‘Best Foot Forward’ : Congressman’s Wife Steps Into Fashion Mentor Role

There are no fashion cops on Capitol Hill ready to haul away women who happen to be wearing patterned stockings, suede pumps, flashy hats and too much jewelry. But the wife of one San Fernando Valley congressman warns other incoming congressional spouses to beware of overdoingtheir garb, at least in public.

In a lighthearted presentation at a recent orientation for congressional spouses, Patricia McKeon, wife of Santa Clarita Republican Rep. Howard (Buck) McKeon, offered some hard-line fashion tips to the assembled spouses.

“You the spouse also represent the district,” said McKeon, whose husband has been in Congress two years. “It’s always best to put your best foot forward. . . . When you step out of the house in the morning, you should pretty much be prepared to go anywhere.”

Using an elaborate rating scheme she received years ago from a modeling school, McKeon awarded one or two points to various fashion accessories and advised the newcomers to try to reach--but not exceed--14 points.

Earning one point apiece were plain leather pumps, sheer stockings, a classic skirt, every piece of jewelry, a plain scarf, nail polish, a classic handbag or hat, and makeup applied to the eyes, cheeks and lips.

Articles earning two points each were suede or two-tone shoes, a handbag with chains or other flashy adornments, a hat that is colored, patterned or decorated, and a patterned or textured jacket.

While delivering the talk, McKeon counted up her own outfit and--not surprisingly--emerged as a perfect 14.

“I made sure of that,” she said.

Acknowledging that clothing is a very personal thing--her lawmaker husband, for instance, frequently wears cowboy boots--McKeon nonetheless advised against jeans and other casual attire in public.

“On the Hill, the congressional spouses should always be dressed up,” she advised. “A suit is a good idea. Often, you go directly from the Hill to political events.”

McKeon’s presentation was part of a broader discussion on protocol and clothing at Washington political events, no laughing matter with all the television cameras around.

Since her talk, McKeon said, she has received thank-you notes from listeners, some of whom told her they now total up their outfits every morning. Still, not all the spouses became instant converts.

Mary Bono, whose husband Sonny (R-La Quinta) is going off to Congress, says she intends to be seen around the Capitol in casual attire, especially if she is dropping by to visit her husband after a day with their two young children.

“In this election, the people said they want Congress to be more like them,” Bono said. “If I want to see Sonny (while I’m) in my jeans, I’m going to see Sonny in my jeans.”

Bono nonetheless got a chuckle out of McKeon’s fashion tip sheet and picked up valuable bits of advice from other parts of the seminar--which was organized by Dolores Beilenson, wife of Rep. Anthony Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills), and Janice Gallegly, who is married to Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley).

Although the newly elected lawmakers were juggling committee assignments earlier this month and preparing for the crush of business that awaits them Jan. 4, the spouses were hearing ethics rules specifically designed for them, panel discussions on whether to move to Washington and tips on how to avoid conflicts with the office staff.

“I don’t know where I would have been without the orientation when I came in,” said Gallegly, whose husband was elected in 1986. “Your life undergoes a lot of changes. There is a lot of stress. We want the spouses to know there is this group (of spouses) that is there for them.”

Some of the men in the crowd, however, felt a bit out of place. Unlike past years when separate male and female orientations were held, congressional husbands this year were thrown right in with congressional wives.

“It’s like I made a wrong turn into a sorority rush,” quipped Joe Rivers, husband of newly elected Rep. Lynn Nancy Rivers (D-Mich.). A boiler engineer at Ford Motor Co., he told reporters: “I liked the part about the plain leather pumps because I don’t have any of those.”