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JUST when I'd hoped Sarah Palin would disappear from public consciousness, it seems we can't get rid of the former Republican vice-presidential candidate. She's everywhere and so, too, is the controversy over her ultra-expensive Hollywood-style "makeover". This weekend, the New York Times revealed details of the $165,000 the Republican party had spent on three stylists, in addition to $150,000 already spent on clothes. Palin has claimed she was "appalled" at the expense. The clothes are being given to charity.
I read all this and thought: there's a few things the Republicans need to know about makeovers and stylists. First, sad but true, we women do need a hair stylist and a make-up artist for TV. If you can find one person who does both, then great - but even TV networks usually have different artists for on-air talent.
We shouldn't knock the expense. I have no doubt Hillary Clinton didn't set foot on the campaign trail without a hair stylist and make-up artist in tow. Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you that if you do end up on TV with your hair unstyled, it looks like a bird's nest. And if you have no make-up, then under the lights, you look like a shining, sheet-white female Edward Scissorhands. It's very distracting.
Second, the clothes. You do not need a stylist, nor to spend insane amounts of money - especially if you have a decent figure, which Sarah Palin does. All you need to know is that there is one overriding principle for the camera - the simpler you keep the clothes, the better. A floral print, stripes or check may look wonderful in real life. But absolutely not in photographs or on television. Just look at the Oscars: the women who look the best are always the ones who stick to one colour and who keep the shape as simple as possible.
For Palin, the irony is that dressing conservatively should have been easy. A few pencil skirts (she has great legs), fitted jackets or a knit dress or two, simple accessories and she'd have been fine - far better, in fact that Cindy McCain, whose over-the-top designer wardrobe reminded me of the clothes worn by Krystle Carrington in Dynasty. They did not say "woman of the people". No wonder the Republicans got trounced.
* Vicky Ward is a contributing editor of Vanity Fair
Reader views (2)
Thank goodness for Mrs Palin and the 'gaiety of nations'. USians got the result they needed, and also all the entertainment they deserved. Who could begrudge her makeover? Who would now be blamed if they'd done less? She was a real tonic and I hope we-all hear more of her.
- Steve, SW18
What is the point of this correspondent?
- John Polenski, Jingan-qu, China
