- The Washington Times - Thursday, February 7, 2013

Who would have thought? Fashion police live in Israel, too, it seems. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, has taken some serious hits from the political gossip crowd who hated her choice of dress for the 19th Knesset’s swearing-in ceremony earlier this week.

According to The Times of Israel’s description and photograph, she wore a black lace dress that was partially see-through on the sleeves and upper portion of the bodice. Ynet News termed the dress a “mistake” — but the criticisms from other circles were decidedly rawer in tone.

She looked like an advertisement for the Michelin tire company, said one fashion commentator, according to The Times of Israel. The dress was “so cheap” and “so inappropriate,” the fashion commentator said she was at a loss for words, the report continued.

Mr. Netanyahu’s wife, the commentator finished, “has no self-awareness, and there’s no one in the Prime Minister’s Office” with enough courage to tell her the truth, The Times of Israel reported. Ouch. The press in American has been a lot kinder to first lady Michelle Obama — though in January, she did take some heat from one commentator who found her pre-inaugural primping demands a bit too fashionista.

According to a January Business Insider report, Mrs. Obama asked between 15 and 30 designers to submit looks for her inaugural dress.

“Mrs. Obama isn’t an indulged starlet primping for the Oscars, not should she behave like one,” said Bridget Foley, executive editor of Women’s Wear Daily, in the Business Insider report. “Women everywhere have big events for which they select a single dress in advance of the moment.”

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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