Am I a bad feminist to always look at what Arlene Foster is wearing...

[Juells]

...and think she has either a great dress sense or a great stylist? I don't like AF's politics, but whenever she appears on TV I find myself scrutinising what she has on, and admiring her.

Her expression is always that of a bulldog licking piss off a nettle, but by God her haircut is good, and everything she wears suits her in an invisible kind of way - you're not distracted from what she's saying by unsuitable jackets, fancy silly shoes, huge necklace etc..

Runs for the hills

If you're a very plain woman it must come as no surprise that your hair, clothing and jewellery would come under more scrutiny

Come and live in Northern Ireland and then see if you're so bothered about what she fucking wears.

Actually, I take that back: I've just Googled images of her and in some she looks quite attractive and in others less so. Just like most of us, really.

I'd never noticed her style but i am ofrpten distracted by trivia too.

I've just accepted it about myself.

She looks bloody good, though. She's a woman who obviously doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks of her opinions, but I suspect that she is pragmatic about the fact that people are judged by their appearance, so she nullifies that criticism before it can be made.

Not sure what point I'm trying to make, but I admire strong women wherever I see them. Not so happy about what she's trying to achieve re the Irish border, since I live in Ireland.

Come and live in Northern Ireland and then see if you're so bothered about what she fucking wears.

I'm trying to separate how I feel about her politics from how she presents herself. I like your posting name

I must admit I've never paid much attention to what she wears, I'm more concerned with the nonsense she says. As my Granny would say, you couldn't like her if you reared her.

Oh, and I'm not being partisan - I feel exactly the same way about Michelle O'Neill.

I see her as dressing in a similar way to men in her role and don't see what the point is? She clearly doesn't give a fuck, she's dressing in suits and shoes and not trying to be a fashion plate.

As my Granny would say, you couldn't like her if you reared her.

that's a good one, I'm keeping that for future use.

She clearly doesn't give a fuck

I like that, though, regardless of politics.

But why should she? I don't get it.

I'm off to present at a thing this afternoon, I'll have washed my hair, black suit, blouse, low shoes - I dress in a similar way to men, albeit gendered in as much as my blouse is patterned and I might wear a skirt.

Maybe I might have given more of a fuck when I was 20, but at 50 I don't give a shit - they're there to listen to me, because I have something useful to say, and if the men are in suits, I'll be in a suit. Shrug you know?

I like the sound of Nanna Anonymous

I’ve not paid any attention to Foster’s wardrobe personally but I just had a google and someone has definitely made a considerable effort to gussy her up since the GE.

I agree, likely a professional stylist/shopper.

You are a very bad feminist, OP, and you should go and stand in the naughty corner.

I always notice what people wear.
Been told off about it since I was 18.
No longer care.

I always notice what people wear.

I do with men as well. I suppose I really notice Arlene Foster because it's a 'compare and contrast' with Theresa May. She seems to go out of her way to choose jackets that are cut completely wrong for her, skirts too short, flibbertygibbet shoes etc., and I suffer guilt when I notice.

I'll be honest, I wasn't a fan of this ensemble I just saw on the 6 o'clock Beeb news. Makes her look very mannish.

Have been inspired by this thread to have a google (and book a haircut myself) and what I can’t understand is why, having got a good haircut now, she leaves this shocker of a photo up on the actual DUP website.

I think it’s entirely fair game, even as a feminist, to be interested in people’s clothes as long as you don’t assume any correlation between their appearance and their value as a human being. You can say “I’m impressed with that person’s grooming/musical ability/graphic design skills” even though you know they're an absolute disgrace to humanity.

I do envy Theresa May her hair though.

I read the post too quick, thought you meant Arlene Phillips.

Juells you are so right..she does dress well! I think from now on I will look at her clothes rather than cry my eyes out at the crap she comes up with...hands in feminist badge!!😜

I get seriously pissed off with this idea that feminists shouldn't be interested in clothes and fashion. Cooking bores me senseless but I wouldn't dream of belittling women who enjoy it.

I do sympathise with women in politics who aren't into clothes because a man's suit is really just a smarter version of what they'd probably wear anyway but there isn't really an equivalent for a woman so, even though they may wear similar things, they never look quite as comfortable.

I also suspect the senior male politicians spend a serious amount of money getting their suits personally tailored. It means their clothes fit them like second skin whereas I bet the women are nervous of being seen to spend as much so buy stuff off the peg that doesn't fit as well and isn't as good quality.

Just a theory!

I'll be honest, I wasn't a fan of this ensemble I just saw on the 6 o'clock Beeb news. Makes her look very mannish.

That took a minute!

Juells, I'm glad someone picked it up! EldestBunting noticed before I did and it just seemed to coincidental not to enjoy!