Kathleen Parker: The Obama Family Trendsetters

[Phx_Dem]

I'm so excited about the inauguration and our new First Family that I've resorted to posting trivial gossip about them. :7

And dare I say, Kathleen Parker is becoming likeable.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-01-14/how-sasha-obama-triggered-a-hot-washington-fad/1/

From Michelle’s sleeveless shift dresses to Sasha’s Uglydoll, the new first family is inadvertently generating new trends every time someone takes a photograph.

The newest item in Obamaware is a dinky stuffed thingy: an Uglydoll plush-toy keychain and, apparently, a favorite of one Sasha Obama. The Paper Source in Georgetown—homeland of the benighted cocktail set—is selling a basketful of the creatures on the checkout counter with this pitch: “As seen on Sasha Obama’s backpack.”

Sasha’s doll, called Babo’s Bird, looks like, well, a Babo’s Bird, whatever that is. It was photographed on her backpack as she trekked to her first day of school. Hers is bluish, though they come in other flavors and styles. Not wanting to seem like a shameless Sasha wannabe, I selected a green, horned Icebat, which now dangles impertinently from the zipper of my purse. Price: Just $6.60.

Not since Jackie O. made pearls and pillbox hats de rigueur has a First Lady had the contagious style of Michelle Obama. After 16 years of pantsuits that screamed Mao, she’s brought back the sleeveless shift dress with the kind of arms that whisper, “Psssst, personal trainer.” Thanks to Michelle’s nod toward “recessionista chic,” the economically aware woman—is there any other kind?—will be redisovering classics rather than chasing fashion.

It started last October when Michelle wore a bright yellow J. Crew skirt, sweater and blouse ensemble on The Tonight Show. The pleasantly surprised company immediately began advertising Michelle Obama’s Look. An online ad boasted, “All politics aside... this outfit gets our vote,” and urged customers to buy now before it sold out. The Pembridge-dot pencil skirt ($148), Italian Deco tank ($99.99), and crystal-button colorblock cardigan ($89.99) were snapped up in no time as traffic to the J. Crew site increased 464 percent. I confess, I coveted that skirt—sold out before I got mine—but all politics aside?

<SNIP>

Did I hear someone say Obama fatigue?” I dropped the Obama advent calendar I had been examining and rushed gleefully toward the three clerks behind the counter. Despite my attraction to a certain pencil skirt and my purchase of a child’s keychain, my inner cynic had begun to stir.

Crrrrrrrrr-ickets. By their stunned expressions, I inferred that I had accidentally said, “I hate puppies.”

“Oh, no,” said one of the young women to whiplashing nods of assent. “Not at all! No one said that!”

Sorry! Gosh, how weird was that? I thought I heard someone…oh, never mind. Well, phew! Say, do you think two Uglydolls would be, you know, over the top?” ROLF.

[MADem]

1. "After 16 years of pantsuits that screamed Mao....."

Gee, why is it so hard for some writers to only be able to say something nice about someone by denigrating someone else? That's just crappy, mean writing. IMO.

Both Hillary AND Laura started out in dresses. They realized, real quickly, that in this media age, it was way too easy to "flash" someone inadvertently in a dress, and that more than a few photographers were looking for "that" shot.

Which is why they both switched to trousers. We'll see how Mrs. Obama manages this. She'll never be able to sit down on a stage if she stays in dresses of the length she currently favors.

Then again, when times are tough, hemlines go down--keeps people warmer in the winter.

All hail the return of the maxidress? And the accompanying gruesome escalator accidents? It stuttered and fell last season, perhaps this year it will take off?



http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/2007/05/brave_new_world_3.html

[Phx_Dem]

5. I don't think she was being mean to Hillary or Laura.

She was criticizing their pant suits without mentioning names. I don't think that's mean, I think it's true. Sadly, both Hillary and Laura's pants suits are more-often-than-not hideous. Both those women look good in pants, but it's the pants suits they choose that are ugly. Everything matches -- like something Carol Brady would have worn in the 70s.

I will say though, even though I think nearly all of Hillary's pants suits are ugly, they usually look expensive. I can't say the same for Laura's. They're ugly and ill-fitting with no redeeming value.

Pants with blouses and jackets are much better than "pant suits," IMO.

This is not a personal critique of Hillary or Laura, just the actual pant suits.

[MADem]

11. Calling them MAO? Come on. That was "anti-fashion" back in the early seventies.

If you wanted to make fun of someone's style, you either dragged out the "House of Mao" snark or made some cheap USSR fashion reference.

Michelle Obama is what, fifteen or twenty years younger than those two ladies, too. She'd better have those "workout arms" or whatever the writer called them.

It was a cheap shot. It's possible to insult someone without naming names, and this writer did that. Who else was she talking about? Some other First Ladies in a parallel universe?

It doesn't say much for her skills as a writer, and it was really mean to Michelle Obama to praise her in that fashion. Why not praise the incoming FL on her own considerable merits, without saying "OH, MY, she has nicer ARMS and she's going to be SO much better than those two bags-in-pantsuits that preceded her!!"

I feel sorry for First Ladies. They don't get paid, they're forced to do all kinds of crap, and they take shit from everyone--including women, like this writer, who should know better. If people aren't insulting every single feature, from their hair to their shoes to their makeup to their height, weight and bone structure, they're criticizing the way they talk or move or explain themselves. I don't go for that kind of stuff.

Once they're elected to public office, that's a different story, but even at that, the way that people pick apart the appearances of women while allowing fat bastards like, oh, Reverend Fatty Warren, or Style Nightmares like Dick "Tuck in Your Goddamned Shirt and Don't Wear a Fucking Parka to a Memorial Ceremony" Cheney to escape relatively unscathed tells me we're a long way from equality for all people in this country, on so many levels.

The article was catty. The woman should be ashamed of herself. She's one of those "Sistas" who are doing it TO themselves.

[Phx_Dem]

13. I didn't read it that way at all.

She was making fun of hideous and outdated pants suits. That's it. And I agree with her opinion of them.

Hillary and Laura simply don't have good fashion sense -- the inaugural dresses tell the truth. Kathleen Parker never mentioned either First Lady so I didn't think it was catty in the least. In fact, I thought it was fun and cute because my mind was no where near Hillary or Laura while reading this. They hardly entered my mind.

[MADem]

17. Well, I'm no fashion expert, and I don't claim to be.

I think the pant suits look fine. They're practical and they don't look like they require a lot of pulling and tugging to keep things where they should be.

I thought the dress that Mrs. Obama wore at the styrofoam White House speech at the convention was really hideous, with the big red spotches on it, but so what? She has a nice smile, she is a good person, so who cares what she's wearing?

All this talk about who has "better" style is incredibly subjective.

These people--both the politicians and their spouses-- spend a fortune on their wardrobes, they aren't shopping at Men's Wearhouse, or Walmart, or Target, or any discount house. They're spending way more than the average American does on their clothes, and for all that cash, none of them--left, right or center--looks much better than the average slobs I meet on the street.

I think this writer can't lift someone up without tearing someone else down, and that's her issue. YMMV, but I'm pretty set in that perspective of her. She helps to give women a bad name.

[DemBones DemBones]

18. Hear, hear! nt

[NYCGirl]

2. Here's a pic:

[MADem]

4. Those things aren't new. We've got family kids who have had those for a few years.

http://www.rocketworld.org/ugly_dolls.htm

They're the Beanie Babies of this latest generation...

[Cha]

10. Cute! That reminds me of my

recent addiction to Beanie Babies. I'd only heard of them until I went to this garage sale over Thanksgiving Holiday in Portland, Ore where this Obama supporter was selling boxes of them for 50 cents a piece. My suitcase was loaded with them on the way back even after I gave tons to my grandkids. Even my son and his wife wanted some:)

[ddeclue]

3. OK...who are you and what have you done with Kathleen Parker?

:hide:

[mrreowwr_kittty]

19. All that hate mail she got from wingnuts after she criticized Sarah Palin

Must have woken her up to the hatred and ignorance that she and her ilk have helped perpetuate. If this keeps up I predict she may be the next Arianna Huffington or David Brock type of conversion.

[avaistheone1]

6. I just hope there will be better presidential reporting than the kid's puppies and Michelle's

dresses.

Is the presidency going the road of Brittany Spears/Linday Lohan style trivia reporting?

I guess more bread and circus for the masses.

[NYCGirl]

7. I don't mind reading about the kids or fashion from time to time.

Remember that old saying about "all work and no play"?

[AtomicKitten]

8. Americans are starving for something positive to talk about. This stuff makes me smile. n/t

[Cha]

9. It's hilarious and I've always

been into fashion whether I can wear it or not..no reason to stop now that we've got some stylin' peeps coming soon to our big White House.

[Clio the Leo]

12. DIE PANTSUITS DIE!!!!

(except for Hillary of course because she's earned the right to whatever the heck she wants to and she KNOWS how to rock the pantsuit.)

I think it's more that Michelle is riding the crest of popularity of the sleveless shift dress but I love them too and if her wearing them makes them "in" for a longer period of time, i'll take it!

[WinkyDink]

14. "Sleeveless" is NOT a good look for MANY women past the age of college.

Seriously.

[janx]

20. It depends on their arms.

(Hence the reference to the personal trainer.)

There are a lot of old myths about what women "of a certain age" should wear, how they should wear their hair, etc.

I wore sleeveless shirts and dresses throughout my forties. I also had a free weight regimen for my arms. Michelle Obama is in excellent physical shape.

This ain't 1955. ;-)

[BeyondGeography]

15. I expect Kathleen Parker will be on our side for about a month or two

until she gets behind whomever emerges as the anti-Palin chez les pukes.

[CTyankee]

16. Or, maybe she'll come to like being on the Good Side rather than the Dark Side!

We're the fun, smart and cool folks. The Dark Side is full of creepy creeps. Who wants to be with THEM when you could be with US?!