WHO ’S SHE WEAR - ING ? Political wives have often stuck to one designer, but Michelle Obama mixes it up. “She’s loyal to her personal style,” Rothman says. HELLO , BICEPS ! “We are so used to women in politics covering their bodies and wearing clothes that don’t fit,” says D.C.-based stylist Lauren A. Rothman. “Here’s a woman who isn’t hiding her athleticism.” 2008 DOS & HER OWN BELTWAY London DOn’tS calls Michelle’s belts (like the black favorite on three Election outfits here) “her single smartest style Edition! choice. They empha- size her femininity.” THE CRITICS SAY ... “She favors classic silhouettes, so her hair needs to be more modern,” says Stacy London of TLC’s What Not to Wear. SHE ’D VETO PANTY - HOSE ! Sounds like Michelle wouldn’t wear them in the White House: She said on The View, “[They’re] painful...and [they] always rip.” ILLUSTRATION BY SEAN McCABE 340 GLAMOUR.COM SEPTEMBER 2008 THE CRITICS SAY ... “I think she should avoid colors like pale yellow, light blue and khaki,” London offers. “On a pale blond they can create a chilly exterior.” SHE LOVES HER TROOPS Cindy McCain is a military In November wife and mother. This pin is a tribute you’ll be voting on to one of her sons, who’s serving substance, not style. in the Marines. But women in D.C. know that what they wear still counts. Here, our nominations for the Dos & Don’ts of the 2008 political season. (The candidates tackle weightier issues in our October issue, we swear!) LADY IN RED Cindy boldly wore red leather on the campaign trail. SHE BROUGHT “Surprisingly sexy, BACK THE TURTLE - but she’s not NECK ! Her soft getting the vegan T-neck sweaters vote!” says London. “look great and make a suit more sporty,” says Rothman. SEPTEMBER 2008 gLAMOUR.COM 341 OR FAR TOO long the most important fashion decision a politician had to make was: blue tie or red tie? These days we CONGRESSWOMAN STEPHANIE KANSAS GOVERNOR CONGRESSWOMAN have plenty of women in HERSETH SANDLIN KATHLEEN SEBELIUS SHEILA JACKSON LEE power, but their fashion She heard lots of complaints We’re all in favor of a D.C. stylist Andre Chreky code is more complicat- about her highlights—and woman who isn’t afraid of loves “her signature kept them anyway. flaunting her gray. braided crown. So regal!” ed. A less-than-beloved inaugural gown can cause a stream of neg- ative press. A too-short skirt can scar a rep- utation for years. It’s no wonder that most women on the Hill tend to save their cre- ativity for bills and speeches. You want your fideas to stand out, not your outfit. As a host of NPR’s All Things Consid- ered, I’ve lived and worked in Washington for seven years, and I’ve noticed that in such a conservative milieu (and I’m talk- ing fashion, not politics), tiny subtleties in a wardrobe make a major difference. Things that would go unnoticed in other FORMER CIA OPERATIVE CALIFORNIA FIRST LADY WHITE HOUSE PRESS VALERIE PLAME MARIA SHRIVER SECRETARY DANA PERINO arenas—a colorful scarf, say—are big Nicole Kidman may play We applaud Shriver, who Perino’s polished bob is statements in politics. The conventional Plame in a movie. With hair like has long ignored the political sophisticated and sexy without wisdom is that you can tell if a woman is this, Plame could play herself! tradition of shellacked hair. looking too stuffy. Bravo! liberal or conservative based on the amount of makeup she’s wearing: Red staters pile it on; blue staters keep it sim- ple. You can tell which congresswomen The New Political Hair There used to be one acceptable hairstyle for women in politics, and it bore an are balancing work and family by the cord uncanny resemblance to a bicycle helmet. Today, female politicians are putting their credentials hang from: If it’s plain, away their Aqua Net. “Now these women can find a look that brings out their best she’s childless; if it’s on a macaroni neck- features and makes a statement,” says Andre Chreky, a D.C. stylist whose clients lace, she has little ones. You can guess a include White House Press Secretary Dana Perino. Above, our favorite hair Dos. staffer’s schedule for the day based on whether she’s wearing pantyhose: If she is, she’ll be seen on the Congressional floor; if not, she’s probably doing research. These subtle signals can make Wash- ington a very hard place for a woman to find her personal style. But, believe me, it still happens. We’ve had some trail- blazers lay the groundwork—former Congresswoman Susan Molinari break- ing the women-don’t-wear-pants barrier on the House floor circa 1990, Condo- leezza Rice in vampy black boots. Every day, women in capitols all over the coun- try look fantastic as they take care of our nation’s business. And that makes me optimistic about Rosalynn Carter got The $10,000 tag on Hillary’s first gown The press was lukewarm style and politics. Take Speaker of the flack for rewearing Nancy Reagan’s 1981 by Sarah Phillips on Laura Bush’s dress, a six-year-old gown. gown raised eyebrows. got mixed reviews. made by a Texas designer. House Nancy Pelosi. She is second in line to the presidency, and she shows up to work in fitted Armani power suits—a Democrat in Republican red, to show us that party WAtcH THAT DRESS lines know no real color. This kind of thing No sooner is a presidential campaign over than the real pressure begins for a new trickles down, and I think that’s great: It’s First Lady: What to wear to the Inaugural Ball? Her gown will forever define her time for Washington’s style to catch up to and set the tone for her husband’s administration, but hey, no biggie. Check out its substance. —Andrea Seabrook these brave black-tie moments from the prom night watched by the entire free world. 342 GLAMOUR.COM SEPTEMBER 2008 Hillary, we loved your pantsuits! Bright-color-loving Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton joked that it took “six black pantsuits” to win her Congressional seat in New York, but when she ran for the Democratic nomination this year, she threw caution to the wind and was seen in pretty much every color but black. Way to work the rainbow, Hillary! What A-Listers Wear to the White House Check out the duds celebs wore to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. We’re pretty sure the Secret Service had to search Cher’s wig! JESSICA SIMPSON On one visit, Simpson told then Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, “I really like what you’ve done ELVIS PRESLEY with the place!” Later CHER Only in this The King asked she explained, “I country can two Nixon to make him a had no idea that she women with such dra- federal agent, saying was a member of matically different he’d researched “drug the cabinet, not an takes on the role of abuse and Commu- interior decorator!” hairspray find unity. nist brainwashing.” SARAH JESSICA JOAN KENNEDY MICHAEL JACKSON PARKER Did S.J.P. Wearing such a short Jacko sported a drop by an Indigo dress to the White pseudomilitary look Girls concert before House was a bold complete with a her 1999 visit with move. It looks like (self-awarded) medal. President Clinton? Pat Nixon is trying hard not to stare! SEPTEMBER 2008 gLAMOUR.COM 343 Can You Guess Her Party? We asked more than 150 women to name these women’s political parties based on appearance alone. Lots of them picked wrong. Could you do better? DEMOCRAT? REPUBLICAN? DEMOCRAT? DEMOCRAT? ANDREA HEIDI Lindsey RENU BORDEAux, 21 SETTE, 34 COSTELLO, 24 PIllar, 25 70% think she’s 67% think she’s 48% think she’s 51% think she’s a Democrat a Republican a Democrat a Democrat “She looks like “She looks like “She seems like “She has an she goes with the she could shoot a hipster, which easygoing style popular thing.” a shotgun...with means she’s and looks like she TRENCH COATS —Stephanie Dick Cheney!” probably liberal.” wants change.” “DO pick a bright Wasserberger, 23, —Sara Phipps, 22, —Courtney —Tamara Crockett, tailored trench Portland, Ore. Grand Island, Neb. Winegar, 26, 27, Atlanta to top your somber work clothes. Surprise—she’s Surprise—she’s New York City Yup, a Democrat. DON’T get over- an Independent! a Democrat! Surprise—she’s “My parents aren’t whelmed by “I don’t identify ““I was a young a Republican! citizens, but they’re an ill-fitting coat.” with any of the Republican in “I’m pretty political—they’re parties. I just go college, but that religious, and for Obama just by who I like on changed when the Republican like I am. My issues that are I became a social party is in line mom doesn’t speak most important.” worker. It’s amazing with my beliefs.” English, but she that 30 million watches him all day.” people don’t have health care.” The mOST powerFUl BliNg iN POliTics ID TAGS “So you’ve got major White Designer Ann Hand’s accesso- House access. The ries are to D.C. power brokers guy making your turkey sandwich what Zac Posen’s red-carpet doesn’t need to know creations are to L.A. superstars. about it. DON’T Her Liberty Eagle pin has wear your lanyard and ID tag , S been worn by Hillary Clinton, outside the office.” Betty Ford, Barbara Bush and Tipper Gore.