C-Span: CRITICIZING Teresa's and Elizabeth's FASHION, LOOKS

[LittleApple81]

Read an article... sorry, could not catch the name of the paper. Fashion and Style section, I think.

Rather negative. Implied carelessness about Teresa, plumpness and tight pants and lack of fashion sense for Elizabeth.

No comparison to Laura's TOTAL lack of fashion sense... and her achievement of making everything look as if it were made out of poliester.

This is so silly... but I guess it was coming.

[iamjoy]

1. I'm Changing My Vote Now

I mean, gosh, how can I vote for candidates whose wives could go on "What Not To Wear"?
(sarcasm off)

[southernleftylady]

2. LOL n/t

[vetwife]

18. Isn't that silly ? Considering the Emperor has no clothes

People are ridiculous. they did the same thing with Tipper and Hillary. Think back. They thought their hair was a mess. They thought Hillary dressed too unfeminine. They thought Tipper was uncoordinated in color apparel. My late Mother always told me the clothes did not make the person. One person's sackcloth could look like a million dollars if they presented themselves with class and dignity. So where does that leave us? Two women who dress to their personality and one who wears the same pants suit..different color..only difference..one is married to an idiot and the others to wisdom.

[Spinzonner]

3. Well, I guess we can expect to see

Mr Blackwell on Meet The Press soon.

[Lerkfish]

21. I think blackwell's dead, isn't he? n/t

eom

[Spinzonner]

33. Probably news to him

http://www.deadoraliveinfo.com/dead.nsf/bnames-nf/Blackwell+Mr.

Although he does appear a little deceased

[demnan]

4. Teresa is so charismatic

she doesn't need neat scarves and makeup. She is the type of person who lights up a room in jeans and a teeshirt. Her carelessness is part of her charm.

Elizabeth is a normal woman for her age with a sweet face, has a matronly figure that shows she has had 4 children, so why can't they cut her some slack? How many women her age who aren't movie stars look that much better?

[Warpy]

15. Don't forget what happened to Hillary Clinton

She was pretty, always wore the "right" thing, and was sharply criticised every time she changed her hairstyle. OH MY GAWD! SHE CHANGED HER HAIR!

First Lady is a thankless, rotten job and it starts during the campaign, especially for a Democrat's wife. The nasty sniping about looks starts immediately and never lets up. If a candidate's wife has any personality at all, then it gets worse and worse as time goes on.

Laura Bush has escaped the worst of this because she's GOP and because her public persona is so bland, beaten, colorless and dull that there's nothing and nobody there.

[skippysmom]

5. Ugh

Because, of course, all that matters about these women is what they look like. Never mind that they're both smart, accomplished women.

[LittleApple81]

6. I know. They did not mention anything about accomplishments or

personality. Just dress style (at least the part she read).

[ClintonTyree]

7. Pickles............

always looks as if she got tangled in the draperies on the way to the photo-shoot. I've never seens a first lady with such a complete lack of taste when it comes to attire. I don't imagine we'll be seeing a critique of her wardrobe though, that would be highly unpatriotic.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. Trust me, DMM knows style, and those who do, recognize Teresa's style...

as great style. The way Laura Bush turns herself out is the opposite of style in a modern woman. And true style is not just what clothes a woman puts on -- it's more an attitude, and a personal statement. Teresa's nonchalant hair, as opposed to a helmet-head, her natural make-up, the ethnic scarves she draped over her shoulder during the primary campaign, her tailored designer blazers, her personality -- all add up to fantastic style in a REAL woman.

ON EDIT -- I'll go on on this little fashion rant. It's trivial, but it really peeves me that Laura Bush is seen as glamorous. It's HER skirts and pants that are too tight, and her jackets too short to cover her derrierre (especially when seen from below, while ascending the stairs of AF1). And who did the plastic surgery, for Cheney sake! Stop her before she surgeries again! Her eyes will soon stretch far enough to be staging a meeting at the back of her head. Please.

[LittleApple81]

9. Agree totally. But in America people want the wives to be Stepfordly

to be acceptable... I guess if Eleanor Roosevelt appeared on the scene, they would chase her out of town.

[New Dem]

11. i agree

Excellent point littleapple 81! God, you IMAGINE what they would say about Eleanor?

[DeepModem Mom]

14. Eleanor had the classic style of the old Eastern upper class....

Interestingly, that style has popped up recently on runways from NY to Paris and Milan. Silk dresses, suits, sensible pump shoes and pearls. And, of course, Eleanor had the substance that always elevates style.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi New Dem!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DeepModem Mom]

25. New Dem! Didn't notice that was your first post! A big welcome to DU --

[oasis]

34. welcome New Dem.

:toast: may this be the 1st of many posts.

[bobbieinok]

36. the republicans/right absolutely HATED Eleanor R

her appearance, her manner, her interests, her causes

they hated FDR too, but I think she was a more vulnerable target

absolutely vicious stuff about her until her death

especially hated for her (for the period) incredibly bold support of African-Americans

I think some claimed she was part black herself; that of course was/is the only explanation some people can imagine for concern about the rights of those not in the 'in' group

[SoCalDem]

10. Walmart vs couture... lowlifes will never "get it"

They like glitz, bows, belts, scarves and other accountrements..

Classy clothing is simple and timeless..

[KharmaTrain]

12. Leave Pickles Stepford Alone!!!

This lady is a true role model for American women:



(many, many many thanks to Betty Bowers!!!)

[procopia]

13. She was 50 when Jack was born!

CSM has a wonderful article about Elizabeth:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0712/p01s01-uspo.html

[LittleApple81]

16. Yeah. I read that article before. She is bright and fearless. n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

19. Elizabeth's style reminds me of Hillary's --

Hillary and Elizabeth are vital, busy women with little interest in clothes (Teresa's also a busy woman, but, I suspect, has an interest in fashion). They have settled on an extremely simple style, almost a uniform, that works for them. Their look is modern, and just fine -- far better than Laura's over-made-up, over-coiffed, over-cosmetic-surgeried, too-tight-suit-and-pantsuited look.

[goclark]

27. Loved the article,thanks!

Isn't it amazing that with all that personality defining information, they are saying that she is over weight.
What are crock of waste the media whores are,how can they insult this beautiful woman. She is far more attractive than Katie and Paula and Candy and Judy bla bla bla.

[sendero]

17. When you see the frumpiest first lady...

... to come down the pike in a long time (Pickles) - you understand why Georgie Boy advocates abstinence as the solution to every problem :)

[leftchick]

20. there was only one frumpier than pickles.....

Ma Barker bush herself.....





Lordy, no wonder poppy got his self some strange... :puke:

[sendero]

22. I guess her...

... 'beautiful mind' wasn't enough :)

[LibDemAlways]

24. Pickles has worn some of the

most god awful k-mart bargain bin leftovers imaginable. The gold number with the Little-bo-peep blue bow comes to mind along with a collection of polyester pantsuits that she's worn since the 70s. And the whores have the nerve to criticize Teresa and Elizabeth? Get a clue, morans!

[Kanary]

26. I'm sure we're not surprised........

since the same things are said here.

Why should the mainstream press be any different?

Kanary

[Ripley]

28. Yeah, I remember the venom about Judy Dean...

She should wear more make-up dammit!

The only thing that surprises me is that on an given day lately type in the word "hot" and see how many posts are allowed to remain in GD and LBN (not the Lounge where I don't care) when speaking of women, whether it is a movie star or a political female.

There must be a preponderance of virgin teenage boys on DU. ;-)

[cap]

29. all this is foolishness

someone needs to tell the American public that if they want a First Lady who looks like Jackie O, the women have to be wearing couture clothing. Couture clothing costs $1000's of dollars and photographs well. Couture clothing has a lot more built in support so that it maintains its shape as the woman moves. Off the rack clothes don't photograph well as they dont fit as nicely. First Ladies end up getting donors to donate these clothes either directly or through financial contributions.

If we want a First Lady to represent us, we need to decide whether we want someone who photographs well or someone who dresses and looks like the rest of us. Elizabeth has the body of an average 55 year old.

[CaTeacher]

30. I am a feminist, and I do not appreciate making fun

of women for their appearance (that included both the democratic and republican wives).

I suppose an occasional comment is hard to resist, but it absolutely makes my blood boil when we make fun of women for what they look like. I believe there is beauty in EVERY woman (yes--even Poppy's wife--at least she was comfortable enough with her self to forgo the dieting and plastic surgery, in spite of the vicious people who judge only on looks).

With the constant scrutiny of modern media, we are tough on first ladies--should Elizabeth be like Nancy Reagan and diet constantly to be a perfect size 6? Should Teresa have massive plastic surgery from head to toe?

Don't criticize ANY woman who ages gracefully in this day and age--including the ones on the other side of the aisle. It is just mean spirited.

[noiretextatique]

32. just saw eve ensler's "the good body" on sunday

and i couldn't agree with you more. i'm interested in fashion, so i occasionally make a comment about laura's lack of style or condi's terrible hairstyle, but it is distrubing how often the way a woman looks is worthy of an entire thread here. i am not surprised that the rw continues to attack democratic women because of how they look and dress, but it distrubs me how often it happens here.

[nomatrix]

31. Bring it on, people will investigate

http://www.johnkerry.com/about_teresa/

I never took a look at a bio on Teresa, until you mentioned her style.
Fluent in five languages......
Active in womens issues, charities....

I see why they are attacking her fashion sense, they have no where else to go.

[CBHagman]

35. They can't help themselves.

My supervisor at work is a rabid RW Republican and adores Bush.

Give me a second here. :puke:

Anyway, she has gone about sneering about how Teresa pronounces her name, etc., and I suppose Elizabeth's and Teresa's appearances are next on the venom list.

TOO BAD. Teresa seems like a mensch, and I'll bet Elizabeth Edwards is one, too. They'll outlive any stupidity inflicted on them by cross, bitter GOP operatives.

[iamjoy]

37. I Think Elizabeth Is Awesome

First of all, she had to have risked her health for Emma Claire and Jack (having them in her late forties).

And then there was the sweet thing she said about John Kerry & Teresa on 60 Minutes. They were talking about how Kerry had no charisma. And Elizabeth just said that Kerry had to have charisma to get such a wonderful woman (Teresa) to marry him.

These two women will be awesome in the foreign relations wives of President and Vice President find themselves doing.

Teresa was born in Mozambique, educated in Switzerland, has worked for the U.N. and is fluent in 5 languages. I wonder if the Republicans bashing her now are the same ones who once wanted her to run for John Heinz Senate seat after he died (but then, that was 13 years ago).

Elizabeth Edwards spent her early school years in Japan. Her father was in the military.