We are slightly chuckling at the news that Sarah Palin’s skirt suits and heels with a sliver of a platform have, to date, cost a princely £90,000. But only slightly. It is true that this is a staggering amount to spend on a politician’s image in any circumstances, let alone in the current financial climate. And it’s doubly inappropriate since Palin is supposed to represent cash-strapped regular people. Clearly you can’t bang on about elitism and then get hot-chauffeured to Neiman Marcus for a designer-shopping binge. Then again, what woman wouldn’t be corrupted under similar circumstances?

It is the oldest story in the book. Attractive, ambitious female with simple tastes samples the bright lights, gets a feel for the very good life and, bam! Next thing you know, she’s demanding an eyebrow technician and sleeping in a moisture-retaining bag. Remember Catherine Zeta- Jones when she was just plain Katie from the Valleys with a bad perm and a wardrobe full of scoop-neck bodies? Fast-forward a few years and she’s Mrs Michael Douglas, who must not be pictured eating cake and has an army of stylists and personal trainers. Remember Camilla Parker Bowles’s dog-walker’s wardrobe, standard bleach job and smoker’s teeth? Who knew that she would take so easily to the royal makeover, including hairdressing rumoured to cost £40,000 a year. Even Victoria Beckham was once a girl of relatively unambitious tastes who jumped at the chance to appear on Maria Grachvogel’s catwalk at London fashion week. Now look at her, fronting Marc Jacobs campaigns and juggling Hermès handbags in every colour.

See, it’s not the money that turns these women’s heads, it’s the key to the sweet shop of high fashion, and once they get through the door (generally before or after regular shopping hours), few are strong enough to turn around and say, “I can see this beautifully cut A-list designer coat makes me look like I’ve dropped two sizes, but how can I justify it when so many have so little? Let me make my way to George at Asda.”

They can’t do it. They see the lovely stuff and there is no going back to the mall. (Okay, Michelle Obama is made of stronger stuff, but who knows if she’ll be able to resist the Vera Wang deliveries if she gets her pumps in the White House?) The pity is that Palin was steered in the direction of outfits that cost so much but could have been from Banana Republic. Oh well. You win some, you lose some.

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