Colbert: 'Nothing completes a look like children's health-care legislation'

In a odd change of events, Stephen Colbert was asked to introduce Speaker Nancy Pelosi last night at Glamour's Annual Women of the Year awards. And, though his writers are on strike, he was able to come up with a funny and fashionable speech (note the reference to the mandals!). It's worth a couple minutes of your day to actually read through it - it's freakin' hilarious:

... And speaking of mocking politicians, many have asked me why someone who has advised members of the House of Representatives not to go on my show, why I would honor Nancy Pelosi at the Glamour awards. Because she made history this year? Because she's three heartbeats away from the presidency? Because I suddenly like her?

No, I am here tonight because I love Glamour. I love its lifestyle. I love the magazine. I have my own personal do's and don'ts. Do work a retro up-do, with a little headband. Don't criticize the president. And I just love fashion. This season, I love high-waisted pants. I adore Oxford pumps—no, ankle booties! And if you have a sweater dress? Make it even better—belt it! If it wasn't so cold tonight I would have ditched my wing-tips and worn my platform mandals.

That's why I'm here tonight to introduce Nancy Pelosi, because she is the most glamorous speaker we've ever had. I cannot pinpoint exactly what makes her different than previous speakers. All those guys had style. Newt Gingrich worked the aisle in pinstripes and power ties. And long before Jennifer Aniston had the Rachel hairstyle, Speaker O'Neill had the Tip hairstyle. Four-inch eyebrows, matching earbrows. Speaker Dennis Hastert was a plus-size model for Lane Bryant.

But none of these men hold a candle to Speaker Pelosi. Whether she's prowling the Capitol steps in a cream pantsuit, or strutting the halls of Congress in a blue pantsuit, or grudgingly clapping behind the president at the State of the Union in, say, cream pants and a blue pantsuit blazer—she always has the right accessories. Because nothing completes a look like children's health-care legislation. And I think we all know that the fashion moment of the year has to be Nancy Pelosi marching the S-CHIP bill up to the White House in her Veto-Me pumps. She is the most fabulous Speaker ever to rock the gavel. And though I may disagree with everything she stands for, I will defend to the death her right to make-it-work [snaps]. So it is my honor to present to you the distinguished representative from California, Madam Speaker, Madam Glam, Nancy Pelosi!

To read the entire speech, click here... To read a little bio from Glamour about Pelosi, click here...

- Getty Images

If a famed celeb stylist says D.C. has style...

Yet another reason to hate Anne Schroeder, she says D.C. has no style. Well, maybe she has no style. So take that Shenanigans!

[Fashion stylist Rachel] Zoe met her husband in D.C., too, she tells local pub Express. She was a hostess at Washington Harbour, he was a waiter. They used to hang out at Sequoia. And — now this is important — Zoe says, "I love D.C. It's got such style."

Whaaa? D.C. and style? Do we need a fashion double-take?

To read the horrible drab, click here...

Nina McLemore: Dressing the power elite (and the creator of Hillary's horrid jackets)

An interesting article appeared in The Examiner today, shocking, I know. Part of their weekly Power Profile, Whitney Blake spoke with Nina McLemore, of her namesake line for the power elite as well as the founder of Liz Claiborne Accessories in the '80s. And while I am not personally a fan of the line (or many of the women who wear it, but that's a whole other aside), I find her takes on fashion, business and women in both very fascinating.

“I’m very angry at the fashion industry,” she said. The industry has “no respect for accomplished women,” viewing them as “sex objects, not smart and capable.”

Her line, mainly “jacket driven,” also includes pants and blouses for business, casual and evening attire. She targets businesswomen with high net worth, female politicians — most notably Sen. Hillary Clinton — and what McLemore calls “community women” who are involved in philanthropy or who have husbands in powerful positions. ... (Know we know where Hillary found her amazing taste - and her $795 quilted coats!)

... Clinton prefers longer jackets, and her signature colors include blue and coral, which McLemore said brings out the highlights in her hair. ...

McLemore’s clothes come in five fits to accommodate all body shapes, and she designs them herself with natural fabrics primarily made in America. She recommends bold, vibrant colors for women who often appear in public or on television. McLemore picks versatile styles that can be worn anywhere, and she uses wrinkle-free materials to allow for easy traveling. ...

... McLemore has a keen sense of her customers’ tastes. Women in law, government and business “dress more understatedly and conservatively” compared with women in New York. At the same time, Washington women have an international flair and often pick textiles and colors from, say, Southeast Asia and Kenya. ...

To read the entire article, which talks a lot more about the business side, click here...

– Examiner/Greg Whitesell

Quote of the day

Speaker Nancy Pelosi was honored at the YouthAIDS gala Friday, with a toast by Bono (who was wearing what seemed to be men's heels), saying:

"You've given safe sex, sex appeal! How'd you do that?"

These Shoes Are Made for Stalking

"Days spent chasing lawmakers on the Capitol’s marble floors can be a challenge," Jonathan E. Kaplan says in an article this month in Washingtonian. "The hard marble puts pressure on knees and backs and even makes for slips." Well, we knew all that, so the interesting part? His short piece takes a look at Congressional correspondents and their preferred footwear - and I have to say poo-poo to most of them!

I wear at least 3.5-inch heels on the Hill on most days, and do I complain? No! Why? Because they are feminine and dress- and location-appropriate, and I manage to find ones that are actually pretty comfortable.

Big props to "shoe addict" Susan Milligan of the Boston Globe (pictured above right), she "toughs it out wearing flashy stilettos. She admits they 'kill' her back, but they also get her noticed. One Massachusetts Democrat routinely comments on her shoes." Nice job and I love the flash of color - something way-too lacking under the Dome.

Some more tidbits - some of which frankly scare me:

“Rubber soles are a must,” says Anne Kornblut, who often tracks the movements of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (who wears low heels) for the Washington Post. Kornblut says she’s found a shoe-repair shop that will add rubber soles to her leather shoes. (This is key! I make sure to have no-slips and rubber soles on my shoes to avoid falling, and more importantly, to avoid making loads of noise with each step.) ...

... CNN congressional correspondent Jessica Yellin prefers clogs because they’re good for posture and are more attractive than many other ergonomically friendly shoes. (There's a photo with the story that I would be happy NEVER seeing again!)

Juliet Eilperin, a onetime congressional reporter for the Post who now writes about the environment, says former majority leader Dick Armey, a Texas Republican, taught her that cowboy boots are best for pounding the marble floors. (Do I even need to say anything here?)

To read the entire article, with a lot more about journos' secret lives, click here...

– Jay Clendenin/Washingtonian

Ideas, suggestions, critiques?

Hi all! I am trying to start back up with my regular posting (I was on sabbatical b/c I was in the running for a new job in the political arena and didn't want to jinx it by possibly being linked to a political blog...), and I would love all your help with catching up. If you have any ideas or news tidbits, or any suggestions as to where you'd like to see this blog go, please either leave a comment or e-mail me at dcpleats@gmail.com.

Hill fashion roundup

And The Hill now has a fashion column? I don't know... but, interesting info on some Reps.:

• Ric Keller has lost 41 pounds by eating healthy (1,800 calories per day) and regularly exercising. He has 30 more to go, he says, but he's already looking more svelte. (See picture from September at left.)
  
• Ellen Tauscher has gone noticeably darker — going from blonde to brunette. "I’ve always had a blonde personality with brunette responsibilities," she said.
  
• Sadly, Rep. Howard Coble has been warding of skin cancer — he was diagnosed in the late 1990s — with a topical solution that burns the skin cells and turns the outer skin on his face a blistery red. Ouch!
  
• And finally, it's a whopper, Dennis Kucinich reportedly bites his nails.

To read the entire report, click here...

– AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Joke of the day

From Swizzle Sticks:

"According to FEC reports, Edwards grew out his hair during the 3rdQ."

Portraits of a politician

Sen. Barack Obama hugs attendees of the Service Employees International Union's Member Political Action Conference held at the Washington Hilton.

– Roll Call/Tom Williams

It's a motion blur of supporters around former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as he signs some autographs after speaking at a fundraiser in Milwaukee.

– AP Photo/Morry Gash

Gen. David Petraeus intensely testifies on the future course of the war in Iraq while appearing before a joint hearing of the House Armed Services Committee and House Foreign Relations Committee.

– AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Rep. John Murtha speaks at a press conference Monday at the National Press Club about Congressional action on the United States’ future in Iraq.

– Roll Call/Tom Williams

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Chris Dodd speaks at the Service Employees International Union Political Action Conference in Washington. (And this is the only one I saw in which he wasn't yelling...)

- AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Perfectly silhouetted? Rep. Ron Paul, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, speaks at Seattle University.

– Seattle Post-Intelligencer/Andy Rogers

Seen on the monitor of a video camera, Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney delivers a statement on Sen. Hillary Clinton's health care plan, outside of St. Vincent's Hospital in New York.

– AP Photo/Dima Gavrysh

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton quite awkwardly flips steaks during Sen. Tom Harkin's annual fundraising steak fry in Indianola, Iowa.

– AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

The Gores glamour?

I had to get the Emmy's in somehow....

Former Veep (and now Emmy and Grammy winner) Al Gore arrived in typical, boring style to the Emmy's last night in Los Angeles. The tux is your average tux, so there's not much to say. He really isn't looking very good, though, beyond that. His face coloring is very blotchy, his slicked-back hair very old man, and I don't want to give him a hard time like everyone else in the world, but he sure has put on a lot of weight in recent years.

Tipper, however, should have known better than to wear brown while next to her black-and-white hubby. The jacket is OK, but rather dowdy and over-embellished, and not really venue-appropriate; it's the blah cami and mis-matched skirt that bother me a little bit more. She really should take a note from other fine ladies her age, though I know they all have different figures, like Sally or Glenn or Helen. Her hair and makeup are nice, though, and very age-appropriate, and her earrings match the outfit perfectly.

– AP Photo/Chris Carlson