Royal Flash
Regardless of what one might think about the President, when she’s abroad, one ends up hoping she doesn’t embarrass the country. At the end of the day, she still represents the rest of the citizens over here, you know. So whatever she does, reflects on us. (And believe you me, when meeting people for the first time abroad, chances are, your President is going to pop up in the ice-breaker.)
So there she was, traipsing around
At least, Gloria’s creamish silk or satin gown looked expensive. Never mind if it seemed there was a slight chance she going to be swallowed up in the millions of yards that made up the entire outfit – it looked regal. She looked presidential. So tick that box. One for the
Her next trip was
Queen Elizabeth was in a severe emerald gown with only a tiny brooch to liven it up, and discreet pearls to match her snow white hair. Thank God, the President was dressed sensibly. Nothing too flashy or trying hard. She was in this reddish, textured dress with matching overcoat, that had a fringy edge from collar to hem. It sort of made her look like she had laid down on the carpet and rolled around in it, and then stood up in a magical gown-transforming moment. But still, very important, it was not, repeat, not flashy. (Her props was wearing a decent black suit.)
Now, that’s what I call decent representation. She did us proud in that instance (although I will take this back if I find out she was wearing two-inch Havaianas under that dress). No inappropriate patches of skin or cleavage showing, just the right amount of jewelry, hair in the right places and shape.
I don’t know which came later, this visit to the Queen or her audience with former Prime Minister Tony Blair, which happened at her Presidential suite in the Dorchester Hotel. (Who the heck is paying for this room? Is my tax money paying for this again?!) In any case, on this tete-a-tete with Tony, Gloria is wearing the exact same rouge carpet outfit! God forbid!
Maybe, she wanted to be low key in her private one-on-one (smile for the cameras!) with Tony. I’m sure she asked him how life in retirement from power suited him. “So, Tony, how does it feel not go home to
So maybe it was “So, Tony, how does it feel not to be in the seat of power anymore? Are you happy with your legacy of being Bush’s lapdog? (This in a whisper while she looks around to see if her lapdog is listening.)
Or maybe, “so, Tony, is there room in your new outfit for a person with my intimate working knowledge of tropical island-government bureaucracy? I am seriously thinking about retirement options…”
I know, it’s bad to speculate what they talked about. Let’s wait for her (carefully-edited) memoirs decades from now, in which she’ll probably gush about how she was gushing when she rendezvoused with him in a fashionable hotel in
Back to outfits. I know I keep saying the President shouldn’t spend too much on clothes. But if she’s going to have a photo-op with another world leader, maybe she can quick-change into another outfit? Never mind if it’s recycled – at least it’s something the international press hasn’t seen like – you know – 30 minutes ago?
Ok, I might be too shallow here, outfits shouldn’t dictate my evaluation of her trip. But can I help judging her on the basis of her outfits if she keeps popping out in photo-ops?
It’s a reflection of us, I guess. If she came out with a signed treaty on international economics, you think the treaty would land on first page? What, are you kidding? We’re a personality-driven government, remember? It’s not about the results, it’s about who did it. So, can I help it if my critical processes are equally flawed?
I’m just a victim, too.
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