Sarah Palin's Stylist Speaks Out on 'Wardrobegate'

by Lesley Kennedy (Subscribe to Lesley Kennedy's posts)
Posted Nov 19th 2009 at 1:55PM

Sarah Palin in the controversial Valentino jacket. Photo: Paul J Richards, AFP / Getty Images

Lisa A. Kline's wardrobe styling of vice presidential-nominee and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin caused a political uproar during last year's campaign, and now she is finally telling her side of the story.

Kline, 47, a New York mother of three, says the $150,000-plus wardrobe she helped select for Palin and her brood was not "as outrageous as it seems... considering the scope of the job," as reported by New York Times, Kline added that her $54,900 fee included costs for an assistant and some expenses.

Kline also says the high fee was justified because styling the Palins included a last-minute holiday weekend assignment that left Kline so busy she slept only a few hours at a time. "It's very hard to put a figure on a 24-hour day," she told the Times.

The story reports that Kline is a self-employed fashion consultant, specializing in corporate execs and TV news personalities. She is not the Lisa Kline who owns the Los Angeles boutique with the same name.

In what soon became known as "Wardrobegate," Kline dressed Palin in Valentino, Tahari, Prada and Jimmy Choo, among other labels. She says in the article that no one questioned the amount she spent.

One of the biggest shopping sprees came right before the Republican National Convention -- over Labor Day weekend -- when Kline tells the Times she was asked to fly to Minneapolis to dress the entire Palin family, including her husband, children and Bristol Palin's then-boyfriend Levi Johnston.

The last-minute trip to a Minneapolis Neiman Marcus was made to dress the family. Kline tells the source that when the purchases were rung up she was not asked for payment. "Apparently it had been prearranged," she says.

Kline describes Palin in the story as a size 4 or 6 and "very attractive, with beautiful skin, if a bit dowdy before the transformation. ...She was very, very sweet. I felt comfortable right away with her. She definitely had an opinion about the clothes, but it was a gentle opinion. If she didn't like something, it was, 'Oh, I don't think so.'"

As for that $25,000 Valentino jacket from Saks that Palin wore during her RNC acceptance speech?

Kline tells the Times she found the jacket to be a little too grand, so she removed its gold buttons and a big swoop of fabric in front, as well as shortened the sleeves to three-quarter length.

"I felt I had achieved my goal," Kline says in the story. "I thought she looked great. I really did. It was perfect for the occasion."

We're not so sure Valentino would agree!

Check out some of Sarah Palin's looks over the years:

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Sarah Palin Style Evolution

Recognize this woman? It's Sarah Palin in the days before her trademark updo and shades. See more early pictures of the former VP candidate.

Heath Family, AP

Phil Walter, Getty Images

Sarah Palin Style Evolution

Sarah Palin's red hot heels made waves on the campaign trail. Now they're fetching big money on eBay. Check out the governor's style evolution -- from t-shirt-clad college student to fashion-forward VP candidate.

Getty Images

When she was a flat-broke (but "not flat busted") student at the University of Idaho in the 1980s, Sarah Palin dressed in the frumpy-freshman's uniform of tee shirts and shorts. But by the time she took the national stage this summer, she had a chic RNC-financed wardrobe that could have paid for the $125,000 dump truck penciled into the Wasilla City budget -- with enough left over for a family shopping spree at Alaska's first Target. To see how Palin morphed from dorm-dull to camera-worthy, click on.

Heath Family, AP

Sarah Palin -- then Sarah Louise Heath -- walked off with the Miss Wasilla crown in 1984 wearing a red and white strapless confection.

Heath Family / AP

Even by 1984 standards, Palin's swimsuit for the Miss Alaska pageant was a bit modest . Here, she models a red one-piece, which she later swapped for a "Dynasty"-worthy navy sequined gown. Though Palin snagged Miss Congeniality honors in the race, she lost the title to Maryline Blackburn, the first African-American to represent Alaska in the Miss American contest.

Splash News

In 1992 -- the year Donna Karan ran an ad showing a glamorous woman being sworn in as President -- 28-year-old Sarah Palin was all bold shoulders and bright earrings as she ran for the Wasilla City Council.

Bob Hallinen, Anchorage Daily / MCT

Dressed for success: Palin, as a member of the Wasilla City Council, wears the crisp blazer-and-white-shirt uniform favored by of legions of working women. Must have worked. Within 14 years, she was elected mayor of Wasilla and governor of Alaska.

Heath Family / AP

Standing along the Parks Highway in Wasilla, then-Mayor Palin was the embodiment of North Face chic as she shows how to work a basic red-and-back windbreaker.

Lulu Larsen, Alaska Stock Images / ZUMA Press

Forget how cold it gets in Alaska. In 2005, Gov. Palin's look in a pink Lilly Pulitzer sweater can be summed up in two words: Palm Beach.

Lulu Larsen, Alaska Stock Images / ZUMA Press

For her gubernatorial inauguration ball in 2007, Palin traded the librarian's up-do and black skirt and jacket that she wore to the swearing-in ceremonies for loose curls and a raspberry portrait-collar gown.

Christopher S. Miller, Alaska Stock Images / ZUMA Press

When you're heading into the sub-zero temperatures of the Tesoro Iron Dog competition, you don't even think about wearing peep-toe pumps. Here, Palin bundles up in heavy padding, fur and lace-up boots to cheer on her husband, Todd, who has won the snow machine race across Alaska four times.

Splash News

Read about Sarah Palin's rumored cosmetics deal.

Read All Comments

Filed under: Celebrity, News, Celebrity Style, Shopping
Tags: campaign wardrobe, Jimmy Choo, Lisa A Kline, LisaAKline, Neiman Marcus, Prada, sarah palin, SarahPalin, Shopping Spree, tahari, valentino, wardrobegate

Style Around the Web

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Make Up Tips For Girls With Glasses - Refinery29
How Celebs Work Red Into Their Wardrobe - FabSugar
Celebrity Wardrobe Malfunctions - The Daily Beast
Deodorants that Actually Work - Daily Candy
Would You Wear Long-Sleeve Shirts As Skirts? - The Frisky
Tricks That Guarantee Gorgeous Hair - Daily Makeover
Celebs Have Us Seeing Stars - People Style Watch

READER COMMENTS

(25)Add A Comment

skyynyte, 11-19-2009, 2:20PM

So republicans say we should back off the wardrobe thing? When Fox news spent 2 days on how John Edwards spent $400 dollars on a hair cut. Hmm sounds like a bunch of hypocrites to me.

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wolfman, 11-19-2009, 4:58PM

The only way a republican will tell the truth is if they think it's a lie.

Sparcman, 11-19-2009, 7:14PM

skyynyte, YOU called Republicans hypocrites and said "Fox news spent 2 days on how John Edwards spent $400 dollars on a hair cut." ACTUALLY, the REAL hypocrite is barrack obama. He leaked the story about john edwards haircut price. Just sayin'.

Mustangpammy, 11-19-2009, 3:11PM

"Glorious" - get over it already. Your guy/gal lost. Deal with it. We've had to deal with 8 years of Boy Bush and his failings, so now it's your turn.

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ThisIsNuts!, 11-19-2009, 4:58PM

Why is it when you can't think of a logical response, people like you try to just fend it off by saying we are only upset because Obama won the election? It's not about the loss. It's about every single one of those items she has mentioned! Get a freakin brain!

bellalugosi, 11-19-2009, 3:23PM

AOL--feel free to seek help for your obsession with Sarah Palin--it's becoming clinical. Quit FLAYING the dead horse.

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ret31155, 11-19-2009, 3:40PM

Will Al Gore's book get the same "fact check" that Sarah Palin's did ?

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SE, 11-19-2009, 3:49PM

you no i find it funny that the blogs can be talking about plums an some how it will end up Obama or his wife you people need to grow up ,you may not have voted for him but guess what he is still the president and he is in the white oops black house get a life the man has only been in office about 9 months the mess the US is in took at lease 8 years not even superman can fix this mess we are all in Glorious has nothing to do with the clown as you put it you need to stop hateing ,and when you talk corrupt you must be takling about the last clown we had in the white house you no the one that took us to war, why and he said he tried to kill my daddy

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ThisIsNuts!, 11-19-2009, 5:04PM

This blog site is for grown-ups, SE. Either learn to spell, or stop typing comments using the stupid 'chop-shop' texting language the kids use.

cartex, 11-19-2009, 3:56PM

You are so right! GO SARAH 2012!

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Pete Mauger, 11-19-2009, 4:48PM

SE: you might want to learn how to spell, and structure sentences, before you put yourself out there. Yeah, he's still the President, but he was elected by the most racially biased electorate ever. Votes were cast simply because the color of his skin. Those voters showed just how fair-weather and ADD they are by showing up for the recent gubernatorial elections in only a fraction of the numbers in which they turned out for the big '08 presidential election. Really, really disingenuine, if you ask me.

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LMoody, 11-19-2009, 4:31PM

To those people who hate our President: That is your right. However, remember that many of us so called liberals and independent americans have been suffering a horrendous mess that a republican president is fully responsible for. I'm sorry, but the majority of us decided that drastic action was in order to turn this big ship around. Any "change" that happens can only bring us up, because most of our country is at the bottom. I know it will take Obama some time turn this country around as it took Bush 8 years to get us buried in this mess. May God Bless and protect President Obama!

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ThisIsNuts!, 11-19-2009, 5:10PM

Your comments indicate just how truly politically ignorant you are. When you say Bush was 'fully responsible' you are completely misguided, (been watching CNN??) This mess began twenty years ago. A Try reading some political history. (hint... it's not about the Republicans....)

ThisIsNuts!, 11-19-2009, 5:12PM

LMoody, you are simply a moron.

lesturgill, 11-19-2009, 4:44PM

Ms. Kennedy just had to get in her little "We're not so sure Valentino would agree!" parting dig at Sarah Palin. Why is it that many women seem to feel so threatened by Palin? Is it because she is beautiful? Is it because she is smart? Is it because she knows how to handle guns? Or is it because she eptitomizes what most men want in a "real American woman?"

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Linda, 11-19-2009, 5:00PM

I see nothing wrong with Sarah Palin's wardrobe while campaigning. She needed to look nice when meeting the crowds. Those who find fault tells more about themselves than it does Sarah Palin. I wrote her a letter of praise after the election because I felt she was treated very bad by the comics and others. It has nothing to do with her abilities but her faith. The anti-God crowd can't stand it when they hear the name of God mentioned. May God bless Sarah Palin as she walks with Him each day and may those who bad mouth her find the God she serves. I became a Christian as a teenager and am now 88 years of age. God has never forsaken me yet and he will never leave Sarah Palin either.

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US4EVER, 11-19-2009, 5:15PM

AOL is just so liberal its sick! I voted for BO but I see what is going on and I need to tell fellow voters that we were lied to. I have no problem saying I was wrong. Our kids and our Country depends on it. He promise unemployment would not go above 8.0 if we passed the stimulus bill. Well, now its 10.4 and growing. He wants to bring the 911 terrorist to NY for a trial that they already confessed to. Its becoming a disaster. This is not the change I voted for.

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rhino45411, 11-19-2009, 5:54PM

The man has been in power for 10 months... It is hard to get things done when you have a Senate that threatens every piece of legislation that is even thought of. Now am I a particular fan of Obama? Not really... He is charismatic and a very good speaker. A good fair amount of time is needed to clean things up. I am not getting my hopes up too high with him, but I am not going to put him down when he hasn't even been in power for a year yet. That Stimulus Bill needed to be put into place or else we would be in depression... Now we need a new legislation to prevent us from totally relying on those firms to keep us balanced. Some of that may mean taxes be risen for some of the rich... A total 3%... from 36% to 39%... Reagans tax rate was higher than Obama's!! REAGAN! You know the guy that every Republican masterbates to!

Selli., 11-20-2009, 4:52PM

Just bought Mrs. Palin's book last night and finished it by about 2 PM today. She truly is a remarkable woman and the way the media and general public stabbed at her family and personal character is even more outrageous to me after reading it than it was before. They should all be ashamed of themselves for showing their true character - too close-minded to accept that there are strong people, perfectly likable people, who share opposing views than they do. I feel the same way towards the mindless Palin bashers as I do towards the Republicans who think Obama isn't a U.S. ciitizen. Give it up and move on.

As a young female myself very interested in politics, I find it difficult to find a strong female figure to look up to. Sure, there's Hillary Clinton. But she lied about her daughter (saying that Chelsea was jogging around the trade towers when they were hit when she was in class at Stanford in California), her experience in Baghdad (lying about how she was so frightened as she 'dodged bullets' the whole time - even though the tape clearly shows differently), and she didn't have enough respect for herself to hold her head up high and walk away from a man who completely tore apart the sanctity of their marriage union - and I can't help feel that it was so she could have him as a political anchor in her upcoming endeavors. Compare that to a woman who is making her way in an all-male world, bearing the mindless (and quite ridiculous) criticisms, a mother of five - one having Downs Syndrome, and on top of all that.. has the kind of faith in God that I hope to have one day.

I'll take the "moose-shooting bimbo" anyday. Truly an amazing person and an excellent role model. And I strongly suggest anybody who thinks differently to do a little bit of research before making such hateful comments. Watch the unedited interviews with her that were shown around 1 AM. Go look at the Alaska state site and see where every penny of her budget went. Yes, she's had some trial and tribulations in her life (i.e. her daughter being pregnant), but I dare you to find me one person who hasn't had something like that happen to someone in either their immediate or extended family. If you know someone like that, then you are truly few and far between.

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting their own battle." Plato

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rhino45411, 11-19-2009, 5:48PM

You know you might have a point... I see where you are coming from. People try to link her with false information. Here is the problem with her though... It isn't the killing of animals from a helicopter or her pro-life position or that she is a christian conservative. It is the fact the she doesn't know anything about politics or anything else that her previous position required. She thought Africa was a country... She believes government runned healthcare would produce "death panels"... Crazy stuff like that is what makes her not only a "Rogue", but a useless "Rogue" for any political party because she is clearly unqualified to speak about anything that she hasn't even studied or participated in. I do not care about her personal life beliefs, like religion or abortion... She has that right to practice that if she wishes and more power to her for it. When it comes down to it though... She is not smart, or even witty enough to compete for such positions as vice president and president. She is a destroyer of the Republican party. I am not a Republican but I do respect many Republicans for being knowledgeable and consistant. Palin just isn't...

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