Sarah’s Fashion Makeover Headed

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Former beauty queen and aspiring vice-president Sarah Palin has a playful and fresh style that is certainly creating waves in the political fashion scene. Who wears a hot red leather jacket while campaigning?

Only Sarah Palin. A recent NY Observer article revealed that Sarah’s fashion makeover may be masterminded by the women referred to as “the best dress Republican in town.” Gahl Hodges Burt, served as the “social secretary to First Lady Nancy Reagan from 1983 to 1985.

She is also reportedly providing valuable style tips to first lady hopeful Cindy McCain. This fashion guidance may have come not a moment too soon. In an unconfirmed report by the blog Abovetopsecret, Sarah was spotted wearing and quickly changing out of a pair of white pumps several days past Labor Day!

Sarah Sparks a Frenzy in Shoe Sales!

According to Dayjobnuker, she adorned Naughty Monkey Double Dare Pumps during her VP acceptance speech. Made of patent leather with formidable four-inch heels and mini-buckle, these chic red shoes complement the energetic hockey mom yet “not to be underestimated” politician image that Palin wants to project.

Also, the affordability of these shoes deliver the message that she has a lot in common with the average American woman. In a Wall St Journal article entitled “Palin’s Style Sparks Buying Frenzy, And Fashion Firms Rush to Cash In” sales of these Naughty Monkey shoes at the Amazon online retailer unit Endless shot up 50% to thousands of pairs shortly after this appearance.

So, you may wonder what the target market is for this designer brand of shoes? According to the official naughty-monkey website,

“The Naughty Monkey customer is a fashion innovator, confident in her sense of style; knowing what she wants and what she likes.…. She is funky, sophisticated and edgy, with a touch of sweet.”

After being thrust into the national spotlight, unintended or not, Sarah has created a fashion buzz that is “Red Carpet like”. Is she perceived as much (or more) as a celebrity icon as a political icon amongst her female supporters? Her influence is not limited to shoes.

Eyeglass distributors have seen a similar upsurge in demand for the exact shape and style of her designer specs. Dr. Joyce Brothers, the consumer psychologist has commented:

She’s what’s new, and consumers want what’s new.”

VP Debate Shoe Mystery Solved!

The high profile ShoeAholicsAnonymous site was instrumental in solving the mystery about which designer shoes Sarah choose to wear to the pivotal vice presidential debates. The ultimate consensus was that Sarah selected the Kate Spade Karolina Classic Pumps in Ruby Crocco Patent Print for this historical occassion. These shoe choices mirror Palin’s strong yet fun and spontaneous political vision.

For those looking to emulate the Palin look for less than the $300 price tag for the Karolina pumps, there are some clear choices out there. Mossimo Danae Buckle Pumps and Pleaser Women’s Seduce 420 Pumps look similar to Palin’s shoe favorites, but cost much less says Budgetfashionista.

“Who is the real Sarah Palin? Wal-Mart hockey mom or a clothes horse?”

The recent controversial shopping sprees with hefty price tags of $75,062 at Neiman Marcus and $49,425 at Saks Fifth Avenue are a stark contrast to Sarah’s pre-campaign shopping habits. Sarah told FoxNews

If people knew how Todd and I and our kids shop so frugally. My favourite shop is a consignment shop in Anchorage, Alaska, called Out of the Closet. And my shoe store is called Shoe Fly in Juneau, Alaska. … It’s not, you know, Fifth Avenue-type of shopping.”

As a matter of fact, Sarah Palin bought her own Naughty Monkey Double Dare pumps from Shoefly Inc, in Juneau, Alaska two weeks before her VP acceptance speech. High.heels.com quotes Sydney Mitchell from Shoefly as saying,

Although not everyone agrees with her politics, everyone can agree that she wears sexy shoes.”

As reported by US Magazine, in a recent Monday (10/27/08) edition of the the morning shoe, The View, host Joy Behar asked the question “”Who is the real Sarah Palin? The Wal-Mart hockey mom or a clothes horse?” Co-ost Elizabeth Hasselbeck, staunch Palin supporter came out in defense of Sarah’s recent shopping controversy. She said:

(Palin) calls Jimmy Choos, Johnny Choos. This is not a fashionista by any means. She’s not a clotheshorse.”

Shoeaholicsanonymous has seen Sarah making a smooth transition into the Fall Season with these Cole Haan Sierra Air Tall Boots made of leather and suede.

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