Newspaper Article

Criticism befitting a first lady Style tips for first lady Style: Her husband hasn't even been inaugurated yet, but Laura Bush is already a fair target for fashion experts, as were her predecessors

Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan

2001

Overview

With Bush on the cusp of taking over as the nation's social hostess, the issues of her outfit choices and (lack of) dress sense suddenly have become important among the fashion elite. Bush, publicly content in her role as wife, mother and former teacher and librarian, has never feigned any desire to come even close to the cutting edge of fashion. But that hasn't warded off the increasingly catty criticism of her clothes and an outcry for her to spruce up - pronto. Sharyn Wizda, the Austin American-Statesman's fashion writer who has charted Bush's style for years, said the new First Lady's fashion leanings have always been conservative. Wizda said Bush prefers wearing skirted suits without blouses because they're convenient and she doesn't like fussing over her clothes. Bush has used Texas designer Michael Faircloth since she entered the limelight as the governor's wife in 1994, and Wizda speculated that this arrangement will not change. In fact, Bush commissioned Faircloth to design her inaugural outfits. Shawny Burns, fashion coordinator at Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase, offered other tips to Bush for fitting into her new role. Burns said Bush would look great in longer jackets and pantsuits, which would elongate her figure, or perhaps a dress with a matching jacket. She suggested that Bush experiment with elegant accessories like nice pearl earrings or a great strand of pearls, shed the outfits in taupes and grays for brighter colors like red and also that she stay away from prints, which often don't show up well in photographs.

• Publisher: Tribune Publishing Company, LLC
• Subject: Bush, Laura / Clinton, Hillary / Faircloth, Michael / Mayo, Edith / Wizda, Sharyn