Check Out Alaska Gov. and hockey mom Sarah Palin, who’s not only John McCain’s vice presidential pick, but a luxury fashion maverick.
The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 since late August to outfit Palin and her family in the fanciest of duds from department stores like Saks and Neiman Marcus, says politico.com.
The financial disclosure records, included under the line item “itemized coordinated expenditures,” show RNC expenditures at Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York of $49,425.74 in September. Based on Saks’ September comparable-store sales of $273.2 million, Palin accounted for .018 percent of sales.
The RNC also spent $75,062.63 during one September trip to Neiman Marcus, says politico.com, which would represent .012 percent of Neiman’s September comparable-store sales of $406 million.
The RNC spent only $789.72 at Neiman-owned Barneys New York but dropped $5,102.71 at Bloomingdale’s, which is operated by Macy’s, said politico.com, a website that tracks political news.
Hefty primping expenditures on the campaign trail are nothing new. U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY, received guff for her expensive custom-made pantsuits, which cost upward of $6,350 each.
The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on Palin’s hair and makeup, and made $295 in purchases at high-end children’s stores Pacifier and Steiniauf & Stroller Inc., according to politico.com.
Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign, said there are plans to donate the expensive clothing to charity after the campaign.
“With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses,” Schmitt said in a statement.
Sales at luxury department stores have suffered in recent weeks as the slowing economy and global financial crisis took a toll on even affluent shoppers, and the strengthening of the dollar deterred foreign tourists who had given high-end stores a boost in previous quarters.
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(Photo/Reuters)
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I’m 30 years in the rag trade, retail wholesale, design, production, import export.
Believe me, there are clothes that cost $150,000, but there are no clothes that are worth $150,000.
Anything that costs the prices Palin has been paying for clothes should come with the word ‘SUCKER’ embroidered on the back.
- Posted by PaulMichael Moore was right on to point out that Palin and her husband claimed 1/4 of a million dollars in income last year. She can afford to buy her own wardrobe. I guess if you’re going to represent the wealthiest 1%, you have to look like you clear a few mil a year.
- Posted by johnnycaffeine