her politics and have Willie Nelson do a benefit for her.

[ThirdEye]

Bet she can't wait to get her hands on that BIG check book in the White House.

[sherri]

to the idiots regarding Obama's spending: IT CAME FROM GRASSROOT FUNDRAISING, AT AN AVERAGE OF $89 PER PERSON...WHICH DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REPORTED TO ANYONE.

The neocons, like you, my friend, can't stand the idea that he did it this way....think of it like Jesus....grassroots work is what made Christianity....

THE MONEY CAME FROM SUPPORTERS, NOT FROM TAXING PEOPLE

[Dave the Computer Guy]

This is another blunt example of how these republican aristocrats are way out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Americans.

I can't believe they had the nerve to ask me to donate money for their campaign. They said they were in dire need of money to win their campaign.

This is how they spend their money? On shopping sprees for a woman that has plenty of money to buy here own clothes. Perhaps Britney Spears and her can go shopping together sometime soon.

She better enjoy it while it lasts, because her legacy will be nothing but "the VP candidate that helped McCain lose the election". You can kiss her political career goodbye!

[David]

Don't you just love the pin-headed, right-wingnuts who do not bother to read the article before they bend over and dispense their excrement in these posts? In one breath they denounce it as "sexist" or "worthless." And in the next, they demand "fairness," and insist on knowing how much Obama spends on suits.

Learn to read, you illiterate morons. From the above article: "Obama’s suits are by Hart Schaffner Marx out of Chicago, and cost in the $1,500 range."

[gunrunner]

Amazing the left continues to call Sarah Palin,a moron,stupid,trailer trash,etc.the media has been all over Palin since day one ,while never reporting all the dumb things Biden says.No one has ever asked Nobama/Biden a serious question,its always democrats interviewing democrats. Too bad the media didn't look at Nobama as hard as they looked at Joe the Plummer.The tolerate left can"t tolerate anyone who doesn't think the way they do.Any one critical of Nobama is obviously a stupid racist.Palin is not stupid you just don't like her cause she's not a liberal.She's a governor with an 80% approval rating,no democrat can match that,also she has more experience than Nobama like it or not.Nobama may win,but he'll be gone in 4 years along with Pelosi and Reid.Wanna see real stupid people check those two out.

[R Cailteux]

You liberal biased journalists are so jealous of her. It sounds like you are the fat ugly girls in high school picking on the smart pretty one.
If she would have worn the same two suits every other day, you would have made comments on that too!!

Quit picking on her.

[Patrick in San Francisco]

Anyone here old enough to remember when Bill Clinton was chastised for getting a $300 haircut while sitting on the tarmac? Well, he took a lot of flack for it, so why shouldn't Sara Palin get the same flack?

Hockey mom my butt !

[John Q]

What if the GOP invested that $150,000 into getting her an education? OR would she require another 6 years and 5 schools to do that...

[Jack B]

I just got this crazy idea. Donate today to dress your favorite Politician(s) in designer clothes! All proceeds will be "donated" to people who make more than the average American, so they may buy $10,000 hand bags, $5,000 dresses, $7,000 suits and we'll even buy their families designer clothes as well! Who cares if average Americans are struggling, who cares if the middle class is almost non-existant, who cares that we're on the verge of a second depression! At least our politicians will look good! Obama, how dare you spend campaign funds on actual campaigning! You should be buying designer clothes!

[realist]

You guys are watching pennys while millions are being spent to sway your opinions. You are missing the big picture.

Hillary Clinton spent more than $77 million on her campaign in 2007

Obama has spent more overall, disbursing $83.4 million last year.

Barack Obama is outspending John McCain at nearly a three-to-one clip on television time in the final weeks of the presidential election, according to ad buy information obtained by The Fix, a financial edge that is almost certainly contributing to the momentum for the Illinois senator in key battleground states.

From Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, Obama spent more than $20 million on television ads in 17 states including more than $3 million in Pennsylvania and more than $2 million each in Florida, Michigan and Ohio.

McCain in that same time frame spent just $7.2 million in 15 states. Even when the Republican National Committee's independent expenditure spending in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin is factored in (a total of $5.3 million), Obama still outspent the combined GOP forces by roughly $8 million in the last week alone.

[midas]

you can put $150,000 in clothes on a pig ...but shes still a pig. onthing im sure of , next year she wil be on dancing with the stars

[toomanypapers]

Sarah Pallin is a loser.

Barack Obama is not using the Democrats money to campaign. He is well able to raise what he needs.

Typical Republicans! Take from the poor and middle class to give to themselves.

[Maria]

The 150k spent for the Palin family’s clothing & Sarah’s make-up and hair would pay for: 150 of those rape kits she used force the victims buy if they wanted to proceed with prosecution; save 1500 wolves and bears that may be shot from the air for the $150 bounty paid for their left front forelegs - in order to save the ungulates for trophy hunters (that was her personal agenda); 136 years of children's’ lives through the WHO Save the
Children Foundation; or save 2000 pit bulls from euthanasia.

I’d hate to think my donation for the campaign went to buy her family clothes.

Auction the clothes on eBay & donate the money to the Sierra Club!

[Marlene]

Sure yeah, she should walk the talk, but it's not that big of a deal, really, i guess. I don't like her all that much but it doesn't really bother me and i'm almost 100 percent sure i'm voting for obama. I mean, who doesn't like nice clothes and makeup and if they're giving it to you why not? It's the RNC that decided to do this, i'm sure.

[P Jackson]

I'm delighted that Palin spent all this money in Minneapolis, my home town! Unfortunately, there are Federal rules about such expenditures. So you don't have to be a Socialist to disapprove, contrary to earlier rants.

[Stephanie Jobs]

For sure Mrs. Obama's wardrobe did not cost less and she didn't pay herself for it. No problem with that?!

[LMills259]

Now after pointing out Palin's hypocrisy, let me defend her on one thing. She's NOT SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS. She's spending Republican donations. So she's not hurting Democrats that way, just her own party.

[Kent]

OK, this is funny. Not the original story (what do you expect from a fashion blog?) - but the reactions.

One thing is abundantly clear: the GOP faithful don't even know what a socialist IS. How are these jackasses supposed to protect us from anything if they are so ignorant of the world around them?

I guess that's why Obama is mopping the floor with their pathetic butts.

[Wynn]

$150,000. That’s 150 $1,000 dollar outfits. She’s barely been on the campaign 60 days. It may be republican money, but I still find it excessive.

[Tom]

And where do obama and biden shop. both sides or else its not worth reading.... Hey Moron, Did you read the whole article?. Clearly told you where Obama shops. Better change your signature to Too Dumb to Read

[carl]

It's amazing to see how the left wing is so scared that they have to make a issue about this and about Joe the Plumber not really being a plumber.
They must be terrified.
They must suspect that Obama is not going to win.
Otherwise they would just sit back an gloat about their candidate's "10" point lead in the polls and not bother with this.

[Wynn]

$150,000. That’s 150 $1,000 dollar outfits. She’s barely been on the campaign 60 days. It may be republican money, but I still find it excessive.

[Jon]

Wow, you media people are really working hard to earn your money now. Obama has spent more money than anyone in history for his campaign and I am sure that it INCLUDES buying his wife's wardrobe to appear with him. Quit being so one sided, I am sick of it.

[Canada]

"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."

Yes!! And the sick part is that she'll probably blame the 'liberal media'.

[Jamesco]

Purchase doesn't bother me. Incongruity and hypocricy does. Talking like thie Average Jane with clothes from Nieman Marcus. Does Average Jane and Average Joe's wife shop at Nieman Marcus, particularly in the present situation?

[eddie]

lol, women do need bigger wardrobes than men, but 150k worth a month? give me a break, Paris Hilton doesn't own a government credit card (tax-payer version) so she panders to her daddys wallet instead, big difference! as far as not being newsworthy, this reminds me of Faux News complaining about the newsweek cover with Palin's un-retouched face, shows why the GOP was mad and called newsweek biased, especially if they're pouring 150k a month of the tax-payers money, they better see some photoshop done to her face!

[Football Wife]

Where is the News on Michelle Obama ordering IRANIAN Caviar, lobster, and champaign while staying at the Waldorf Astoria last week? Don't throw stones when you spend the night in Glass Astor'a's Lefties!

[outside impartial observer]

You are all demostrating just how ridiculous the American public has become. You haver taken a Presidential race, which once -- a long long time ago, prior to the television era -- was about proper politics and proper platforms has now degenerated it to a true and honest beauty pagent (on all sides). Over the course of the last number of weeks there has been very little talk about real matters, just back and forth barbs at each other's spending habits or friends, superficial and very wrong analysis of opponents perferated platforms that it reminds me of a seventh grade class preseident election -- one in which tommy out plays betty because tommy has more friends on the football team than betty has in the glee club. Every single candidate since before I was born has spent far too much on their tours of the country. The more recent candidates have been dwarfing the expenditures of their predecessors and no body seems to care any further than mentioning it and accepting it.
Does any PUBLIC SERVANT need to spend more than $100 for an outfit when they actually have a plaform to stand on? It is obviously clear that without a solid platform each and every candidate has tried to appeal to the lowest common denominator and has prettied themselves up for each and every television spot, regardless of political offiliation.
The problem is not with the public servants, but with the public itself. An ugly unkept candidate would get devestated in the American society that values superficial perfection over anything else. This attitude has proliferated throughout the whole of the nation that it has become virtually invisible to the citizens within the society.
You all ask and question the value of this article and the journalistic validity of it, but haven't stepped back to ask yourselves the deeper and harder question. Why are we all so facinated with having Ken and Barbie up on stage. Why does it matter so much to so many people that it has become common place to talk about best dressed lists, envy the entertainers, aspire to become part of the problem.
The candidates overspend because the people will not accept anyone who hasn't spent more than they're worth or have earned.
Instead of bashing the left wing liberals for bringing this point up (because we all know that given the oppertunity the right wing conservatives would not hesitate to do the exact same thing) we should as why do we care in the first place. If we are stupid enough to fund these candidates with hundreds of millions of dollars (without expecting anything in return -- a practical unlikelihood, but thats a different topic altogether) then would should except that they're going to spend the money, and it's is very difficult to spend all of that money buying cloths at WalMart, and getting hair cuts at SuperCuts and getting makeup done at the your cousin's house. The money was donated, so let them spend it as they want. It's not their fault that so many people game them the money. For those that donated to a just cause your should not have been surprised, and if you are then you've been living in wonderland for too long, and for those that donated to the beauty pagent then your wishes have been sufficiently fulfilled.

[Jerry Springer]

This whole race to the White House seems just like a Jerry Springer show, yet worse. Negligent, moose killing mothers and the frail old men that support them.

[barracolate]

Incredible how the Republican ticket claims that "They're just like us"
If that's so, then maybe McCain/Palin can shop at Walmart like the rest of us.
I'll be glad when the election is over, the Republican ticket is a joke. Palin doesnt even know what the role of a VP is. She actually thinks that the VP is "in charge" of the Senate!?

[scott]

What the hell kind of story is this? Is the LA Times is stuck in Jr. High spewing venom about their ex-best friend's wardrobe?

[Todd]

So here is why this is actually important:

What Hockey Mom, Plumber Mom, Walmart Mom, etc etc etc has ever concieved of spending this much on clothes?

ELITE people do this. Remember, the Republicans are not the elite (when did that actually happen ?)

Sarah Palin is fraud.

[Dennis Mendiola]

c'mon. give the lady a break. what does this have to do with anything? this is the GOP's decision. (besides how can we take this piece of journalism as gospel truth?) if we want to go down this road, then sure, let us take a look at what everybody else is spending. take sen hillary clinton: how much did she spend on those extravagant accommodations at the belagio hotel (las vegas) during the primaries? how much does obama spend of those millions of "$20" donations on fixing up his stadium rallies? same deal, right? everybody has to look the part. look at palin's record in alaska. from what i have been reading and hearing, she epitomizes frugality. let us look into the real issues: what these guys stand for and our gauge of their capabilities to execute their plans.

[Bean]

You guys do realize this is written by the Editor of the FASHION SECTION of the paper... right?

It's kind of their JOB to write about things relating to fashion.

Just an observation.

Imagine, the audacity of the FASHION EDITOR writing about somebody's WARDROBE!

*shakes head*

Damn kids...

[Jerry Springer]

This whole race to the White House seems just like a Jerry Springer show, yet worse. Negligent, moose killing mothers and the frail old men that support them.

[Michele in Maine]

Her biographer must be smiling. Looks like it's going to be a thick, trashy book.

[Doyle005]

Need I remind all the repugs on here of how your party jumped all over Edwards and his $400 hair cuts? Hmm, guess when the tables get turned, it is not news. Keep telling yourself that Palin was a good choice. And also let me know how it feels being a second class party for the next few years.