Schaefer, Owens brand themselves with characteristic garb

Then comes the ultimate irony: The man who's hosting the show and lobbing fashion grenades at his opponent is famous for posing in an old-fashioned swimsuit carrying a rubber ducky, or getting decked out in colonial regalia like the pied piper.

Ladies and gentlemen, the state comptroller's race has never been this entertaining. In fact, political observers can't remember a campaign in state history that has been so high on insults and low on substance.

Whether their fashions are good, bad or just plain ugly, the personal turn in the comptroller race is surprising to some, as William Donald Schaefer continues to slam primary opponent Janet S. Owens on everything from her clothing to her hair and the sacred cow of topics - weight.

And just like picking up a copy of US Weekly to gawk at the latest fashion faux pas of celebrities, voters are looking at these politicians.

Sandy Dumont, executive director of the Virginia-based Impression Strategies Institute, an image consulting service, said a person's appearance can sway a vote.

"If they don't look classy and polished, they lose complete credibility," she said. "We don't want any politicians - male or female - who look like they are going to Vegas."

Some would argue that Maryland candidates have dressed like they are going to Atlantic City, but we digress.

"The image is just as important as branding products," Ms. Dumont said. "A lot of people make up their minds at the very end. You can't let your brand down for one minute."

The election is on Tuesday.

Ms. Dumont was asked to put on her Joan Rivers chapeau and pull absolutely no punches.

She reviewed a series of pictures of the three candidates for comptroller, Mr. Schaefer, Ms. Owens and Peter Franchot, a state delegate from Montgomery County.

It wasn't pretty.

She said Ms. Owens looked "frumpy" and "old fashioned," and that many of her outfits were too demure.

"I see that she doesn't favor suits, but apparently goes for comfort instead, witnessed by the knits and loose-fitting floral dress," Ms. Dumont said.

As for Mr. Schaefer, she said he looked old, and should wear brighter ties to look more energetic. But she liked his dark suits, saying they made the former governor look more authoritative.

She liked Mr. Franchot's look the best. He's traded his dapper Washingtonian suits for the rolled-up sleeves candidate look, traveling all over the state.

"It is customary to roll the shirt sleeves up to only just below the elbows, so the shirt looks like a short-sleeve shirt gone wrong," she said. "In the photo, he's got on a nice tie, but it hangs too far below the belt buckle."

Grudge match

While Mr. Franchot has largely watched from the sidelines, a personal battle has raged between Ms. Owens and Mr. Schaefer. He said she looked like a man, and like the nursery rhyme character Mother Hubbard. He said her hair looked old-fashioned.

"I have found all this truly astonishing," Mrs. Owens said Friday. "I did not think (the campaign) would be about my hair - I'd rather be talking about fiscal issues. Never in all my hopes and dreams did I think it would turn into this."

Mrs. Owens said her fashion team, including her hairdresser and personal shoppers at Nordstrom are mortified by the accusations.

Ahni Sallaway, owner and designer behind the Annapolis-based Ahni & Co., has been outfitting Mrs. Owens for about 10 years and said she was insulted by Mr. Schaefer's "low blow."

"She has a great figure and wears clothes that bring out a piece of her personality, they show us who she is and her warm heart," she said. "I think she looks rather beautiful in my clothes - very lovely and elegant."

In an interview Friday, Mr. Schaefer was wearing his bureaucrat uniform: Navy blue suit jacket was slung over the chair, and he was wearing a short-sleeved button-down shirt with a tie.

The tie looked war ravaged, with a few old stains that looked like coffee. It was held together with a tie clip with the state seal on it.

He was asked why he had said such mean-spirited things about Ms. Owens, a fellow Democrat. He said Ms. Owens publicly said she wouldn't run against him, and then did an about face.

"I think the worst thing in the world is being betrayed by friends," he said.

Mr. Schaefer doesn't claim to be a fashion plate himself. He said he shops at Joseph A. Bank, and has had the same Pasadena barber for years.

"I tell him how to cut my hair and he says, 'I'm not going to do it that way,'" Mr. Schaefer said. "'I'm not going to make you look like a bald eagle."

Mr. Franchot said he doesn't have a particular barber or favorite store.

"This campaign is about substance, not style," he said. "Like a lot of hardworking Maryland families, I shop for bargains wherever I can find one."

On Friday, he called on Mr. Schaefer and Ms. Owens to stop fighting and talk issues.

"This election should be decided on issues, not nursery rhymes," he said.

From kimonos to button-down shirts and dusters, Mrs. Owens has a wide array of Ahni designs, notable for their loose fit and comfortable fabrics.

Her boosters wonder what she's supposed to wear to satisfy the critics. Britney Spears low-midriff jeans?

As a result of the comments, several citizens and groups have rallied their support behind Mrs. Owens who said she has received calls and e-mail of support from people all over the state and even outside of the state.

"Janet really has come a long way," said Ruby Singleton Blakeney, city director of minority and small business development and former professional wardrobe consultant. "She's pretty conservative in her dress, but she looks good."

If she wanted to step up her look, a mix of trendy accessories with classic separates is the way to go, said Michele Deckman, co-owner of the Diva boutique in downtown Annapolis.

"People need to know how to mix trendy with classic," she said. "Just because you're older doesn't mean you want to be a trend victim."

Ms. Deckman said knowing what clothing works with the woman's figure is the best way to go.

"Accessories are a great way to be trendy. Belts, shoes and handbags are a great way to show your sense of style and it has a range of age appeal."

Whether the Mother Hubbard look will ever be in fashion is unknown, but Tuesday's election might just be won by a hair.

It won't be a tie.

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Published September 10, 2006, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
Copyright © 2006 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.