Michelle Obama takes the fashion vote

THE fashion world appears to have already made up its mind who has triumphed in the sartorial contest between the presidential candidates' wives.

IF political pundits are struggling to predict who will win the White House, the fashion world appears to have already made up its mind who has triumphed in the sartorial contest between the candidates' wives.

Both women clearly know better than most how to combine a nipped waist with daring accessories, but one thing is clear: the fashion industry is distinctly lukewarm about Ann Romney.

Designers, stylists and publicists fiercely compete to dress Michelle Obama and announce it to the world each time she wears one of their creations. When it comes to Mrs Romney, however, there is a deathly silence.

"We've yet to receive a press release about Ann Romney," Hayley Phelan of the influential fashionista.com blog wrote. When Mrs Romney wore a stunning red Oscar de la Renta dress to the Republican convention, "there was not a peep from his PR team, while we received several notices about Michelle's Democratic convention wardrobe from (the designers) Tracy Reese and Laura Smalls", she added.

PHOTO GALLERY: First ladies of fashion

When the industry is not being silent about Mrs Romney, however, the result is not always pleasant. After she wore a Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress, the designer's PR team issued a distinctly sniffy release saying they were "not quite sure" how she obtained it. Alfred Fiandaca has admitted that although the Republican candidate's wife wears his designs, he is a lifelong Democrat and finds some of her husband's policies offensive.

Mitt Romney's opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion may well be responsible for marginalising a good portion of an industry that has traditionally leant to the Left. But Phelan suggests another explanation. Could it be that some designers are fearful of upsetting another powerful woman: Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue?

Wintour is one of the President's most vocal supporters and fundraisers and is a key force behind the Runway to Win campaign, a project bringing together a number of leading designers whose clothes and accessories are sold to benefit the Obama Victory Fund.

Whatever the reason, it seems that a Romney victory is unlikely to produce the same kind of fashion-industry love fest that greeted Ms Obama in 2009 when she attended inauguration night festivities in a stunning white gown by Jason Wu.