A Wardrobe for an American Mom

From the moment she appeared on the vice-presidential campaign stage, with her serious but hintingly sexy spectacles, that dramatically swept-up hair and working mom suits paired with surprisingly high heels, Sarah Palin has pitched her style perfectly, treading a tricky line between heartlands mom and all American bombshell that could not fail to appeal to her rightwing fans.

Her favorite outfit of a boxy jacket paired with a notably tight skirt, almost always in black or red, exemplifies her image perfectly, and how she has used her femininity as an advantage whereas Hillary Clinton tried to downplay it in unfortunately hued trouser suits.

But all public images are hard to maintain on an international stage and it turns out that Palin's down-on-the-ranch look has been more high maintenance than Michelle Obama's "elite liberal east coast" look.

Since early September, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has spent more than $150,000 dressing the Palins, shopping at department stores across the country. According to financial disclosure records, there was a $75,062.63 spree in Neiman-Marcus in Minneapolis, Minnesota and $5,102.71 in New York. Other purchases included a $92 romper and matching hat with ears for Palin's baby, Trig, at a baby store in Minneapolis. It is unlikely that her fellow "American moms" have such a budget.

The Republicans have been trying to pitch themselves as the party for the heartland's hardworking man: Cindy McCain appeared at the Republican national convention in an outfit costing around $300,000. Michelle Obama, by contrast, was estimated to have spent $1,500 on her outfit for the Democratic national convention.

It is likely, though, that McCain, a multimillionaire, and Obama spent their own cash, whereas money for Palin's makeover has come from the RNC's own funds, and some have questioned the legality of such spending.

A spokesman insisted the clothing would "go to a charitable purpose after the campaign". That will be hard to break to her children. One of the most enduring images from the Republican convention is a photo of Piper, her seven-year-old daughter, clutching a Louis Vuitton handbag.