Breaking Barack Obama fashion news from Italy!
This is very exciting news to start off the first workweek of summer.
The other day, you may remember, we had a great kerfluffle over Michelle Obama's revelation on national television that while she does buy and wear some high-priced duds like another presidential candidate's wife, she just happened to be wearing at that very moment a dress that cost $148.
This was apparently huge news to half the country and could well somehow decide whose husband becomes president of the United States.
Under Michelle's husband's tax proposals, that $148 could turn out to become more like $174. So to beat the crush, thousands of women who would never be caught dead in the same dress as another woman were reported to rush out and buy up the entire existing national stock of that dress so they could wear the same dress as another woman. Yeah, well, go figure.
Now, thanks to the Canadian Press, we have just this morning received urgent news from overseas that Italian fashion goddess Donatella Versace has dedicated her entire 2009 spring-summer collection ...
... to none other than Barack Obama. First, he gets Jane Fonda's endorsement. Then, Scarlett Johansson's. Then, he gets his own official almost-president Great Seal. Now, Donatella.
We're not making this up and, yes, it's still 2008 in these 57 states.
Donatella, who may not be immune to the temptations of publicity associated with an American presidential race, described her new men's line as for "a relaxed man who doesn't need to flex muscles to show he has power.”
But that's not all. She had some advice for American candidates on the campaign trail, saying she would ditch all ties and "jazz up the shirt." The Ticket remains uncommitted on jazzed-up shirts. But we're good with the no-tie look. And we'll watch men's stores today for no runs on no ties.
About DV's show, the CP also reported:
"Shirts under jackets were either super easy with rolled-up sleeves or replaced by a silk T-shirt. The new Versace suit has a structured jacket softened by a double lapel or no lapel at all and slim trousers with slick techno-fabric sheen.
"Crazy zigzags break up the monotony of pinstripes and checks, while the pastel palette gives the collection a warm summer feel."
We've actually been saying the exact same thing for years now. Except the pastel part.
-- Andrew Malcolm
Photo credit: Associated Press
Andrew Malcolm's immigrant parents repeatedly stressed the importance of active participation in a democracy. Early lessons included learning the alphabetical list of states by watching televised roll calls of national political conventions. That childhood exposure led to a lifelong fascination with politics, including 40-plus years of covering them and a brief stint practicing them as press secretary to Laura Bush in 1999-2000. A veteran foreign and national correspondent, Malcolm served on the Times Editorial Board and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2004. He is the author of 10 nonfiction books and father of four.
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the 
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Posted by: attaturk | June 23, 2008 at 05:41 AM
A Norwegian colleague would not have an audience with Queen Elizabeth II unless he could appear without a tie. This was in 1979. When I asked him about it, he replied, "Ties are for hanging a man." It was mandated by European royalty. The Queen agreed to the exception.
Carol
Posted by: Carol | June 23, 2008 at 06:22 AM
Mr. Malcolm,
You might be deluded to believe only intellectuals can be cynical. Read your own article again! There is nothing intellectual in it. Your cynicism is just sickening and proves you have absolutely no idea about what this election is about. You'd be better stop writing and be a patriot.
Posted by: Mia | June 23, 2008 at 07:48 AM
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Obamas and their candidacy is pure fashion- all style and no substance. Donatello just made it official.
Posted by: kat | June 23, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Jeez. Don't mean to sound like a reverse-snob, but my WEDDING dress didn't even cost $148. Is the Target Michelle shops at near the Whole Foods where they get their worrisome price-spiking arugula? The Hyde Park Target that has Jimmy Choo along with Mizrahi? Don't get me wrong, I too would love to have a pair of Jimmy Choo's in which to park my un-panty-hosed tootsies. But I just know it ain't EVER gonna happen and I don't even live in Zanesville, Ohio. I guess there really are "Two Americas": the Obamas just happen to live in the one I don't even recognize. And I don't want to live in the new, improved America Mr. Obama wants to tax us into, either.
Posted by: Karen | June 23, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Wuss couture?
Posted by: c'est moi | June 23, 2008 at 03:41 PM
What the hell is this. Is this supposed to make Obama look bad. Get a life.
Posted by: HemiHead | June 25, 2008 at 06:25 AM
Have you seen "the latest in political fashion chic" according to World News Australia? Obama Pajamas...They're called Ojamas! http://www.oajamas.us.
Posted by: Ronaldinho | September 12, 2008 at 06:02 AM
Woops, I typo'd the url in my prior comment. Here's the correct one:
"Have you seen "the latest in political fashion chic" according to World News Australia? Obama Pajamas...They're called Ojamas!"
http://www.ojamas.us.
Posted by: Ronaldinho | September 18, 2008 at 08:41 AM