Fashion advice from another Planet
MLA critiques on Twitter lighten politics
There are certain things Alberta political observers can expect Monday as MLAs return to the legislature after two weeks in their constituencies.
Verbal sparring? Of course. Feigned outrage? Almost certainly.
A running fashion commentary? Surprisingly, these days, yes — if you are plugged into Twitter and the regular commentary of Kathleen Smith, known in social media circles as Kikki Planet.
When Alberta politicians reopened the session in March, Smith started to inject her frequent political commentary with some lighthearted fashion critiques during question period.
Within the span of 140 characters, a limit imposed by Twitter, she praises, pans and almost always nominates a daily best-dressed. Usually, those posts are accompanied by the regularly used #ableg hashtag and #polifashion, a hashtag of her own creation.
Not even Premier Alison Redford is immune.
“Redford gets an ‘A’ on hair today, but the sackcloth smock under her jacket just screams ‘pick on me for wearing this.’ #ableg #polifashion,” Smith tweeted on the most recent March day that MLAs were in action.
Some may be tempted to dismiss a critique of a cowl-neck or pronouncement on tie pattern as irrelevant to Alberta’s political debate. But consider a couple of factors.
Veteran political strategist Stephen Carter, who now works for public relations firm Hill & Knowlton, last month ranked Smith as the top voice on Twitter’s Alberta legislature feed.
“No. 1 in the CyBranding influencer rankings for a reason, she has a biting sense of humour, a solid sense of what’s right and wrong and a passion to defend the weak,” Carter wrote. (London, Englandbased CyBranding Ltd. helps social media users exploit their branding efforts.)
“And weak she ain’t. Tough as nails, she’s endured attacks from all sides of #ableg,” Carter added.
There also is a deeper motive behind Smith’s occasionally biting, sometimes celebratory, foray into clothing commentary.
A self-described political addict, the e-zine founder, blogger and Huffington Post contributor routinely watches the televised question period on the wall-mounted big screen in her Edmonton home.
By Christmas time last year, however, Smith found much of the Twitter dialogue tied to provincial politics to be hate-filled, polarized and unproductive.
That’s when she started toying with a political Twitter version of the television show What Not To Wear.
“I was trying to find some way to add some levity to the feed, still address politics, but invite people back to conversation by perhaps being a little funny to start with,” Smith said. “We can all agree that all those goatees on the (Progressive Conservative) side, they’ve got to go. We can all agree on that.”
The legislature is far from a fashion free-for-all. There are some fairly stringent rules about what MLAs are allowed to wear, which means it will never be a staging ground for haute couture.
Speaker Gene Zwozdesky — who Smith says will always be the best-dressed in the room by virtue of his formal robes — said MLAs are expected to dress in dignified business attire.
“The basic rules are the men are expected to wear a suit and/or suit jacket, dress shirt and tie at all times,” said Zwozdesky.
Women have slightly more latitude, but they must also dress in business wear.
No one is allowed to wear “props” such as silly hats, or shirts with logos, without first asking for the Speaker’s permission.
“There’s a certain high level of respect we must show to the house and its traditions and what it stands for,” Zwozdesky said. “Clothing is one of the most immediate and most indicative vehicles that has to be used in a proper way.”
Smith herself likes to dress in “classic” styles when she is out and about.
At home watching Question Period, the 46-year-old says she is most likely to be sitting with her laptop on the grey tweed sectional sofa, sipping tea and wearing “mom” yoga pants.
Although Zwozdesky was not aware of Smith’s fashion foray — he doesn’t have a Twitter account — other regular Alberta legislature Twitter users have made note.
Josh Stewart, a spokesman for Justice Minister Jonathan Denis, said he’s appreciated the #polifashion tweets for injecting a bit of fun into the political stream. Stewart’s boss gets regular mentions from Smith, often connected to his hair.
“I think it’s a good break from the negativity that’s usually on the #ableg feed,” Stewart said. “It gives it some lightheartedness.”
Wildrose spokesman Vitor Marciano also noticed Smith’s fashion quips. “Because I’m fashion-challenged, I’m not sure what to make of them,” Marciano said.
But Marciano agreed that Smith seems to treat all MLAs equally when it comes to fashion. “I think that the only time that Kikki Planet is non-partisan is when she tweets about fashion,” he said.
Smith can be a polarizing personality on Twitter. As Carter noted, she isn’t afraid to write “withering responses” to people she considers to be mean-spirited trolls.
Until the last provincial election, she says, she always voted Liberal. For a time, she identified as a Wildrose supporter until a high-profile blog during the spring campaign in which she denounced the party. Today, Smith says she supports the Alberta Party and is considering running for office herself.
While issues are important, Smith says tweeting about the legislature’s best and worst dressed has reopened some lines of communication with people across Alberta’s political spectrum who tune in through social media.
“The rare day I don’t do it, or the rare day I get more serious, I get nothing but tweets from people saying, ‘Wait. Where’s the fashion?’ ” she said. “I do try to even it out. I try to comment on things that happen during Question Period in a non-partisan manner, but then I do offer the polifashion.”
Smith said she also hears from some MLAs who see what she’s said online.
“Sometimes I think I’m tweeting for them, too, giving them a little a laugh, taking a bit of pressure off, giving them something to smile about when they’re in that situation,” she said.
Deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk, known around the Here’s a sample of saucy #polifashion tweets from Kathleen Smith, a.k.a. Kikki Planet: March 18 Stephen Khan is looking snazzy today. Great blending of three different patterns yet nothing clashes. Well done, sir. #ableg #polifashion Jeff Wilson of #WRP is always a delight, & he rocks the chrome dome. But I’d like to work with him on those eyeglasses. #ableg #polifashion Pearl is rocking a FABULOUS look today. Dark swing jacket with wide collar blouse. Well done, lady. #ableg #polifashion It requires saying. The bitumen bubble may have landed in David Xiao’s hair. Seriously, friend. Back off the Dippity Do. #ableg #polifashion Wow. Heather Forsyth of the #WRP is rocking a fabulous eggplant coloured blouse today. Best she’s dressed this session. #ableg #polifashion @cathyolesen Your jacket is FABULOUS! And you saying fashion isn’t your strong suit! That suit is strong, my friend. Well done! #polifashion Oh, Ken Hughes of #ableg! Not only the fabulous yellow tie today, you’re on the news with a Burberry scarf! BRAVO! #polifashion #manstyle March 19 Today’s best dressed in #ableg #polifashion goes to @SANDRAYYCNW. Because nothing wears better than true passion & a steady gaze. March 20 Mr. Horner: great suit, but light green prior to Easter? #polifashion faux pas. FOR SHAME! #ableg March 21 Diana McQueen evokes memories of a young Jane Fonda in her tangerine blouse & perfect shag haircut. Shagadelic, baby. #ableg Gotta say, boys seem to have “refined” their looks a little since start of session. The men of #ableg — they’re bringing SEXY BACK! legislature for his stylish suits, colourful shirts and carefully coiffed hair, said Smith’s fashion commentary came to his attention after a staff member pointed out a mention of his bow tie.
As the son of a Polish fashion designer who often fell asleep as a child hearing the hum of his mother’s sewing machine in the next room, Lukaszuk said he can appreciate clothing commentary.
MLAs and government have very serious work to do, he said, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have some goodnatured fun over their clothing choices.
“I like clothes and I like colours,” Lukaszuk said.
“I think our life at the legislature is often grey with the issues we’re dealing with, so a little bit of colour goes a long way, and if it makes people smile or laugh, well, that’s good.”