Why is Only Pelosi’s Clothing Remarkable to The Advocate?
“Pelosi was wearing a light gray pantsuit and a multicolored Tahitian cultured pearl necklace so closely identified with her that countless online jewelers now simply dub it ‘The Nancy Pelosi.’”—The Advocate
Once again we have a long (2,500 word) profile of a woman politician. And once again we have the ever-so-literary description of what she happed to wear to the photo shoot (as if the picture won’t be evidence enough). I might have forgiven The Advocate for mentioning her pearls, because they are a kind of trademark, although only because reporters can’t seem to stop mentioning she wears them. (Although I do think “countless online jewelers” is stretching it a bit. There’s basically one article from 2007.)
“Barney Frank was wearing a navy blue suit and his trademark glasses.”
Can you picture this sentence being dropped into a 2,500 profile of Barney Frank? Look back through The Advocate’s archives. Look for the longer pieces about Frank. Do any of them mention what he wore on the day of his retirement? On the floor of the House? Or during an interview?
There’s exactly one. And it starts this way.
“What Barney Frank is wearing is rarely the subject of news reports.”
Published by Kate McCarthy on 01/12/2012