What are you wearing?
November 14th, 2006
Speaking of what powerful women wear their first day on the job, let’s take a brief trip down memory lane, shall we? Here’s a gem from a press conference with Katie Couric this summer.
Couric was questioned again about why she left her longtime “Today” job to take the anchor position (a rare opportunity, and nothing to do with being the first solo female network anchor, she said) and how her daughters, ages 10 and 14, received her decision (supportively).
She finally drew the line at a query about what she intended to wear on her first newscast.
“You’re kidding, right?” she replied.
“Sadly, I’m not,” said the reporter asking the question, an acknowledgment of the microscopic scrutiny given to Couric’s ascension to the ABC-CBS-NBC anchor troika.
“I’ve actually gone to Charlie Gibson’s stylist,” Couric responded wryly, referring to her ABC counterpart.
Anyone else have any gems they’d like to share, either from your own life of the lives of public figures? I’m collecting.
Entry Filed under: Glass ceiling, She's the boss
2 Comments Add your own
1. ddv | November 14th, 2006 at 9:56 am
Thank goodness I wear jeans and old punk concert T’s to work everyday, and no one writes op-ed pieces on me! And it hasn’t been career limiting yet (they did set up the casual dress code after all)
I also don’t think that the fashion lens has been focused soley on women who have bucked the trend and taken prominent places in male-dominated. How much flak does Donald Trump get for his hair? Didn’t the late Ed Bradley cause quite a stir for being a prime time news anchor with an earring? And how many athletes get constantly hounded/scrutinized for their off-the-court/field apparel.
I think Couric and Pelosi are in the fashion eye because they are women. I don’t hink you can deny that women tend to be more fashion focused than men–and you have more options for professional dress. Men have suits and we have tuxedo’s–there is only so much you can do with either of those. How many magazines out there are geared towards women and fashion? now try to find more than a couple for men.
I’m not defending the fluff pieces on the fashion of the new speaker, but I don’t think it is a major crisis. Hell, if some high school girl who, at this point in her life, only cares about clothes and chasing boys, reads an article on what Pelosi is wearing, she just might start to think of Pelosi as a role model. Now wouldn’t that be something, The Speaker of the House as a role model for young women everywhere.
~ddv
2. Michelle Goodman | November 14th, 2006 at 11:14 am
i agree, ddv, not a crisis, but i find this topic very, very interesting. for example, someone from the UK told me this tale: the first woman Speaker in the UK Parliament was asked by some male politicians what she’d do if her tights fell down when she was walking in procession to the opening of Parliament… geez.
you make a GREAT point about role models for young girls. i appreciate that. AND your casual work attire. but i also appreciate that women will be scrutinized more than men when they assume roles that were once solely run by the boys’ club.
people have said, well men in power/the public eye only have a couple of wardrobe choices: navy suit, black suit, gray suit. maybe men are smart to stick to the “uniform,” so that the public doesn’t waste time talking about their appearance. yes, the trump gets a ton of flack. ed bradley’s being memorialized in the media as the dude with the earring. and if charles gibson showed up to work in a fire-engine-red suit, the sky would probably fall. in fact, former san francisco mayor willie brown was in the news more for his flashy ensembles than his policies, and remember when al gore the presidential candidate tried earth tones?!?!
but when women in power HAVEN’T had much glamour or fashion sense (or have shied away from it), the media jumps all over that too. think janet reno, barbara bush, and some of hil clinton’s early first lady ensembles. for women, it’s a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t thing. and yeah, it’s not world hunger, but it’s a curious topic and for some boneheads, a way to strike out against women in power:
http://pandagon.net/2006/11/02/nancy-pelosi-has-girl-cooties/
but i’m willing to move on. in another day or so.
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