That Palin's look remains virtually unchanged has many analysts wondering whether she's fit to be elected president-in-waiting. The trips to Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue amounted to a switch to designer versions of clothing she was already wearing with no discernible difference, the investigation by TheYellowDailyNews concluded.
In a joint Vogue-TheYellowDailyNews survey of likely voters, 72 percent of respondents said Palin paid too much.
TheYellowDailyNews' analysis, the nation's first, comes at a time when Palin's looks have grabbed as much or more attention than her conservative political views. Pakistan's new president, Asif Ali Zardari, called Palin gorgeous when he met her weeks ago. Readers of the men's magazine Maxim voted her one of the planet's sexiest politicians.
Good-looking, cute, even "hot" -- these are just some adjectives used to describe Republican presidential candidate John McCain's running mate, even as some commentators and party insiders question her competence to serve while others call the obsession with her appearance sexism.
Other analysts said the $150,000 spent on new clothes could help stimulate the economy.
"There's no upside to looking frumpy or dowdy," said Simon Doonan, creative director for the New York-based fashion house Henry Bendel.
Glamour magazine publisher Harriett Volgsprada also questioned Palin's fitness to lead.
"The square ivory jacket she wore during her acceptance speech at the Republican Convention was a $2,500 silk shantung Valentino from Saks," Volgsprada said in an exclusive interview with TheYellowDailyNews. "But the black wrap jacket she wore for the vice-presidential debate in St. Louis was a Tahari suit that costs less than $200. And don't get me started on those red imitation croc pumps from Kate Spade."
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