Fashion and Power, Mutually Exclusive?

Last night 60 Minutes aired the much-awaited interview with "the most powerful woman in fashion," Anna Wintour. As an aspiring fashion editor, I find her focus and determination (and ability to smile and nod when she's called nasty names) inspiring, no matter what her critics say.

Wintour is angered by the idea that beauty--or at least, dressing well--and intelligence are mutually exclusive:


I think this idea, as Wintour says, that "if you look wonderful" you may be "less important, less powerful, less serious," is the root of D.C.'s fashion problems. You can certainly find incredibly stylish Washingtonians at social and nightlife events. But typical Washingtonians, especially those in politics and journalism, are still reluctant to embrace fashion--or at least the idea of taking the extra minutes or dollars to coordinate your accessories, tailor your suit, or buy a few investment pieces rather than replacing disposable, ill-fitting clothes from a cheap store every few years.

Do people think that, if you are polished and pressed and looking fabulous, you aren't as focused on your work? On the contrary, I think that if you do take those extra minutes in the morning to polish your appearance, you're more likely to care about your reputation on the job with equal care. Besides, few people in D.C. have the real, tangible power that most think they do--I really doubt you are so busy or caffeine-deprived that you can't press your skirt or spend five more minutes on your hair. Or pick out an outfit that's a little bit better than the slouchy turtleneck-style t-shirt, frumpy unpressed skirt, and Uggs (yes, Uggs) that I saw hurrying along 19th Street today undoubtedly to a fluorescent-light-filled cubicle. As they say, you should dress for the job you want, and regardless of what you think of her politics, I've never seen Nancy Pelosi in wrinkled skirts and Uggs.

Indeed, if Michelle Obama's sole contribution as First Lady is that she spent four years in D.C. dressing well, I think she'll have made a good contribution. It's a positive thing, especially for women, that she is widely accepted as a smart, educated woman yet praised for looking fabulous, too. And you have to wonder where the country would be today if Hillary Clinton hadn't backed out of that Vogue cover last year, right?

Update, 10:13pm: Apparently the clips have been removed from the CBS website, but you can read the original article about the show here.

Update, 11:47pm: Videos seem to be up again...for now.