Okay, okay, it's in Politico's gossip column, but nonetheless, it is 2015 and once again we are looking at a political publication focusing on what clothes women in politics wear like it's newsworthy. In this case, we get an interview with Nina McLemore, who makes expensive women's professional clothing worn by Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, and others.
Surprise! McLemore thinks we should be talking more about what women wear, not because she stands to profit from it but because it's
important.
As McLemore says, “People often harp on the whole concept of ‘we shouldn’t be talking about what a female candidate is wearing,’ but we should. It’s a very important topic, in fact. I don’t think a lot of people, women in particular, realize how strong the power of how we look really is.”
Women don't realize how important looks are? Uhhh ... how do we explain the vast industries dedicated to women's appearance, then? Seems like if there's one thing that gets drummed into women at an early age, it's that looks are important.
I think it's generally understood that appearance matters for politicians, and for the women in particular, but many of us get that that's a bad thing, because it's yet another way to trivialize women. You know, somehow when we talk about appearance, it's the women and their pantsuits, not the darker side of dadbod as demonstrated by Ted Cruz, or whatever that mess on Rand Paul's head is; someone get that man to Devacurl, stat.
Then again, McLemore seems to need no help trivializing women:
“TV is where charisma and attractiveness count for more than substance,” says McLemore, with all the seriousness of a political consultant. “I personally think it’s hard for women to have charisma, where some men have it in spades. We can’t change the fact that we’re women, but we can put forth our best image for the result we want.”
There are interesting observations to be made about how, in our culture, charisma tends to be defined in terms of attributes more commonly held by men. These are not them. FFS, "we can't change the fact that we're women, but ... " we sure can try to fit into the male professional mold by wearing a pantsuit! And then parlay that into media coverage trivializing women in politics! Sweet!