A Brief History of Political Style Follies
It’s Election Day, at last. During the race, we’ve seen countless suit-and-tie combinations from our two candidates, most of which are minute variations on the same campaign camouflage—and therefore extremely boring. But it’s worth noting that political style has a history of controversy. Here, some of the greatest hits.
In 2009, Michelle Obama (perhaps unwittingly) sported $540 Lanvin sneakers … to a D.C. soup kitchen.
Hillary Clinton, despite her current popularity, is still haunted by her choice of hair accessories over the years.
From headbands … to scrunchies… to butterfly clips…
Jackie Kennedy’s predilection for French couture was so controversial that she had to consult Diana Vreeland for advice on American designers.
Decades before Rooney Mara, Mamie Eisenhower’s short bangs became her style signature; not everyone, however, approved. Periodically, the First Lady received letters strongly urging her to adopt a hairstyle that was a bit “more becoming.”
Richard Nixon was the subject of much mockery for his formal surfside footwear.
Mary Todd Lincoln’s, um, emancipated necklines caused one Senator to write his own wife sputtering about the “weak-minded Mrs. Lincoln and her sorry show of skin and bones.”
Bill Clinton, in his presidential pomp, was noted for jogging in booty shorts.