Fashion, Sarah Palin and Power
| Vivia Chen,
Isn't Sarah Palin an inspiration for us career gals? It's been way too long since she's been in the limelight. Thank goodness Donald Trump has unleashed her.
I've always said that Palin is the role model for women who want it all. She's been governor of Alaska, a vice president candidate and a reality show star. Plus, she's mama grizzly to five kids and a bona fide moose huntress. And let's not forget she knows how to keep her frontier hunk of a husband happy and in-line (unlike her kids, Todd barely makes a peep).
And now, of course, she's Donald Trump's latest BFF and a possible cabinet member.
You've undoubtedly seen her spirited endorsement of Trump. There's been lots of analysis of the syntax of her speech. (May I suggest that Brown University offer a seminar on Palin semiotics?) But that's not what I want to get into.
A much more scintillating topic is how Palin is revolutionizing the Power Look for women. Yes, I'm talking about that jacket—the sparkly, silvery armor she recently wore during her Trump endorsement in Iowa.
At first, I thought—as many people did—that the jacket was an odd choice. For one thing, those flapping silver needles whipped from side to side every time Palin made a motion (we all know you can't keep her still). It looked like it had been fashioned from leftover tinsels from the Palin Christmas tree; or, perhaps, it was the creation of Alaska's leading designer—one inspired by indigenous hunting tools.
Well, folks, it turns out that jacket comes from Milly, a mainstream New York fashion house. And though pundits called it tacky, gaudy, tinny and ridiculous, it ain't cheap: Saks Fifth Avenue was selling it for $695, according to Mashable. And it's sold out!
So if you're looking to duplicate Palin's exact look, you might be out of luck. But that doesn't mean you can't take a page from the Palin playbook. Which brings us to the sartorial lesson that Palin teaches career gals: If you want to have a memorable brand, you've got to wear something that sets you apart from the crowd—something that says, "Look at me! I'm the star!"
Palin certainly isn't fading into the furniture. She didn't feel obliged to don some Brooks Brothers suit just because she was endorsing someone for the highest office in the land. By the same token, who says you have to dress conservatively just because you're representing your client at a negotiation or arguing a case in court? I mean, shouldn't we all be as bold and authentic as Palin?
Sadly, that's the brutal truth: You are in no position be flashy. In fact, before Palin became a hot shot celeb—that is, when Senator John McCain first plucked her out of Alaska to be his running mate—she wore conservative, tasteful suits. Back then, she at least dressed like a serious person. Not like the wild cat she is today.
So we all have our parts to play. If you're a lawyer who wants professional credibility, it's probably wise to put away that sequin skirt, the studded jacket or the ripped pants.
You're not Sarah Palin. Sorry.
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Fair use notice: This website contains copyrighted material, the use of which may or may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Excerpts of such material is made available for educational purposes, and as such this constitutes ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Act. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this website is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Original material published on this website may be excerpted and the excerpt reproduced for the purpose of critical reviews. However, such original material may not be reproduced in full on another website or in any manner without prior approval from this website’s owner. In all cases when material from this website is reproduced in full or in part, the author and website must be credited by name and a hyperlink provided to this website
