Let’s do a quick run down on First Lady Fashion shall we? Michelle Obama, 44, and Cindy McCain, 53 as well as a bit on Sarah Palin’s awesome jacket.
Cindy’s face scares me by the way. I’d rather see wrinkles, laugh lines and spots, than that kind of weird, stretched out mask she calls a face. Her fashion however, is a different story. I’m not American but I do follow your elections just because I find it interesting and almost all the bloggers I read are American. And I see a lot of fabulous outfits on the both of them.
A bit of a background:
Cindy is an heiress to a beer fortune and has probably swam in money since she was born. She was also a former rodeo queen and doesn’t seem to care much about being carefully budgeted.
Michelle Obama however, grew up in a four-story bungalow in Chicago, the studious daughter of blue-collar parents; she went on to an Ivy League education and a career as a lawyer.
What they both have in common, is PEARLS. Lots of pearls.
Michelle seems to prefer the safer, more neutral labels. Kind of boring actually. Think: J.Crew, Ann Taylor.. she is also quite conservative in her makeup, and her appearance, not daring to flash too much. But she sure knows how to sass it up sometimes, but not often.
I think you’d agree, most of her choices are pretty safe, neutral and budget friendly for the average American Jane.
That is such a cute shot 🙂
The floral dress is sexy, covered yet appropriate.
I actually like this entire outfit. The leather cut belt and ruffled top.. But it kind of suffocates her.
This dress was $99 and coveted by ALL. I LOVE it. The open neck is a lot more flattering on her.
This is a gorgeous shot of her neck in Vogue.
Again with the ruffly neck.
The kids are cute, but the dress on Michelle… not my style.
That sheath is perfectly cut for her, but the shade of purple is unflattering.
I LOVE this black dress on her.
The colour is better, but the jacket is a bit of a ruffly mess.
Cindy on the other hand, likes high-end designers (nautrally). Think: Escada, Herrera, and isn’t QUITE as staunch and as conservative as Michelle. She showed up wearing a thin leather COAT, which is unheard of. I like her style a lot better to be honest. She’s on trend and a clean dresser, plus the colours suit her beautifully.
She’s really into that turtleneck + blazer thing. I am too!!!!
This is a stunning look on her. White with ivory. Makes me want it for myself.
White really is a good colour on her.
Up close look of her accessories. Not cheap at all..
I love this shot of her in Vogue. Casual, clean… fresh
Is that mohair?
Again, turtleneck and suit. SOOOO up my alley.
I am a fan of the pearl choker.
Ugh. Green. Not a good shade on her.
Funky cut jacket.
That jacket looks too big on her.
I like this powerful shot of her in red.
Sarah Palin is thrown in there for good measure because I LOVE this jacket in the picture. She’s a hockey mom and her clothing choices are nice, but not really fabulous sometimes – just the same old black suit, it seems. But that one dark metal jacket in the pictures below took my breath away. She needs to lose the bangs and take a few tips from Cindy.
And did you know that they forked out $150,000 to make her presentable (in clothing, hair and makeup) for her acceptance speech!?
According to Politico, the Republican National Committee shelled out $150,000 for clothes and accessories for Palin and some of her family.
Neiman-Marcus hit the jackpot with over $75,000 being spent there while nearly $50,000 was dropped at Saks Fifth Avenue.
The Associated Press reports that “the RNC also spent $4,902 at Atelier, a stylish men’s clothing store in New York. Other purchases included a $92 romper and matching hat with ears for Palin’s baby, Trig, at Pacifier, a baby store in Minneapolis.”
Puh-LEASE. You don’t need to drop that kind of cash to be fashionable. Look at Michelle Obama? That gorgeous black and white dress from The View? It cost $99!!! And she was STUNNING in it!!!!!
Update:
To ANON in the comments:
Shut up or put up.
(In case you don’t get it, by putting up, I mean post pictures of yourself on your blog and tell me what style is).
If you want to dress like a slut in the office in a miniskirt and heels, by all means, go ahead. I’m just going to judge you when I see you and think you’re a total tart who’s going to sleep her way to the top, that’s all.
I like the way Cindy McCain dresses. She’s appropriate for her age (not a spring chicken), she looks well put together, beautiful, smart and elegant.
She’s not in ribbed turtlenecks, she’s choosing elegant colours, and as a potential First Lady, she CANNOT be dressed in a miniskirt (even if she was younger) or in inappropriate clothing.
Did you get that? Or are you just so sure that if you *cough* ever made it to be the First Lady of America you’d be slutting it up all over the place?
The woman has to look more conservative than normal, and I for one, quite like that. I like the look of turtlenecks and blazers, but I wouldn’t wear that everyday. I just like that look, albeit conservative.
Better conservative than slutty. Women put too much out there today.
Clearly you have a certain sense of style that’s very different from mine. But it’s certainly not elegant or conservative from what I can decipher.
None of you readers have to ever follow any of my advice or observations. You can disagree with all of them, but you just know how some women feel when they see girls dressed like skanks in the office, or not covering up enough because they want to put it all out there with boobs a butt, etc.
That is totally fine, but just know, that we’re judging you. And if you can live with that, then flaunt it.
Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.
I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year.
Now I am self-employed, and you can read more about 
I think Cindy always looks fabulous, except a little skinny. Michelle looks more “natural”…? Palin’s smarminess annoys me but she’s got a fabulous shape (especially after all those kids!).
As for the miniskirt thing – how short are we talking? I’ve definitely seen the couple inches about the knee look at work and around town (seems to be a big hit at consulting and PR firms). But only ever paired with opaque tights and probably a jacket. But not a long jacket. I hate that look.
OK, off topic.
I believe I heard that the blue suit outfit came in around $300K?
The shot of Cindy in Vogue with the mountains in the background is so great. It shows the difference that a real photographer can make when posing and lighting their model.
Just wanted to pop by and say that I think you’ve written a great post here. I totally agree with you about a conservative look being more appropriate for politics. Polished, pulled together, and classic trumps trendy street style when it comes to projecting an image that is professional and grown-up.
Jennifer Skinner
Haha! You are the most defensive person I have ever come across. Have you ever considered that people leave narky comments on here just to get a rise out of you? And you don’t disappoint. Actually, here in London where style is not a crime, almost every second girl you see in the streets this autumn is wearing mini skirt, black tights and boots. Nothing to do with being slutty. More to do with style. But I suspect you wouldn’t know style if it bit you on the a**. I suspect you have some serious problems if you automatically equate a girl wearing a mini skirt in the office with her ‘sleeping her way to the top’. Serious problems. Uptight, much?
I love the looks of both. I think Cindy dresses better but heck she has more money to put together the whole LOOK kwim? I mean with a stylist, makeup artist, etc. I am guessing since Michelle still wears $99 dresses it’s because she isn’t quite there with wealth. NOTHING wrong with that because Cindy can afford the bling!
But seriously they book look great. And so does Sarah Palin. Although $150K in donated money is a bit tough to swallow.
Anon: She’s appropriate for her age, she looks well put together and smart and if you want to dress like a slut for the office in a miniskirt, by all means go ahead.
I’m just going to judge you if I see you, that’s all.
I’ve thought this to myself so many times while reading your fashion reviews, but this time I can’t keep it in! Honestly? Blazer and turtle necks? Either you live in a complete style backwater or… you just have bad dress sense. Ever since I read you moaning about girls who wear mini skirts in the office… get yourself some style, woman!
I like some pics of Cindy – she looks gorgeous.
But Michelle has a trendier style.
I just love Michelle. I have to disagree with you on some comments, but that is just my opinion. That purple dress looked amazing on her… I just love the way she dresses…
I love, love, love the Obamas! Michelle would make an ah-mazing first lady, imo – any woman that wears a <$100 dress on national TV and pulls it off can't be that bad!
They definitely paid too much to make Palin presentable – her MU artist got like $20 800, I think? Insane. Beauty Pagent girl shopping spree much??
Hmm. I’d argue that Cindy McCain looks more matronly and stiff. I’d look to fashion editors’ style for “on-trend”, not her. I don’t think you can get more boring than a turtleneck and blazer, but to each her own, right? None of them are particularly fashionable, but that’s why they’re in politics and not fashion…
I thought the purple dress was super expensive. I remember reading that forever ago that it was 2 grand or something. I’ve seen that color everywhere lately!
I have got to disagree on the colors you don’t like on Michelle and Cindy. The purple and green were fun and great for being seen in a crowd. I like the pics of Cindy in her blazer/turtleneck combos, but there are a bunch that don’t look so good. The blue shiny suit is a super cute idea, but she is swimming in that outfit (like so many others). I wonder what the deal is with her wearing two sizes too big.
Michelle looks so good in sleeker cut clothes, I am so not a fan of ruffles around the neck/face. It seems to conflict with her strong, get down to business image.
I’m going to have to disagree with you on Michelle’s purple sheath. I thought it was a fabulous color to compliment her skin tone.
On another note of you don't have to spend a lot of money to look fabulous: there's an AMAZING dress that Michelle Obama is wearing that she got at… H&M. Really puts spending $99 dress by Donna Ricco to shame!