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Rarely in our history has so much media hype been aroused
since the Republican convention in August and the selection
of Gov. Sarah Palin as their vice presidential candidate. |
Words bandied about in the press and T.V. include: unique,
compelling, bold, fascinating, alluring, daring, sexy and
imposing. And that's just describing Sarah Palin's audacious
eyeglasses. Not since the days of rock group, U2 and their
famous leader, Bono, with his Armani wrap around sunglasses,
has so much endless intrigue been associated with a
celebrity's eyeglasses.
Her spectacles are making a serious fashion statement. As
a result, fashion magazines and high end optical
establishments are reporting a frenzy in designer glasses
purchases. The Kazuo Kawasaki titanium frames start at about
$375.00 and many styles are available from his distributor,
Italee Optics, Inc. There are 150 lens patterns that can be
"swapped out." However by the time the glasses are
delivered with additional lens benefits, the cost may reach
between $700.00 to $1,000.00.
Some wags have compared her eyeglass identification with
the "pants suit" logo associated with Hillary
Clinton. And who can forget the fashion uproar started by
Jackie Kennedy with her famous pillbox hats. There is Cindy
McCain's $300,000 Oscar de la Renta and diamonds outfit worn
at the convention. And how about Michelle Obama's throwback
Jackie O. shift dresses. But everyone feels that Sarah Palin
has stolen the spotlight with her Kawasaki 704 frames and
the SP51 (for Sarah Palin) lens shape.
Fashion stylist Susanne Hughes comments, "The
eyeglass frames that Palin chooses are light, delicate and
rimless. This gives her a subtle look of sophistication.
This means that attention will not be drawn away from her
speech. They seem to enhance her look and give a little
mystery at the same time."
Her face shape is oval and can thus handle almost any
lens design. Palin does well with angled patterns. In her
case, the rectangular shape is the one she most desires.
Thus her natural features are highlighted.
Her glasses give the impression of intelligence,
education and a businesslike ambience. Some say that it is a
sophisticated look, but with an edge to it. She single
handedly belies the old phrase, "Men don’t make
passes at girls who wear glasses." Some ladies are
giving up wearing their contact lenses to take advantage of
the positive publicity and join the new "in"
group. The thinking is, "After all, if it's good enough
for a vice presidential candidate, why not me?"
Palin may have that "naughty librarian" look
but her glasses make people take her more seriously. Karen
O'Connor, founder and director of the Women and Politics
Institute at American University, is disappointed. She says,
"It shows how little we’ve advanced because we are
still focusing on hair, makeup and glasses. Once you've seen
what a female candidate is wearing, that's gone but the
glasses stay and continue to attract attention."
The Japanese firm that manufactures the Kawasaki frame is
experiencing a sudden burst upward in business with
production on a 24 hour schedule. Masunaga Optical
Manufacturing Co. states that the brand is smart and the
result of high technology which removed any unnecessary
decorations with the temples joined directly to the lens. A
bit of trivia is revealed via the information that the
manufacturer is located in Fukui, home to the city of Obama.
The residents there have started a campaign to support their
accidental namesake, Barack Obama.
Sarah Palin’s Kawasaki glasses were custom made for her
by Home Optics in Chugiak, Alaska. The owner went to Palin's
home and fitted her in the family kitchen. She selected from
a group of nearly 300 frames and narrowed it down to five
frames. The entire family helped her make the final choice.
It was the Kawasaki 704 in a gray color. We are told that
Gov. Palin is myopic with a small amount of astigmatism and
no bifocals prescribed. She owned seven pairs of glasses but
wanted a more modern look.
The Kawasaki frame series are made of titanium and are
rimless. Similar frame styles have been worn by other
celebrities such as: Colin Powell, David Letterman, and
Whoopee Goldberg. Italee executives are gratified with the
interest in the frames. They feel that few celebrities have
set off this kind of frenzy.
Analysts have offered the opinion that the glasses
project authority yet approachability, and avoid a sense of
elitism. A high profile female would consider making changes
in her appearance to get people to take her more seriously.
Palin's style strategy is considered very clever. Beth
Moore, Times Fashion Editor, reveals that when Vogue
Magazine interviewed Palin before the convention, she said
that she was trying to be as "frumpy as I could by
wearing my hair on top of my head and these schoolmarm
glasses."
Consumer psychologist, Dr. Joyce Brothers is quoted as
saying, “She's what's new and consumers want what's new.
But if she loses, you won't see many people in those style
glasses." Perhaps the manufacturer ought to concentrate
on sales before November 4th rolls around and it just may be
too late to ride the crest of the wave.
For some time now we have witnessed how polarizing style
can be. Fashion may be a potent tool for presenting a
candidate to the public. Women have a bigger challenge than
men in that they must keep the focus on the issues, and not
their clothes, looks, or glasses. I am reminded of the story
when Einstein's wife asked him to change his clothes to meet
the German ambassador. He said, "If they want to see
me, here I am. If they want to see my clothes, open my
closet and show them my suits."
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