Is Anna Wintour Keeping Top Designers Away From Ann Romney?

By Erin Donnelly 10/24/12 at 10:15 AM

Photos: Getty Images | Patrick McMullan

Ann Romney vs. Anna Wintour.

Is Anna Wintour playing mean girl the October Surprise the Republicans have hoped for?

An article from Fox News has given rise to speculation that the Vogue editor—and passionate supporter of President Obama—is discouraging top designers from working with Mitt Romney's wife Ann.

While First Lady Michelle Obama is regarded as a fashion plate who favors designs from the likes of Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, and, most recently, Thom Browne, the Republican candidate's wife has stuck to mostly lesser-known designers like Alfred Fiandaca.

Is that simply her personal taste, or is there a more nefarious plot involved on Wintour's part? Sources claim there may be bad blood over Romney's refusal to participate in a proposed Vogue profile, and Wintour's hosting of two Obama fundraisers has made it clear where her political allegiances lie.

Also suspect is the design community's proud announcements of what Mrs. Obama is wearing, while Romney's modeling of a Diane von Furstenberg number sparked a response from the pro-Obama designer that her team wasn't sure how she got the dress.

Perhaps, though, the dress drama reveals more about the political preferences of the designers themselves, many of whom have participated in the pro-Obama Runway to Win campaign. Are they not reaching out to Romney because Wintour frowns upon it, or because they simply care not to?

One notable exception is Oscar de la Renta, who has outfitted Mrs, Romney—she wore his teal creation to the October 22 debate—as well as notable Republican wives Nancy Reagan, Laura Bush, and Cindy McCain. The designer also made headlines last year when he criticized the Alexander McQueen gown Mrs. Obama wore to a state dinner.

With less than two weeks to go before Election Day, we think it's best to focus on the issues, not the shoes. Let the ladies wear what they want!