When fashion and politics collide

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When fashion and politics collide

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Hillary Clinton, U.S. secretary of state

The world of politics is getting more fashionable than ever.

American columnist and writer Arianna Huffington wrote in Harper’s Bazaar during last year’s presidential election season in the United States that “Hillary Clinton’s evolving styles, including her Oscar de la Renta pantsuits, have gotten almost as much ink as her evolving political positions.”

She also inserted an anecdote involving a senior political writer for a major newspaper who, after hearing that Al Gore was on a diet and had dropped 10 pounds, began calculating the impact of a Gore candidacy on the other presidential candidates.

It’s not an entirely new development. After all, the fashion styles and appearances of politicians have provided fodder to observers for years. Look no further than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, for example.

But today we’re paying even more attention in part because there are more female politicians in the world. Of course, their styles aren’t as over-the-top as the main fashion icons of today in the film and music worlds. Rather, they opt for simple yet memorable, practical yet sophisticated looks, which are easier to emulate.

You might not be an influential female politician, but you can certainly learn to dress like one.


Europe’s beautiful politicians

In July, Chloe Smith became a new member of the United Kingdom parliament, representing Norwich North. A former management consultant for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Smith is just 27 years old. Once the parliamentary break ends in October and she takes her seat, Smith will be the youngest member of the House of Commons.

Although her fresh, clean image was a key factor in her victory, her wholesome, amicable looks and styles grabbed the spotlight. One media outlet reported that her androgynous voice and down-to-earth attitude reminded people of Tony Blair, the former British prime minister. Blair himself was even once a “Baby of the House,” the term used to refer to the youngest member of the U.K. Parliament.

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Na Kyung-won, Grand National Party lawmaker in Korea

During her campaign, Smith often wore simple suits - sometimes featuring pants, sometimes skirts. Along with short hair and a face that brings to mind Brooke Shields, the style appeared to have worked well for Smith.

France is also in sync with this trend. Upon assuming office in 2007, French President Nicolas Sarkozy appointed seven women to his new 15-member cabinet team. All of the female members of Sarkozy’s cabinet were just as attractive as they were competent, making waves all over the world.

Rachida Dati, who served as the country’s justice minister until June, was one of the most glamorous yet controversial cabinet members. The daughter of Algerian and Moroccan parents, she was the first person of North African origin to hold a top government post in Paris.

But Dati, 42, was often criticized for her love of ostentatious outfits and luxurious accessories. She even appeared on the cover of a celebrity magazine alongside John Galliano, the designer behind Dior.


Hillary, Luciana, Yuriko

America’s first lady, Michelle Obama, is touted as the newest fashionista in the U.S. political scene. But she isn’t the only one.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 61, has been in the eye of fashion critics since she was the first lady from 1993 to 2001. Last year, when she was running as a presidential candidate, Clinton took her fashion sensitiveness a notch higher, even consulting with star designer Donatella Versace.

Clinton ranked 34th in “The World’s 50 Most Beautiful Female Politicians,” compiled by the Daily Mail, a British newspaper.

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Rachida Dati, former justice minister in France

One thing that sets Clinton’s fashion apart from the styles of other female politicians is how well she uses primary colors, fashion experts say. She is often seen wearing bright red and bright blue, sometimes sporting both a jacket and a skirt in those colors.

The fashion trend has moved down south as well.

Topping the Daily Mail’s list is Peruvian congresswoman Luciana Leon. The 30-year-old is a lawyer by profession and the youngest member of Peru’s parliament. Leon also ranked first in “The World’s Most Beautiful Female Politicians,” published by the Spanish paper 20 Minutos.

With her flowing, shiny hair and perfect smile, Leon often dons simple and modern clothes, similar to the wardrobes of television anchorwomen.

Asia has its share of fashionable women politicians as well. Japan’s former defense minister, Yuriko Koike, is one of the country’s most influential female politicians, both in substance and in style. The 57-year-old was a television anchor in her 30s. After jumping into politics in her 40s, she served as the minister of the environment, the minister of state for Okinawa and northern territories affairs and then the minister of defense.

There is also Eunice Olsen, a former member of parliament in Singapore. Olsen, who even won the Miss Singapore Universe contest in 2000, sought to raise awareness of youth-related issues. She remained a member of parliament until July.



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Korea’s answers

When it comes to Korea’s beautiful female politicians, most people think of Na Kyung-won, a Grand National Party lawmaker. In June, she posed for fashion magazine Elle Korea alongside star figure skater Kim Yu-na, ballerina Kang Sue-jin and actress Moon Geun-young. Succeeding her in the GNP is Cho Yoon-sun, another politician with actress-like looks. Cho, 40, is a former lawyer and executive.

There’s also Cha Yeong, former spokeswoman for the Democratic Party; Sin Eun-kyeong, former spokeswoman for the Liberty Forward Party; and Kim Eun-hye, a Blue House spokeswoman.

The common denominator among these three women is that they’re all former television anchors. Some media reports during the general elections in May of last year focused on this crop of attractive, high-profile ladies.


By Kang Seung-min [hkim@joongang.co.kr]
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