All eyes are on Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska and the surprise Republican vice presidential nominee in the 2008 race for the White House. Like all newcomers to the political spotlight, the media has publicized her personal life, her policies and even her looks and sense of style.
“Coldest State, Hottest Governor”
There is little to report on political couture, aside from stylish first ladies and Hillary Clinton’s trademark pantsuits. With Palin as a recent news headliner, style reporters have dug up her pageant history and have commented on her feminine, no-nonsense fashion sense.
However, the beauty queen turned hockey mom is no stranger to the media. Palin held the title of Miss Wasilla in 1984. She finished second runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant where she won the Miss Congeniality award. She was also featured in Vogue in 2007 and was the cover girl of Alaska Magazine bearing the headline, ‘Coldest State, Hottest Governor.’
Her good looks and conservative, yet feminine, sense of style has caught the attention of America, sparking trends among female supporters.
Sarah Palin Style Trends
Palin’s rimless glasses, high heels and secretarial-like hairstyle are being emulated across the country. According to TheWallStreetJournal.com, Palin’s eye glasses, made by Kazuo Kawasaki, were on back order with Italle Optics, Inc. after John McCain introduced her to America as his running mate. Orders for the $375 frames increased after September 3 when Palin addressed the Republican National Convention and accepted her bid for vice presidential nominee.
Style networks also praised her clothing choices the night of her acceptance speech. Palin wore a black pencil skirt which showed off her slim figure, still giving her professional poise. She paired it with a silver cropped three-quarter sleeve suit jacket that gave off a hint of shimmer. She let her hair down for the occasion, wore simple jewelry and high-heel peep-to pumps. Her trendy shoe preference has been well received among supporters.
Palin has been photographed wearing heels made by Naughty Monkey. According to WSJ.com, the Naughty Monkey line designs shoes for women in their 20s who are into the party and clubbing scene and are a favorite of Paris Hilton. And while women in their 40s are not a targeted clientele for Naughty Monkey, when paired with a pencil skirt and suit jacket they add a splash a color to business attire.
According to an article on WSJ.com titled Palin’s Style Sparks Buying Frenzy, And Fashion Firms Rush to Cash In by Ellen Byron, Jennifer Saranow and Rachel Dodes, Amazon.com Inc.’s shoe unit noticed definite spikes in sales after Palin wore the shoes. The style has already been sold out in four sizes and other companies have reported similar trends in sales.
Her hairstyle, although deemed old fashioned, is becoming the new 'do.' Wigsalon.com issued a press release advertising Palin-style wigs along with how-to tips on achieving the hairdo. With Halloween around the corner, Wigsalon.com has reported successful sales. While her secretarial/librarian look may seem a bit out-of-date, Palin is not likely to undergo a makeover.
“A complete head-to-toe makeover might make her look more acceptable for the fashion magazines,” said Tom Julian, trend forecaster and official fashion voice for Oscar.com in an article titled Sarah Palin: Politics of Fashion by Elizabeth Snead. “But it would also cause voters to doubt her authentic loner image.”
Although fashion trends may seem minuscule and superficial compared to the real problems that our country faces, it makes for fun and entertaining reporting. And with Palin in the running as the next potential Vice President of the United States, there is sure to be more fashion coverage to come.
