Designers give thumbs up to Sarah Palin's $150,000 wardrobe

Washington, Nov 1 : Amid controversies regarding the alleged expenditure of 150,000 dollars on U.S. Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin's campaign wardrobe, top designers have given her the thumbs up for it.

Designers have said that there was nothing excessive or inappropriate about the GOP funding as it enhances one's image, and also plays a critical role where success is concerned.

"She is running for vice president, and both the President and vice president of the United States should be iconic. She should be someone we look up to on many levels, and her image is this country's image," Fox News quoted Stacey Bendet, designer and owner of the world-famous Alice + Olivia, as saying.

Agreeing with Bendet was Maternity clothes designer Liz Lange, whose garments are worn by big names like Kelly Ripa, Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon.

"She is the centre of major media attention and she needs to look the part of a professional while on the campaign trail," Lange said.

Amanda Reno, who is Carmen Electra's personal stylist, said that fashion can make or break someone in any field.

"It can change the way you feel and act, your mood and the way the world sees you," Reno said.

Leading stylist Rebecca Resnick, who works with everyone from Lindsay Lohan and Pete Wentz to Mariska Hagitay and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, appreciates Palin's style.

"Palin's style is clean, classic, and conservative, as I believe it should be," Resnick said.

"She is very much in the public eye and under constant scrutiny, so the more classic and sophisticated she comes across will only better her in the end," she added.

But "Project Runway" sensation Nick Verreos disagrees, saying that while Palin's look "exudes confidence and command," her uber-glam garments make her a hypocrite.

"It (the 150,000 dollars) would not have been an issue unless she did not portray herself as this 'everyday run-of-the-mill Soccer Mom,' who is just like 'you and me.' It just came off as hypocritical for Palin," he said.

"This argument that the RNC just 'gave it to her'; well she could have taken the high road and not accepted," he stated.

However, he agreed that Palin's shopping spree perhaps did something to boost the very unfashionable economy.

"Palin's purchases helped those individual stores greatly," said Verreos.

"Especially in these sour economic times, where every day we learn of more and more retail chains closing. I am sure the sales people and store managers in St. Louis' and New York City's Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as Minneapolis' Macy's and Neiman Marcus were very, very happy," he added.

ANI