美国国家公共电台 NPR Clothes Don't Make A First Lady, But They Can Make A Statement

 

KELLY MCEVERS, HOST: 

From head to toe, a first lady's look is heavily scrutinized¹. Melania Trump² is used to that sort of attention. She was on the cover of Vogue³ in her Dior wedding dress. She's modeled for Harper's Bazaar⁴ and Sports Illustrated's swimsuit calendar. She also sold her own line of costume jewelry⁵ and watches on QVC.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

MELANIA TRUMP: They are really special unique pieces designed from my own ideas, as well from my own jewelry box.

MCEVERS: Soon the whole world will be taking note. As NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports, what any first lady wears says a lot.

ELIZABETH BLAIR, BYLINE⁶: The first lady can make a fashion statement like no one else. For that matter, she can make a difference during the campaign. Take the time Michelle Obama appeared on "The Tonight Show" wearing a mustard yellow sweater and printed silk shirt. When Jay Leno asked her what she was wearing, she responded J. Crew.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "THE TONIGHT SHOW")

MICHELLE OBAMA: We ladies, we know J. Crew.

(CHEERS)

BLAIR: The message came through. Ikram Goldman was Mrs. Obama's fashion consultant⁷ at the time.

IKRAM GOLDMAN: The idea of her being inclusive was very important. And I think it was important to other people who were looking at her to feel like they can have access to that as well.

BLAIR: Obama also championed young American designers. And when the first lady of the United States wears something you made, it's life-changing. Jason Wu's career took off when she wore his one-shouldered white silk chiffon gown to President Obama's inaugural⁸ ball in 2009. Goldman helped select the gown, but kept it a secret until that night. She says when Jason Wu saw it on TV, he called her.

GOLDMAN: He was crying. He was shocked. He was happy. He was - he couldn't believe it.

BLAIR: While Michelle Obama was embraced by the fashion industry, Melania Trump comes from - it. Trump was a model and often wears European designers - Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana - most of which she's reportedly bought off the rack.

ROBIN⁹ GIVHAN: It speaks to a bank account. It speaks to a particular kind of social life.

BLAIR: Robin Givhan is a Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion critic for The Washington Post. She describes Melania Trump's look as body conscious and expensive.

GIVHAN: There is polish to it, a glamour¹⁰ to it, but not in a particularly personal or individual way.

BLAIR: But already her choices are making an impact.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

TRUMP: Thank you very much. You have all been very kind to Donald and me.

BLAIR: For her speech at the Republican National Convention this summer, Mrs. Trump wore an ivory cotton and silk dress with sleeves that billowed at the elbows. The dress, by Serbian-born designer Roksanda Ilincic, goes for a little more than $2,000. It reportedly sold out in the days following Trump's speech. Meantime, Washington, D.C. is getting ready for a very different style of first lady.

INGA GUEN: She would look tres chic¹¹, tres, tres, tres chic in this. And then we have another Oscar de la Renta.

BLAIR: For 22 years, Inga Guen again has owned a dressy consignment¹² shop in Washington. She describes Melania Trump's style as daring with a slightly eccentric European sensibility. She says she's already had three new clients come into her shop who've been hired by the new administration.

GUEN: I have no idea how they heard about me, but I dressed them. And they were so, so very happy to have met Melania Trump.

BLAIR: There's been some seam-splitting in the fashion industry over whether or not to work with Melania Trump. Some designers have said absolutely not. Others say it would be an honor to dress any first lady. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington.

(SOUNDBITE OF DESMOND AND THE TUTUS SONG, "KISS YOU ON THE CHEEK - KING OF TOWN REMIX")

1 scrutinized   

v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The jeweler scrutinized the diamond for flaws. 宝石商人仔细察看钻石有无瑕庇 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Together we scrutinized the twelve lemon cakes from the delicatessen shop. 我们一起把甜食店里买来的十二块柠檬蛋糕细细打量了一番。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比

2 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

3 Vogue   

n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的

参考例句：

• Flowery carpets became the vogue.花卉地毯变成了时髦货。
• Short hair came back into vogue about ten years ago.大约十年前短发又开始流行起来了。

4 bazaar   

n.集市，商店集中区

参考例句：

• Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上，鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。
• We bargained for a beautiful rug in the bazaar.我们在集市通过讨价还价买到了一条很漂亮的地毯。

5 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

6 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

7 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

8 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

9 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

10 glamour   

n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住

参考例句：

• Foreign travel has lost its glamour for her.到国外旅行对她已失去吸引力了。
• The moonlight cast a glamour over the scene.月光给景色增添了魅力。

11 chic   

n./adj.别致(的)，时髦(的)，讲究的

参考例句：

• She bought a chic little hat.她买了一顶别致的小帽子。
• The chic restaurant is patronized by many celebrities.这家时髦的饭店常有名人光顾。

12 consignment   

n.寄售；发货；委托；交运货物

参考例句：

• This last consignment of hosiery is quite up to standard.这批新到的针织品完全符合规格。
• We have to ask you to dispatch the consignment immediately.我们得要求你立即发送该批货物。