Hillary Clinton's Tentative Dip Into New Neckline Territory

[jefferson_dem]

Hillary Clinton's Tentative Dip Into New Neckline Territory

By Robin Givhan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 20, 2007; C01

There was cleavage on display Wednesday afternoon on C-SPAN2. It belonged to Sen. Hillary Clinton.

She was talking on the Senate floor about the burdensome cost of higher education. She was wearing a rose-colored blazer over a black top. The neckline sat low on her chest and had a subtle V-shape. The cleavage registered after only a quick glance. No scrunch-faced scrutiny was necessary. There wasn't an unseemly amount of cleavage showing, but there it was. Undeniable.

It was startling to see that small acknowledgment of sexuality and femininity peeking out of the conservative -- aesthetically speaking -- environment of Congress. After all, it wasn't until the early '90s that women were even allowed to wear pants on the Senate floor. It was even more surprising to note that it was coming from Clinton, someone who has been so publicly ambivalent about style, image and the burdens of both.

The last time Clinton wore anything that was remotely sexy in a public setting surely must have been more than a decade ago, during Bill Clinton's first term in office when she was photographed wearing a black Donna Karan gown that revealed her shoulders. It was one of Karan's "cold-shoulder" dresses, inspired, Karan once noted, because a woman's shoulders remain sensuous and appealing regardless of her age.

Throughout Clinton's time as first lady, she wore clothes that were feminine and stately. But sexiness was not part of the image. Her second inaugural gown was by Oscar de la Renta. The original version of the gold lace dress had cap sleeves and a wide, jewel neckline. Clinton altered it so that it had long sleeves and a high, almost Victorian collar.

<SNIP>



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/19/AR2007071902668.html

[ixion]

1. uh, perhaps it's just me, but

I don't want a 'sexy' president. I'm not sure who coached here on taking this turn, but I don't think it's a good idea.

And that picture of her is not sexy in the least, IMO. It is very unflattering, if you as me.

[salin]

2. I think it was used for that reason

using an unflattering picture, that is.

I am so tired of focus on candidates appearance/looks be it clothes, hair, and the rest. :thumbsdown:

[MaineDem]

3. I can't believe that this was actually written

Obviously, female candidates still have a long way to go before what they say is more important that how they look.

This is pretty insulting, actually! :grr:

[journalist3072]

7. I totally agree with you. eom

[hisownpetard]

24. What does "eom" stand for? n/t

[Longhorn]

28. It stands for "end of message," Some also use "nt" for "no text."

Then you don't have to click on the title to see if anything else is said in the body of the post. :hi:

Oops! I just noticed that you know what n/t stands for! :)

[hisownpetard]

34. OK - thanks! eom

[Ganja Ninja]

4. Seems they can't write about Hilliary without the topic being either

her marital problems or her looks.

[Tellurian]

5. Not a good idea to go from one extreme to the other...

when you're under a media microscope. As well as, black is not the best color for summer daytime wear. A softer color such as white or a lighter pink may not have brought as much attention to the fact she is feminine no matter what EE says! :)

[patricia92243]

6. Hillary's neckline or Edward's haircut - which is the most important. You will have to give me a

few days to think over and decide on this important issue - which, which, which? So many choices, so little time.

:sarcasm:

[Enrique]

8. how come they never report on male politicians' cleavage?

[Perry Logan]

9. With guys, they talk about haircuts. Anything to distract and trivialize.

[CTyankee]

16. Oh, I don't know. We had fun with Bush's sock in the crotch of the flight suit, didn't we?

And all the fawning media who commented on how "manly" Bush looked, wink wink, nudge nudge!

[Alamom]

10. I thought Hillary & Michelle (both) looked nice yesterday,

Strong, smart and feminine. I guess some people have a problem with that.......


http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/07/19/0719letters_edit.html


Thursday, July 19, 2007

The attire – and message –

of a hopeful first lady







Michelle Obama spoke to supporters at a luncheon in West Lake Hills. Obama spent a day in Austin trying to gather support for her husband, Sen. Barack Obama, for his presidential bid.

**************
In the same issue of the American-Statesman (July 12) in which Lady Bird Johnson and the essence of that great woman was so admirably remembered, I could not help but notice the stark contrast between the former first lady and the hopeful first lady, Michelle Obama, wife of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Michelle Obama's attire at a West Lake Hills luncheon was less than fitting for the position of first lady.

CAROLYN PATE

[iamjoy]

13. It Is A Pretty Wretched Top

But then, she seems to be a brilliant and strong woman. If I had more time, I would like to read what she said because I'm sure that matters more than a stupid top.

As for Hillary, I won't comment on her fashion choices - although I don't think looking feminine is a bad thing. I think women can look feminine and still project strength. I will say this about Hillary's appearance and I noted this watching clips of the all night debate (clips from around 10:30 ET). Hillary looks tired. That's not good. Even though it is understandable because she has a crazy schedule, if she is President of the United States, she will be under a lot of stress and have a lot of demands placed upon her. I know she is competent and capabel, but to win she needs to LOOK like she handle it.

[Totally Committed]

11. Hillary shows cleavage -- ALERT THE MEDIA!

Who says this campaign won't be about the substantive issues?

TC

[MethuenProgressive]

12. "OMG! She has breasts!!"

What's next from the wapo? "OMG! Obama has dark skin!!"
"OMG! Richardson speaks Spanish!!"
"OMG! Gore's an Environmentalist!!"
"OMG! Edwards is a rich lawyer!!"
...
And how many of our troops were killed or maimed yesterday?
See Page 2...

[Superman Returns]

14. fucking ridiculous

[William769]

15. Are we down to this?

:eyes:

[Mark Twain Girl]

25. Clearly. This is just... cringe-worthy, regardless of whether one supprts HRC or not. n/t

[Joe Bacon]

17. It's time to support THE REAL NEWS

SCREW THE WHORESHINGTON POST.

It's time to back a news organization that does NOT kiss corporate ass 24/7

Support THE REAL NEWS

Info at http://www.therealnews.com

[flpoljunkie]

18. This is just so inane, I don't know where to begin. Shame on the WaPo for writing this crap!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

19. I have nothing to add...

that won't turn this into a sex thread.

But if I were to say something, it would be something like, "Sweet Jesus, What A Rack!!!"

...would that be inappropriate?

[jmp]

20. "There was cleavage on display Wednesday afternoon on C-SPAN2."

There was? I've seen more cleavage on a guy's chin.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleft_chin

You be the judge. :P

[SaveElmer]

21. Latest evidence of the demise of the Washington Post...

From the halcyon days of Woodward and Bernstein bringing down a corrupt White House, to commenting on the cleavage of a 59 year old woman running for President...

Sad indeed....

[Mass]

22. Another example of the MSM's information power.

Who cares? Who cares about Edwards's hair cuts? Who cares about Obama's swimming suit?

Sadly, this is all the media think we are able to understand !

[KoKo]

23. I'm not a Hillary supporter...but I think it's a gorgeous outfit and Robin Givens

was the one who commented on Condi Rice's Dominatrix Outfit when she did her first European Tour that was incredibly perceptive about the image Condi was projecting with her military cut black coat and stilletto heeled high black boots.

I think Givens comments about Hillary softening her image are spot on. They are female observations and she writes a Style Column for WaPo which makes observations about famous personalities fasion choices.
Even though I'm not a Hillary supporter, I feel that she's always had great taste in clothes...but agree with Givens that this style departs from her usual. But, it's a great choice...

[Greyhound]

26. Is there any reason whatsoever for this to have been written in the first

place and reposted here in the second?

Breaking news: "John Edwards Sporting This Season's New Line Of Fall Boxers"

[NaturalHigh]

27. I don't know if I'd really call that "showing cleavage"...

but that is one incredibly ugly outfit.

[ElizabethDC]

29. Really? It looks like a pretty normal outfit to me.

Pink suit. Black shirt. Cute necklace. As far as Hillary's fashion goes (and I'm someone who criticizes her attire a lot), this seems fine to me.

[NaturalHigh]

33. My wife and mom call me a fashion victim.

I still have to ask my wife if different pieces of my attire match, so I'm obviously not very fashion-conscious. I was just giving my opinion when I said that her outfit was ugly. For all I know, she could win some sort of best-dressed award. I usually think the people who win those are wearing ugly outfits, too.

[ElizabethDC]

30. Best. Article. Ever. Love the hard-hitting journalism from the WP.

Really, they should write more articles about Hillary's cleavage.

:sarcasm:

[Perry Logan]

31. Don't you think Bush's colonoscopy is conveniently timed?

Can't you see he's trying to get our minds off of Hillary's cleavage?

But it's NOT GONNA WORK WITH ME...

[riqster]

32. WRGAS what she looks like????

I don;t give a monkey's about how she looks, all I want is a competent person in the White House.

Oh, and one that was actually ELECTED, too.

I'd love to vote for Hillary. A woman president will send millions of Fundies into a coma....

[Colobo]

35. I love sexy women.