Ann Romney's Oscar de la Renta dress raises eyebrows

The fire-truck red Oscar de la Renta dress Ann Romney wore during her keynote speech Tuesday night at the Republican National Convention undoubtedly fit the party's fashion profile, but her choice of designer has raised suspicion there may have been an anti-Obama rationale to her decision.

Michelle Obama, for the uninitiated, has never donned a de la Renta number during her stint as First Lady. She wore a turquoise Maria Pinto dress during her 2008 Democratic National Convention speech.

De la Renta, an American designer and longtime go-to for past First Ladies, hasn't shied away from criticizing Obama's wardrobe choices over the past four years. In 2009, he lambasted Obama, who prefers lesser-known designers, for consistently choosing European outfitters over American ones and, later, for wearing a sweater to meet Queen Elizabeth II.

Two years later he swiped at her choice of Alexander McQueen for a state dinner with Chinese president Hu Jintao:

“My understanding,” de la Renta told Women's Wear Daily, “is that the visit was to promote American-Chinese trade — American products in China and Chinese products in America. Why do you wear European clothes?”

For what it's worth, Obama has worn outfits designed by de la Renta's son Moises.

Nevertheless, could Romney's $1,990 dress (or was it $2,490?) have been a political statement, a jab at Obama's affinity for European designers and failure to recognize an American fashion icon who has dressed Laura Bush, Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton?

Or, maybe she just liked the cut.

Comments

[Douglas Schieder]

If the designers of the dresses worn by the wives of the delegates have any influence on how people vote, we are in big trouble.

[Steve]

What does it matter? The dress was probably made in China anyway!

[Michael]

Only a self-absorbed bimbo would pick up on something like this. You know, the kind of person who would vote Republican........

[shanna]

this is what politics comes down to!?! Who cares about the fashion!?! How about the stupidity that comes outta romney's mouth and sending americas jobs overseas!!!

[Joe]

Am I reading the news or the tabloids? This is a low for the Toronto Star.

[Paul]

The US Republican Party's theft of the color red (the color of anger and ardor), from the political left, was a brilliant move...