Whoever Wins, Fashion Rules the White House

(Inauguration Night Update! Check out Michelle Obama in her Inaugural Ball Gown choice: a gorgeous, ethereal white one-shoulder number by Jason Wu.)

A fun piece on TrendyShoeShop.com notes that either way, American voters are about to put at least one fashionista - or perhaps a shoe fetishist - in the White House.

FASHIONISTA #1: Michelle Obama Lauded for her Jackie O-like sartorial sensibilities, most recently in Narciso Rodriguez at the pre-inaugural events, when her husband accepted his presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention, Michelle "O" rocked fash-cult label Thakoon, accessorized at the neckline with on-trend brooches by Erickson Beamon. She's also campaigned in Isabel Toledo, chic suits and sheath dresses designed by former Geoffrey Beene assistant Maria Pinto, and walks tall - literally, at 5'11" - in sexy slingbacks, hidden-wedge ballet flats, patent leather riding boots and other classics with an edge from labels like Cole Haan Air and Jimmy Choo. (Update - our latest Michelle Obama fashion post: check out Michelle Obama's red & black dress Election night misstep)

TrendyShoeShop.com's Rating Fashion-Friendly: 3 stars *** (out of 5)

FASHIONISTA #2: Cindy McCain

Any potential First Lady who can effortlessly upstage a current First Lady in what Vanity Fair estimated to be a $300,000 outfit (far left) at the Republican National Convention is a fashion force of nature to be reckoned with. Cindy McCain's $4,500 Chanel J12 watch cost more than Laura Bush's entire ensemble (a cream Oscar de la Renta suit plus demure accessories for just under $4000), with an eyecatching mustard Oscar de la Renta shirtdress ($3000), four-strand pearl necklace ($10,000-25,000 range) - all accented quite nicely by 3 carat diamond studs worth a whopping $280,000. (photos: latimes.com & nypost.com)

TrendyShoeShop.com's Rating Fashion-Obsessed: 5 Stars

FASHIONISTA #3: potential First Daughter Meghan McCain

An aspiring fashion designer, she has admitted to having the "biggest suitcase on the trail" - in part to hold all of her shoes (the generally acknowledged mark of the fashion-obsessed). Not only does she love Louboutins, Kate Spade, and Barbara Bui footwear, but she speculates on her blog, McCainBlogette.com, about the shoes of others. "Because I love shoes, and who doesn't want to know what kind of shoes Dr. [Henry] Kissinger wears." (photos: sunglasses - sundaypaper.com; seated - polichicksonline.com; black dress, shoes - mccainblogette.com)

TrendyShoeShop.com's Rating Fashion-Obsessed: 5 Stars

SHOE FETISHIST: Sarah Palin

Not really a bonafide fashionista for 3 main reasons:

Palin's pre-mega makeover shopping habits at Alaskan consignment stores in Anchorage and Juneau - "It's not, you know, Fifth Avenue-type shopping." (No...really, Sarah?) - and commensurate taste in clothing. For Exhibit A - CLICK HERE.
The fact that her $150,000 image makeover was funded by the Republican National Committee. Can you envision anything less glamorous? (The source of the funds, that is, not the actual act of spending $50,000 at Saks and $75,000 at Neiman Marcus.)
Her new look wasn't created by a professional fashion stylist or insider, but by a socialite - former Nancy Reagan secretary from 1983-85, Gahl Hodges Burt - who may well be known as the Best Dressed Republican in Town...but this is Washington, D.C. we're talking about, and even worse: Republicans.

However, Palin does definitely qualify as shoe-obsessed. The red patent croc Kate Spade Karolina pumps were a worthy choice for the Vice Presidential debate, and the fact that she actually owned and "owned" those four inch ruby patent stiletto peeptoes for her VP acceptance speech was fashionably fabulous. To quote the owner of Shoefly in Juneau where Palin bought them: "Although not everyone agrees with her politics, everyone can agree that she wears sexy shoes." And that's a sentiment that definitely walks across party lines. (photos: VP red debate pumps - latimesblogs.latimes.com; black suede boots - faustasblog.com; black pumps - beautycrucible.com)