Glamatron

regular readers know that i have this rule: never wear anything more exotic than you are.

however, you can take this rule too far. and sometimes it just causes fashion dilemmas that ought to take your mind off economic collapses, global warming and your kid’s new boyfriend, Thor.

take the democratic presidential candidates. i’m not a big fan of obama; i mean, i’ll vote for him if that’s what we get, but…well never mind the policy details. however, he’s a perfectly nice looking man. young, fit, good complexion, nice smile. and apparently 70 of the most boring suits you’ve ever seen in your life. i mean, michelle does not strike me as a stiff-upper-lip type chick and within the fastness of the obama household, she must just occasionally look at her husband and say “for god’s sake, do you HAVE to look like a bank VP ALL the time?? go sleep on the couch. sheesh.” now, the guy could, if he wanted to, wear a hot pink pimp suit and pull it off. SERiously. and no, it’s not just because he’s black (i know a couple of white guys and a few asian dudes who could do it too). again, not my choice of clothes for him but he’s interesting looking enough and tall enough to get away with it.

but he can’t. why not? because he’s running for president. if any typical presidential candidate is stuck wearing safe clothes, any a-typical presidential candidate has to be doubly-careful. the slight hint of exoticism as a candidate (you’re not white, not male, and not over 60) and you’ve got to exude safe, safe, safe, safe. read: boring, boring, boring, boring.

seriously. i don’t mean just avoiding pimp suits (though since i heard that mccain’s a big abba fan, i’d love to see him in a sequinned jumpsuit). an unusual or ‘exotic’ candidate can’t even wear a slight fashionably-cut suit. one of those new narrower D&Gs for example would be scrutinized to the hilt.it’s so bad that poor hillary goes out on one teeny-tiny fashion limb - a salmon-pink jacket - and john edwards, who’s actually a kinda nice guy, starts cracking jokes about it on national tv.

the end result is that the candidates of exotic persuasions either have to look slightly dowdy and unattractive, or they can be successful candidates. not both.
no wonder i’ve given up reading the election news in favour of ‘cathy’