Senators weigh in on having some of America’s ‘worst-dressed people’

While many lawmakers don’t claim to be fashionistas, they say
constituents in their home states are stylish as can be — despite what
American magazine readers might think.

A survey in Travel and Leisure mag’s June issue named “America’s Worst-Dressed People,” as determined by readers.

{mosads}But Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) disputes Baltimore’s third-place ranking on the “Worst-Dressed” list, saying, “Baltimore is very much a neighborhood city which people feel very comfortable in the way that they dress. We don’t dress up.”

In fact, he thinks Charm City would top another list — America’s most “practically dressed.”

Cardin offered with a chuckle a final thought on the dubious honor, saying, “You can tell by present company that’s just not true.”

Sen. Mike Lee isn’t quite as confident about his mode of dress. When asked about Salt Lake City’s second-place finish on the list, the Utah Republican conceded, “I am the absolute last person you’d want to ask for an expert opinion on fashion and whether or not my city is adequately hip.”

He described his own sense of style as more geek than chic, calling his traditional look “Boring. I mean, look at me. White shirt, a tie.”

Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) was quick to come to the defense of the city that takes the top spot for having the worst-dressed residents: Anchorage.

Travel and Leisure writes of the shiver-inducing city, “Many residents teeter through the streets bundled as tightly as Randy, the kid brother in ‘A Christmas Story.’ ”

But Begich, who was hustling as he headed to Tuesday’s Senate policy lunch, proclaimed the ranking to be all wrong. The lawmaker says the city was likely named at the forefront of fabulously bad fashion simply because Alaskans are “rugged and we don’t worry what people think about us.”

The junior senator ducked into the lunch before quickly popping back out to shout down the hall to ITK what he thinks about beauty, warmly yelling, “It’s in the eye of the beholder!”