Commentary
There she is, Kamala Harris, “The Candidate of Our Times,” according to the November edition of Vogue magazine.
How inopportune for the candidate, who claims a middle-class upbringing, and is now struggling to win over middle-class voters, to allow herself to be featured on the cover of a magazine published for “women 20 to 40, who are successful and beautiful and want to be aware of all novelties in fashion and beauty.”
I agree, and it persuaded me to take a slight departure from my usual campaign coverage. I will be providing my commentary on fashion because it reflects Harris’s judgement, and she is in the news.
I found it interesting that the financial business magazine, Barron’s, included a disclaimer in its coverage of the Vogue cover story stating that it’s news department “was not involved in the creation of the content.”
Oddly enough, the timing of the story comes at a time when my wife and I were discussing Harris’s ugly, ill-fitted pantsuits. I have noticed how her sleeves are too long on some of her outfits. Where’s the femininity?
As expected, the leftist Washington Post saw the cover photo as “beautiful, yet, but more importantly, it is a crisp, clear presentation of a candidate … in her uniform of big-shouldered pantsuit and wrap-neck blouse.”
Writer Tashjian describes the color of Harris’s outfit, designed by Gabriela Hearst, as “deep brown” with a “chocolaty burgundy silk top,” while noting that she also wore her own Tiffany earrings, and used her own stylist for the photo shoot.
Other Views
While Anne Leibovitz, who photographed Harris at her Washington DC residence, has caught a lot of flak for her portraits of Black subjects, “Harris seems to glow,” according to the Post.
The Cut, an online fashion and culture site, reported that Leibovitz caught Harris “looking vaguely presidential.”
Parade ( I didn’t know it was still in existence) was highly critical, saying, “It wasn’t her professional attire for the photoshoot that raised eyebrows, though, it was her physical appearance-namely, her face,” as it spoke of her “neutral makeup look” and airbrushing.
Hillary in Pantsuits
One can’t forget Hillary Clinton in a discussion of pantsuits. She had them in all colors and even had them with the Chinese Mao collar look.
Clinton recently revealed why she began wearing pantsuits. During a 1995 trip to Brazil, she was photographed sitting on a couch and wearing a skirt when a photographer took a picture that was “sort of suggestive” she told Norah O’Donnell of CBS, explaining “I thought my legs were together.” A Brazilian ad agency used the picture in a lingerie ad.
Aware that photographers were always present, taking pictures, going up on stage, climbing stairs, while they were below snapping away, she said “I just couldn’t deal with it, so I started wearing pants.”
In 2004, her official portrait as first lady was unveiled showing her in a tailored black pantsuit.
Femininity Not Lost
Not all women in politics have given up their femininity, Democrat and Republican, including Representatives Nancy Mace, Alexandra Ocasio Cortez, and Lauren Boebert.
Former Democrat Rep. Tulsi Gabbard turned Independent is now seen campaigning for former President Trump in an expertly tailored white pantsuit but has been known for casual dress on occasion.
Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, conscious of ever-present photographers, she refused to let them govern what she wore, even as governor.
Kari Lake, candidate for senator in Arizona, has been seen in pants while campaigning, however, she is more often seen in a dress or skirt and blouse. Lake has the benefit of years before cameras as a TV anchor.
Incidentally
The content of the Vogue article on Harris was merely a rehash of her campaign anecdotes. However, with all that’s going around the world and here, she did say she couldn’t imagine what the circumstances would be four months from now. She couldn’t even mention her concerns for the Middle East, Ukraine and our States amid rebuilding homes and businesses.
Perhaps she assumes she’s about to lose to Trump and won’t have those issues to concern her.
May God continue to bless the United States of America.
