The Arizona senator has been away from her supporters who have followed her footsteps, frustrated about her obstruction of President Biden’s social spending bill, on a fund-raising trip to Europe. Although her office has kept her itinerary under wraps, there is a good chance those protesters could locate her overseas if they were able to track her.
Her political theater isn’t the only reason. Ms. Sinema has always been a standout in the Arizona House of Representatives since she was sworn in in 2005. Her history of idiosyncratic outfits has taken on a new significance considering Senator Sinema’s legislative demands (along with those of Senator Manchin, the other holdout on the Biden Bill).
It would have been obvious if the other members of Congress had paid any attention to the senator’s clothing at all that she wasn’t going to follow the party line, as Tammy Haddad, former MSNBC political director, stated about the senator. Senator McNamara – a maverick who is the first female senator from Arizona, the first Democrat elected from Arizona since 1995, and the first openly bisexual senator from Arizona – has never concealed her identity as a maverick. There’s even an advertisement for it on her website.
Elle named Ms. Sinema “America’s most colorful congresswoman” back in 2013 when she was sworn into the House of Representatives. Since joining the Senate, she has continued to live up to that title. It was evident during her swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 3, 2019, when she wore platinum blond curls with a pearl-trimmed white top, a pencil skirt, and stiletto heels: she would never revert to pant suit-wearing banality again.
As an impeachment opponent, she entered as a crusading white-capped crusader in January 2020. As of May of last year, she wore purple, pink, and green Easter egg-colored wigs to demonstrate, according to The Arizona Republic, a commitment to social distancing among salons (Ms. Hurley said the $12.99 wigs cost). Mitt Romney complained about her wearing a “Dangerous Creature” sweater to the Senate on Feb. 23, saying she was “breaking the internet.”
It would be unfair to give Ms. Sinema less credit than she deserves by dismissing that stunt as a stunt. According to Ms. Haddad, she can wear whatever she wants and say whatever she thinks is important, and she’ll make a big impact doing it. There is no burden on her to conform to the institution’s norms.”
It’s part of a growing realization among politicians that “you should always think about what story you are telling with your nonverbal tools, such as your style,” said Lauren Rothman, an image and style accountability coach in Washington who has worked with Congress members for 20 years.
It is beginning to become apparent in Washington. The clothes are either a sleight-of-hand, designed to distract from Ms. Sinema’s shift from progressive to moderate to possibly Republican-leaning. Or it is a way to reassure progressives that she is not part of the conservative establishment.
However, no one questioned her knowledge or competence. The senator’s office did not respond to an email on the subject. Ms. Haddad called it “a branding exercise” that is happening “at the highest level.” SKDKnickerbocker vice-chair Hilary Rosen recalls that before the current Senate majority leader, Ms. Sinema “wore simple dresses and the occasional suit jacket” along with the rest of us. But Ms. Rosen said, “I’ve noticed a significant change in her style in the last few years, and I think it’s a sign of her growing confidence as a legislator.” It’s rare to see a politician who isn’t afraid to flaunt their personality. Their style is usually ambiguous.”
During the last swearing-in, Senator Amy Klobuchar, a senior member of the Senate Rules Committee, informed leadership that the rules should be rewritten to reflect the modern world, according to Jennifer Steinhauer’s book “The Firsts.” In her new role, Ms. Sinema “should be allowed to wear whatever she wants” because she’s a triathlete who likes showing her arms. While some male senators grumbled, they acquiesced. (As a compromise, Ms. Sinema carried a silver faux-fur stole that covered her shoulders.)
In most cases, fashion is used for foreign diplomacy (where first ladies invariably dress up for state visits), or to boost local business through the spotlight (such as President Biden wearing Ralph Lauren to his inauguration).
At a time when all kinds of dress codes are being reconsidered – and often left behind – she became known nationally in a way that few other new members of Congress are. The congresswoman who has also become an overnight sensation is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who employs image-making extensively to convey her political message.
All of Ms. Sinema’s seemingly kooky clothes aren’t, in fact, bizarre. Instead, they serve as signs. They’re pointing in the direction of her journey.
Source:
The New York Times
Image Courtesy:
- https://www.businessinsider.com/5-kyrsten-sinema-veterans-advisors-quit-in-protest-nyt-2021-10
- https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2021-03-22/kyrsten-sinema-arizona
- https://www.axios.com/mcconnell-urges-public-support-sinema-private-conversations-cca5188d-6415-400b-b827-eb3c6ef435db.html
- https://thehill.com/people/kyrsten-sinema
Written by: Rafiad Ruhi
