Sarah Palin's Naughty Monkey Shoes Boost Sales
Governor Palin’s Passion for Peep-Toe Pumps Help U.S. Shoe Designer
Oct 4, 2008
With just under a month to go before the most critical election in the U.S.'s recent history, the fascination over Sarah Palin’s fashion style continues unabated.
First there were her rimless glasses, sending many bespectacled American women running to their optician for a copy-cat pair of Kawasaki frames. Then her saucy up-do, instigating a plethora of Palin-esque wigs; and now, it seems, her passion for red shoes.
At her much anticipated VP debate against Senator Joe Biden on October 2nd, 2008, Palin wore a sharp olive green suit teamed with chic red patent pumps. She clearly has a passion for both red and peep-toes, as she proved by wearing a pair of double-buckled Naughty Monkey shoes at a Republican campaign rally at Dayton, Ohio, when McCain introduced her to the world as his VP pick.
Naughty Monkey Shoes
Designer Naughty Monkey have found that Palin’s Double Dare pumps have been flying off the shelves at footwear stores since being thrown into the spotlight.
The spike in sales initially took retailers by surprise. The brand is generally geared to 20-something women who go clubbing, and not generally favored by 40-something politicians. Naughty Monkey considers itself as an edgy and hip brand, with celebrities like Paris Hilton being photographed wearing its shoes.
The company is a fresh fun shoe collection which hails from California, whose designs are based on making footwear fun, and have a reputation for being very comfortable. According to shoe and bag retailer, Endless.com, the naughty monkey in question shall remain nameless but “heard constant gripes and complaints about how mundane and boring footwear had become.”
Naughty Monkey Double Dare Pump
Naughty Monkey’s Double Dare pump has big buckles and a 3 ½ inch heel. It is priced at $89.95 on Endless.com and is available in 4 colors, including Palin’s fire engine red. The company has a huge selection of styles including some wonderfully trendy buckled and button-cuffed winter boots, cheeky shoe-boots and buckled purple (the color to be seen in this season) peep-toe pumps.
Retailers and opticians have been capitalizing on the power of Palin ever since she was thrown into the political circus just over 5 weeks ago. Italee Optics, the manufacturer of her Kawasaki rimless frames has been fighting to keep up with demand, and sales of Palin-style wigs and hairpieces have increased dramatically.
Palin’s Hairstyle Boosts Sales for Wigs
The Wall Street Journal’s “Palin Style Sparks Buying Frenzy,” of September 12, 2008, reports that hairstylists and wig sellers are experiencing a sudden demand for Palin’s trademark up-dos and her swept-back style. In the week after the RNC, WigSalon.com sold over 25 Palin-esque wigs, and has sent a newsletter to 25,000 subscribers, highlighting Palin-like styling tips and wig and hairpiece options. Even In Style magazine has got in on the act with its "Election Hair Makeover", where readers to their website, Instyle.com can upload their picture onto the Hollywood Hair Makeover Tool and try on “the Sarah, the Cindy, the Hillary and the Michelle.”
Michelle Obama Supports U.S. Fashion Designers
However, Governor Palin is not the only contender in the 2008 presidential campaign to have influenced the fashion scene. Michelle Obama's dresses have boosted sales for American designers. Sales of Donna Ricco dresses have increased since she wore one on The View in June 2008, and she has given a welcome-shot-in-the-arm to Thai born, American designer Thakoon Pachingul by wearing one of his print dresses from the Thakoon Resort 2009 collection, for her husband's keynote speech at the DNC stadium. She also supported local designer, Maria Pinto, from her hometown of Chicago, by choosing a stunning turquiose dress for her big speech at the Democratic National Conference.
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