Posted on 10/27/2008 11:55:57 AM PDT by dano1
Sarah Palin says she doesn't wear the clothes anymore that have been in focus since it was revealed the Republican National Committee spent $150,000 to outfit her and her family with designer items from posh stores.
Addressing the controversy on the campaign trail in Florida Sunday, Palin told a crowd she's "back to wearing my own clothes from my favorite consignment shop in Anchorage, Alaska."
That shop is called "Out of the Closet" and its owner, Ellen Arvold, told Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen Monday that Palin's been wearing similar outfits on the stump to what she buys at the shop.
Palin "started shopping here while she was running for governor, so it's been about three years," Arvold said.
"She shops for herself mostly," Arvold continued, "but she often brings her daughters with her, and they will pick out some things for themselves. She likes jackets. She buys kind of classic, feminine, fitted jackets. She likes leather jackets. Her girls have bought jeans here and also some jackets and knit tops."
Prices in "Out of the Closet" vary widely, Arvold said, "from a knit top for $16 to a handbag for $800, but our prices are generally very reasonable. I would say a normal price for a jacket would be between $40 and $100."
Arvold wouldn't say how much Palin typically spends at the shop "because she's a client, and I value her privacy. But I think she could probably come in and buy our whole store three-times-over for $150,000!"
Asked if the clothes she sells look much different from what we've been seeing Palin wear on the campaign trail, Arvold replied, "I don't really think her style has changed too much. She still wears beautiful suits, tailored jackets that are feminine, but still classic. I've seen her wear, you know, her typical high heels and boots. So, no, I don't think her style has changed too much. I have only seen a few pieces that she's bought here on the campaign trail, but, no, I think she looks great."
Very true! I was going to mention that my wife puts up with a lot more with regards to MY spending than I have to with her. (”But ammo is expensive honey, and ten boxes doesn’t really last that long..”)
More than 150K.... IF the family showed up in their at home clothes they probably would have been crucified by the media as “Hicks”. I have no problem with this at all. After this past few months it’s the best money spent by the RNC in my opinion.
Nothing in the articled indicated that Sarah did. The article said she spent $40-100 on jackets. That is very reasonable.
And UPS and FedEx are grateful. /sarc
I'm waiting for the article on “Palin Money Mismanagement - forced to shop at consignment stores to make ends meet.”
Anyone who shops at a thrift/consignment shop is not going to be a great watchdog for our tax dollars!
Isn’t it just so typical: Liberals are supposed to be feminists but they focus on her clothes and gossip instead of the relevant facts. It is getting to the point where I see neo-Liberal women as belonging in burkas!
Correction:
Anyone who shops at a thrift/consignment shop is going to be a great watchdog for our tax dollars!
Sorry about the typo.
That is the price on the designer bags at the Outlet Malls one season after they are popular. These are bags that can easily retail for over $2000++ when they are first offered for sale. There is actually a web site that will rent these pricey bags to people who want to look like they have money, but don’t.
You are correct that consignment shops are not the same as Goodwill. Goodwill gets the dregs after the consignment shops have clearance sales. Consignment shops are a great place for designer clothing that has been gently used, sometimes only worn once or twice. The shop owners then have them cleaned and pressed and repaired, if needed.
There are also shops in NYC that are known for *broken lots*. These are designer ready-to-wear lines that have sold down to a few sizes/few colors. It has been over 20 years since I was shopping in NYC, but then, those shops would open at 11 am. The owners were at the showrooms in the mornings, picking through whatever was left and probably getting a discount for volume buys.
eBay is a great place for *new with tags* clothing. If you know that you can wear a certain size from a certain designer without having to try it on, these are great sellers to buy from. They bring the Outlet Mall/broken lots shops to the entire world.
Overstock.com is another great place for designer clothing at
average prices, but you have to be able to buy off the rack, know the sizing of various lines and be prepared to ship it right back if it doesn’t fit.
As I understand it, the Wasilla shop buys in LA at other consignment shops there. Likely the LA shop has wealthy clients who only buy designer clothing and only wear it for a season. Reselling their used clothing helps finance the next season’s buys.
Sarah is not misleading anyone who understands how to get expensive clothing for less. With her income and in her position, she could probably buy designer ready-to-wear at retail, but she is frugal enough to not do so. Nowhere is she said to have purchased an $800 handbag, but if she had that weakness, it is no one’s business, IMO. I know people who regularly travel to NYC by plane and stay in the *being renovated* rooms at the top hotels for half-price just for shoe sales and brag that they only paid $200 for a pair of shoes that retailed for $800-$1000. They will buy 5 pairs at a time. It is just a different world.
800 dollars for a nice handbag or case is quite within the realm of someone living with the household income of her and her husband or many dual income professional families
not one for everyday but one fancy Prada or Longchamps bag
800 is a long way from the Hermes or Balenciaga bags a lot of frosty rich Dems carry
You are absolutely right. One can find very nice things at consignment shops. Being in her position as governor, she needs to look chic. I’m impressed that she not only shops there, but seems proud that she does.
I love that she’s thrifty given her position, but governors do not shop at Good Will!
I bought my computer desk at a consignment shop. It’s a lovely large oak roll top computer desk. The only thing missing, or wrong, with it is that I don’t have the key to lock it. I paid but a fraction of the retail price. I’m so glad someone wanted to get rid of it. ;o)
BTW, on a related subject, my father once advised me NEVER to answer the question, ''Honey, does this (dress, outfit, whatever) make me look fat?''
I have followed his very wise advice consistently.
;^)
Yes...your dad is indeed a VERY wise fellow.
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