Republican National Convention: Joan and Melissa Rivers Discuss GOP Fashions
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: The nation is waiting to hear what George Bush will say tonight, but my next guests are more interested in what he will wear. Joining me are Joan and Melissa Rivers, fashion commentators for E! Entertainment TV. And you brought your show to the conventions.</s>JOAN RIVERS, FASHION REPORTER: And our show believes it's not how you lead, it's how you look.</s>ALLEN: Absolutely. I mean, this is America.</s>J. RIVERS: This is what makes America great.</s>ALLEN: It is image.</s>J. RIVERS: Would you vote for a man that wasn't wearing Armani suit? You'd think twice.</s>ALLEN: You vote for whatever Regis is wearing.</s>J. RIVERS: Yes, exactly.</s>ALLEN: So you're going to be putting a show together for E! TV, so you're going to be comparing the Republicans and how they look and the Democrats and how they look.</s>J. RIVERS: Yes.</s>ALLEN: So you want to give us kind of a clue to what you're seeing around the hall? First, let's talk about the delegates. Does anyone really care how they look.</s>J. RIVERS: Well, the delegates, it's just, you know -- it's like an old frat house. I mean, they're all -- a lot of Texas guys dressed with their boots and their hats and yahoo. I mean, just -- they look like asses. I mean, they just look like fools.</s>ALLEN: You were saying it looks good to people in Texas.</s>J. RIVERS: Oh, it looks great for Texas people, and this is their moment to shine.</s>ALLEN: Yes, but if George Bush takes the White House, what kind of look might come from...</s>J. RIVERS: I'm scared there'll be a string tie at the inaugural. I'm terrified of that.</s>ALLEN: What about the fact that a lot of America is dressing down and going with the casual look? We've certainly seen Al Gore looking a bit more casual out on the campaign trail. What do you think about that?</s>J. RIVERS: Well, and looking so uncomfortable.</s>MELISSA RIVERS, FASHION REPORTER: Yes, I think the biggest problem we're seeing with that is there is sort of that discomfort level like, why am I in this? But, I mean, so much of it you have to look comfortable in what you're wearing as if it's actually yours and someone didn't just come in your room and put it there on a hanger and say, your stylist says wear this.</s>ALLEN: Right.</s>J. RIVERS: Do you remember the first day Jimmy Carter was in the office? He wore jeans to the -- and never again. I mean, you just wear what you look good in. Don't pander.</s>ALLEN: Yes, be yourself.</s>J. RIVERS: Be yourself.</s>ALLEN: Do you think anybody can be that's running for office?</s>J. RIVERS: No, especially the wives. I'm so sorry for the wives.</s>ALLEN: Let's talk about the wives. There's Laura Bush and we have Tipper Gore. We've seen a lot of Tipper, so we're first seeing Laura Bush a little more -- and her daughters. How is she looking to you?</s>J. RIVERS: Like a nice looking Amish woman. I mean, they're all -- Republican women, you don't look to them for fashion, and they have to look like church ladies.</s>ALLEN: What do they need to do to spiff up their image?</s>J. RIVERS: Braless and thighs. Get with the Clintons.</s>M. RIVERS: I thought Laura Bush looked good.</s>J. RIVERS: She looks good. I mean, she is.</s>M. RIVERS: Yes, I mean, she looks good. It's a younger look. I mean, it's still that Republican suit in a color, but at least its a little bit more of an updated version and it doesn't look like she pulled it out of Barbara's closet and borrowed it. It looks like it's truly hers.</s>ALLEN: So you're saying, don't try and mimic your mother-in-law.</s>J. RIVERS: No. Barbara Bush is wearing something she obviously has kept since she was the president's wife. You know, and that's fine. She looks like what she always looked like, you know, a sturdy woman. The girls -- I thought the Bush...</s>M. RIVERS: Daughters.</s>J. RIVERS: ... daughters, the twins, looked adorable. They're young and they let them look -- they didn't dress like little "Mini Me"s. They gave them a chance to look hip.</s>M. RIVERS: They looked their age.</s>J. RIVERS: Yes.</s>M. RIVERS: And Karenna Gore is really the one that sort of ushered that in.</s>ALLEN: Right, she's kind of stylish.</s>J. RIVERS: Yes.</s>M. RIVERS: Yes.</s>ALLEN: But you're going to pick on the Democrats, too, in a couple days.</s>J. RIVERS: Oh, of course. I hate them all. I'm voting for myself.</s>ALLEN: How does following political fashions compare with the glam of following the Hollywood set and the Oscars?</s>J. RIVERS: I think this is more fun because you know these women had to think, what can I wear to look good and yet not offend anybody? And that's very difficult. We've been talking to senators and delegates, and we're going to be speaking with Governor Whitman.</s>M. RIVERS: Governor Whitman later.</s>J. RIVERS: And it's very hard to be a woman. You want to look good, you want to look pretty, but you don't want anyone to write you a letter and say, you shouldn't have worn -- your blouse was too low. We won't see Versace tonight.</s>M. RIVERS: No, I'm guessing we're not going to see a lot of wild prints.</s>ALLEN: You'll see politically correct clothing.</s>J. RIVERS: Yes.</s>M. RIVERS: But it is such a difficult...</s>J. RIVERS: Line.</s>M. RIVERS: ... line. Sort of the image -- I mean, we were talking the other night about, do you remember what Hillary wore to the first inauguration?</s>ALLEN: That purple...</s>J. RIVERS: Oh, please.</s>M. RIVERS: The purple plaid and with the hat and all.</s>J. RIVERS: I mean, terrifying. I watched the whole time holding a cross. I mean, it was just...</s>ALLEN: All right, listen, we'll be watching for your program on E!...</s>M. RIVERS: August 26.</s>ALLEN: ... August 26, OK, to get more of Melissa and Joan. Thank you.</s>J. RIVERS: A pleasure. You're in the right color.</s>ALLEN: Thank you so much. See, she knows what to say. You're on my program.