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I hope you are enjoying a stylish fall season! I am so excited to share a few of my recent media appearances from the campaign trail and update you on fashion events in November. I hope you enjoy the fun tips and join me at one of the special events!
Stay in touch, Lauren
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Capitol File magazine shines the spotlight on Lauren and she reveals her style philosophy!
Lauren breaks down the evolution of political style and dressing for votes with Reuters!
Lauren dishes on Janna Ryan’s style on Entertainment Tonight!
The Insider asks Lauren to rank Ann Romney’s style!
CATCH LAUREN AROUND TOWN
Saturday, November 10th: Join Lauren at Lord & Taylor, Tysons Corner Center for an afternoon of fashion, style and beauty! Lauren will be hosting a one-of-a-kind runway show previewing gowns for the upcoming inaugural balls. Learn how to match the dress to your invite! Festivities begin at 2pm with mini-makeover stations, bellini’s and cupcakes! Event is complimentary and no RSVP is needed.
Wednesday, November 14th: An evening of style featuring a fashion presentation by Lauren to benefit the worldwide Fistula Fund at Weil Gotshal. Lauren will feature the latest winter trends and help you dress for the holiday season! The event will be held from 6:30-9pm at 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC. Tickets, $35-$55; RSVP to attend, StyleRSVP@weil.com.
Saturday, November 17th: Join Lauren for the Fall Cosmetic Trend Show at Lord & Taylor, Tysons Corner Center. Learn about the latest trends in skincare and make-up from industry insiders and enjoy makeovers and mimosas! Event is complimentary, RSVP to Lauren@styleauteur.com for your goody bag!
Shopping Alert! Two of the best bargain shopping days are ahead: Black Friday (11/23) and Cyber Monday (11/26). Be sure to follow me on Twitter @Styleauteur and Facebook Styleauteur for the latest tips, tricks and trends to get the most bang for your buck!
Fashion Whip is a political style column in the Huffington Post by Lauren A. Rothman, inspired by Lauren’s experience as the founder of Styleauteur, a style and fashion consulting firm.
WASHINGTON – The GOP 2012 campaign is off and running with the Republican ticket almost officially complete, and Paul Ryan as Mitt Romney’s choice for veep. Politics aside, style gossip surrounding the new ticket has zoomed in on Ryan’s baggy suits a la Ron Paul, his consistent choice of checked shirts and his cowlick. And though we’d like to think otherwise, a campaign is not just run (or won) come November with the names on the ballot – it is influenced by the image of the foursome America is just getting to know.
The Romneys and Ryans photograph well together; Ann, Mitt, Janna, and Paul look like coeds frolicking on the lawn of an Ivy League campus, but with a dash of reality. This campaign lacks the plastic Barbies from Stepford (Cindy McCain, Callista Gingrich, Michele Bachmann ) and the ‘ambush makeover’ of Sarah Palin. In fact, of the four, only Mitt never has a hair out of place or a bead of sweat on his face.
President Obama and first lady Michelle are the reigning homecoming king and queen, but Mitt and Ann Romney are like the head of Greek life. Powerful, but not yet in charge. Both are power couples but only one will consolidate their hold on leadership. The Obama’s social presence in Washington, DC has been said to have the Oprah effect – even in a tough economy, such a couple can help keep a restaurant or hamburger joint on the map with one visit. Just the type of positive PR the tourism bureau needs!
America is only now starting to picture a different future. One led by two dark-haired good-looking men with a strong physical resemblance (they appear as almost a father/son duo) supported by blue-eyed friendly blondes. Mitt in his man-of-the-people Gap jeans and button down or his GOP leading man uniform of a debonair suit. At his side, Ann could be in couture or trying hard to master business casual. The dated, ill-fitting pants Paul Ryan wears indicate he does not share Mitt’s tailor, while Janna is a happy bargain shopper . We may hate to think people vote based on image, but there is no doubt the GOP wants you questioning which “team image” should represent this country.
Although American history is full of forgotten men, the role of a strong VP is bolstered by an indelible and unforgettable professional image. We want to see a super fit Ryan campaigning in clothing that actually fits and then teaching Hoda and Kathy Lee his P90X moves on the Today Show showing off his ‘human’ side. We want to see Janna debuting Kirna Zabete for Target because shopping on a budget is chic. Michelle Obama herself is a pro at mixing high and low brands – and adding a belt to her ensembles. Don’t steal her look but do use your enviable figure. The Bidens are a stylish couple who keep the status quo – Jill enjoys fashion and Joe always looks polished.
The Obamas edge out the competition when it comes to style, accessibility and poise. They are relatable, stylish, and a rags-to-riches success story that helps keep dreams alive. They have perfected the updated “Americana” look with Sasha and Malia wearing J.Crew, Michelle supporting independent designers like Jason Wu, Thakoon, Isabel Toledo , and President Obama in Hart Schaffner Marx.
We will undoubtedly become infatuated with the GOP foursome over the next two months and compare their political love story to the Obama-Biden relationship. America, take notice – the best outfits are yet to come.
Fashion Whip is a political style column in the Huffington Post by Lauren A. Rothman, inspired by Lauren’s experience as the founder of Styleauteur, a style and fashion consulting firm.
Follow @Styleauteur on Twitter & ‘Like’ Styleauteur on Facebook.
We are excited to share that Huffington Post Style columnist Lauren A. Rothman is featured on CBS’s celebrity news show, Entertainment Tonight! Click here to watch Lauren comment on the political style of Janna Ryan, wife of GOP Vice Presidential hopeful Paul Ryan:
Women of Fashion Women who go above and beyond to make sure Washington’s residents have style. By Sarah Zlotnick
In a city that’s not supposed to care all that much about style, some women have done well by helping us with what we wear–and influencing how we shop. Here are some standouts in Washington’s fashion scene.
The Stylists: The services of Styleauteur, Rothman’s fashion-consulting firm, are multifaceted. One day PricewaterhouseCoopers might bring her in for a session on corporate style; the next she might work with a soldier adjusting to civilian life on an amputated leg. Between penning a column on political style for the Huffington Post and dressing government officials on Capitol Hill, Rothman has found a niche amid Washington’s blend of sophistication and practicality. “I work with people who are thirsty for a knowledge about why they should care about fashion,” she says. “And I love getting to educate.”
Fashion Whip is a political style column in The Huffington Post by fashion stylist Lauren A. Rothman and HuffPost DC reporter Christina Wilkie inspired by Lauren’s experience at Styleauteur, the firm she founded. Follow on Twitter at @Styleauteur.
WASHINGTON — As Mitt Romney moves into full-scale general election mode this week, his wife faces more than the challenge of boosting her husband’s candidacy. Ann Romney meets a tough competitor of her own: first lady Michelle Obama, an international style star who enjoys sky-high approval ratings.
Over the past four years, the first lady has crafted a near-flawless signature style built around mixing patterns, combining high and low labels, kitten heels, and clean lines that highlight her admirable physical fitness.
Ann Romney has so far focused on appearing approachable and appropriately dressed for the occasion and not evoking the Stepford political wife stereotype. During the GOP primary, her style strategy proved effective in a field that included the ultra-dressy Callista Gingrich and the often casually outfitted Karen Santorum.
But this is the general election, and Romney — who has already answered the questions in voters’ minds about her ability to serve as first lady and her crucial-asset status in her husband’s campaign — should be prepared for near-microscopic scrutiny of her look.
To that end, Fashion Whip has three wishes we’d love to see granted by Ann Romney.
Red Carpet Tresses. It’s no secret that a great hairdo can be a bear to maintain, but now that Romney is appearing on television nearly every day, a smooth blow-out a few times a week would go far to putting her on par with Michelle Obama’s consistently perfect ‘do.
Romney’s hair looks smashing with a layered cut and side-swept bangs, and some of her best looks have involved a big injection of volume. That said, she has her off days, too, and we’ve spotted frizz and dark roots.
While this may sound trivial, the fact is that in an age of digital images, the vast majority of pictures of Ann Romney that voters see in the near future will be headshots. Ideally, each one of them will help reinforce a positive impression of her. Romney is a major player in this election — there’s no reason voters should be distracted by a bad hair day.
A Signature Style. Ann Romney needs to create her own look, something Michelle Obama did not fully develop until her first year in the White House. So far, Romney has clearly shopped her own closet — a savvy move in an election in which her wealth has been a political liability — and emerged favoring separates and button-down collared shirts.
But what has looked best so far on the wife of the presumptive Republican nominee hasn’t been those conservative button-downs, which add bulk to her frame and compete for space in photos with her hair. Nor has it been the classic campaign trail color, red. On the contrary, Romney’s most memorable looks have combined neutral shades, scoop-neck tops and feminine details.
We would encourage the angular collars on some of Romney’s jackets to drop out of the race and a few more dresses, as opposed to her separates, to jump in.
Romney is fortunate that her best ensembles are so different from Michelle Obama’s signature looks. She can carve out a style niche that’s truly her own and present voters with a visual contrast to her counterpart on the left.
A Touch of Glamour. Ann Romney is a beautiful woman, and we wish she would stop blending into the background so often — and start stopping traffic.
Few other candidates’ wives rival her ability to connect with everyday Americans. But as the new sartorial standard-bearer for the Republican Party, Romney still has some work to do before her polish is on par with former GOP style stars like Nancy Reagan and Sarah Palin.
As she heads into the high-octane general election, Romney could benefit from a little spritz of Hollywood before going on camera — a perfect shoe, a dab of lip gloss and an occasional (but never acknowledged) hint from a stylist.
Ann Romney is a modern woman, and there’s a lot we admire about her. But in politics, optics often win out over substance. Romney is in a great position to compete on both fronts.
Below are some of our favorite Ann Romney looks on the campaign trail, and a few that should stay home. How do you predict the Romney/Obama style showdown will play out this summer and fall? Let us know in the comments.
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