November 12, 2023

You can compliment Ivanka Trump as "the picture of gentle, pulled-together professionalism and good will" — but only after saying she "emerg[ed]" from "bowels."

I'm reading an article by the NYT fashion critic Vanessa Friedman, "Trump Family Trial Style/Ivanka Trump and her siblings dress for court — and the cameras" (dated November 9th):
She was the focus of this week’s final scene, flying up from her home in Florida, emerging from the bowels of a black town car to make her entrance in a navy wool coat and navy pantsuit, a black leather tote clutched in one hand, tiny pearl studs in her ears and with her blond hair falling in soft waves around her face, the picture of gentle, pulled-together professionalism and good will.

I've boldfaced the metaphor in which Ivanka Trump is likened to shit

It's not as though the car's resemblance to bowels was so precise and striking that the intestinal metaphor was simply irresistible. Ivanka Trump was apparently perfectly dressed for the occasion, and the fashion critic wanted to say so, but she couldn't just say that. She entertained us NYT readers with the giddy comfort of the absurd visualization of automotive defecation. 

I was fascinated by the discussion of hair — "blond hair falling in soft waves around her face." That was "a departure from her last public appearance, at Kim Kardashian’s birthday party, when she opted for ironed straight locks."

We're told the wavy hair "created an impression of earnestness and mainstream relatability." Why is wavy hair more earnest and relatable than straight hair? Is "ironed straight" hair somehow aggressive and devious?

Sidenote: I'm so tired of the meandering this-way-and-that wavy cascade-y hair women have been wearing for what seems like 2 decades. What does it mean? More importantly, when will it end?

72 comments:

rhhardin said...

She emerged from the car's stoma, would increase aptness.

Kevin said...

Ivanka Trump is likened to shit.

More Jew hatred.

Left Bank of the Charles said...

Sometimes “bowels” just means “deep inside” - such as bowels of the earth, bowels of a ship, bowels of Manhattan, or bowels of a black town car. Tag this post with NYT derangement syndrome.

EdwdLny said...

So, shorter, " I have raging Trump derangement syndrome, off the scale ". And, I hate him and anyone, indeed everyone, remotely connected to him. Also, the country is far, far, worse off because joey bidet, whom I support until Armageddon, but I haven't the common sense to admit it. Apparently this creature doesn't own any mirrors or have the slightest self awareness. Bugger off toots, you and your ilk.

Howard said...

In other words.. the turd doesn't fall far from the asshole

Breezy said...

Are you referring to the Beach Wave hairstyle? I’m not a fan either, particularly on shoulder length hair…. It’s ironic you have to spend much time and money on a do instead of just jumping in the ocean and simply let the salty sea breeze dry your hair…:)

Kate said...

"bowels": another example of the Indigo Blob, a gentle blend of vaguely red journalism, Mother Jones, and the neutral NYT.

BudBrown said...

Way back when, 2017, walking down Bayshore during a parade or fireworks day it was very
noticeable that a whole lot of women were sporting the Ivanka hairstyle. Woulda probably annoyed the crap out of Hillary.

Narayanan said...

disgorge > barf up would have been OK too

tcrosse said...

As usual Althouse gives more attention to words and their meanings than the writers probably did.

Narayanan said...

professora + ivanka = blonde sisters!!

PrimoStL said...

I enjoy the metaphor for exactly the same symbolism, as if NYC was unused to the phenomenon of public defecation. NYC and its denizens are worthy to be defecated upon. They enjoy the privilege of royal feces, and so should she.

Relish this moment Ivanka. Enjoy the luxury of defiling those who so richly deserve to be shat upon.

Temujin said...

Amazing that years after Trump leaves office, the NYT discovers that Melania is beautiful, classy, and the best dressed First Lady we've ever had.

Jamie said...

It's a pain in the... neck, when you have curly or wavy hair, to straighten it. And shaving myself bald does not appeal. So, when will it end? Never.

Temujin said...

"When will it end?"

When this becomes the trend. And I don't think we're far off. Nice hair, Honey.

Enlighten-NewJersey said...

I saw a picture of Ivanka and her hair that day. That’s the way my hair looked when it was long and I used a blower to dry it. My hair looked very straight if I let dry naturally, almost like it was ironed. Why are you tired of the first look? What style do you prefer? I’m tired of the shaved head or shaved on one side and long on the other.

Iman said...

Just consider the source.

William said...

When you contrast Ivanka's polished perfection against the rough edges of Hunter's authenticity, you can't help but admire Joe Biden's parenting skills. It's an invidious comparison, but isn't Hunter the son we all wish we had, and Ivanka every parents' worst nightmare.

William said...

When you contrast Ivanka's polished perfection against the rough edges of Hunter's authenticity, you can't help but admire Joe Biden's parenting skills. It's an invidious comparison, but isn't Hunter the son we all wish we had, and Ivanka every parents' worst nightmare.

wendybar said...

Vanessa Friedman is jealous. Vanessa Friedman will NEVER be as beautiful, rich or famous as Ivanka, and it kills her. Vanessa Friedman is ugly, inside and out.

MikeM said...

Professor, do you read the NY Times because it provides grist or as a fellow traveler?

jaydub said...

The excrement tag is redundant. NYT is synonymous with excrement.

MikeM said...

Professor, do you read the NY Times because it provides grist or as a fellow traveler?

Rocco said...

"It's not as though the car's resemblance to bowels was so precise and striking that the intestinal metaphor was simply irresistible... She entertained us NYT readers with the giddy comfort of the absurd visualization of automotive defecation."

She also called out the color of the car. What is she trying to say about a black car taking a dump on the sidewalk?

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

I appreciate Althouse finding these manipulative language formulations in the sewer of Times verbiage.

Rocco said...

"She entertained us NYT readers with the giddy comfort of the absurd visualization of automotive defecation."

Except that an additional moment's thought shows the metaphor doesn't work. More advanced lifeforms take food through one orifice, pass it through the GI tract to absorb nutrients, then expel the excess through another orifice.

Ivanka, like most people, probably entered and exited the car through the same "orifice".

Now, there are lifeforms (like jellyfish) that take and expel food through the same orifice. But they don't have a GI tract - i.e., bowels.

William said...

And then there is that paragon of style "Dr." Jill Biden. Gauche is too kind a word.

rhhardin said...

Here lies, wrapt up in forty thousand towels, The only proof that Caroline had bowels.
- Alexander Pope, Epitaph on Queen Caroline.

Humperdink said...

Ivanka, Melania, Michelle O. Compare/contrast image treatment by the NYTimes.

Ann Althouse said...

"Professor, do you read the NY Times because it provides grist or as a fellow traveler?"

That's like asking if I'm a Republican or a Democrat.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

After reading the AI post I am compelled to add that I dashed off my pithy compliment here before knowing what the context was. It is natural for me to jump in at the first post that tickles my brain and then work down to the first post of the day. If a theme develops over the next few hours it is completely coincidental WRT my tiny contribution.

planetgeo said...

It's almost as if the NY Times fashion writers are chosen from Cinderella's fugly stepsisters.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

William may have just blessed us with the most sublimely ironic short paragraph in the history of Althouse commenters.

Heartless Aztec said...

Hippie chick style hair. Parted in the middle and secured by a headband. SCHWING. There's your Viagra.

James K said...

Sometimes “bowels” just means “deep inside” - such as bowels of the earth, bowels of a ship, bowels of Manhattan, or bowels of a black town car. Tag this post with NYT derangement syndrome.

Nice try, but an automobile passenger seat is not "deep inside" the vehicle.

Tank said...

"Sidenote: I'm so tired of the meandering this-way-and-that wavy cascade-y hair women have been wearing for what seems like 2 decades. What does it mean?"

That the people who wear it, and the people who look at it, like it?

tommyesq said...

Is there a more useless profession than "NYT fashion critic?"

Bob Boyd said...

A crappy rented limo dumped it's load of Trump on the curb and whirled away leaving a stinking cloud and a skid mark. She was dressed for a state funeral, but her time-tested hairstyle looked fantastic, I'll give her that.

(Note to New York Times: I'm available.)

Wince said...

“tiny pearl studs in her ears”

Doesn’t exactly rule-out the suggestion of having had eaten corn the night before.

Charlie said...

Ann, thanks for posting these occasional items from the NYT and SNL.........it reminds me to keep avoiding them.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Is "ironed straight" hair somehow aggressive and devious?

Iron straight is Anna Wintour. As in the devil, who thanks to Hitler, has been on vacation from lips and print for awhile now.

Mike (MJB Wolf) said...

Thank you James K for saying what I was too lazy to write. That stupid shit the lefty was shoveling deserves ridicule although I respect his attempt to stretch “cigar is just a cigar” trope to incredible (literally) proportions.

Oligonicella said...

Ironic, as they're the assholes.

Aggie said...

Tommorow's issue: Puke analogies. The limo will disgorge Ivanka, who is dressed in a fabulous flowing Dior outfit.

There's no such thing as TDS, as evidenced here by all of the usual afflicted suspects, riffing off the 'poopy' themes (snicker), like third graders.

I have never heard of someone emerging from the bowels of a limousine. My, what a big tailpipe you have!

Robert Cook said...

I'd bet the writer was trying to be a bit "lit'ry." "Bowels" is not uncommonly used by writers to describe a deep, dark, labyrinth from which some hidden or unknown thing or person has emerged. In this case, if my guess as to the writer's intent is correct, the limousine was being likened to a deep, dark sheltering mobile fortress into which the occupants may repose in privacy and comfort, hidden from the intrusions (and possible dangers) of the outer world.

This said, it is such an inapt comparison that it is somewhat jarring, even if it wasn't meant to imply Ivanka was a metaphorical turd. Even big stretch limos can't really be considered as labyrinthine. The word choice brings attention to the writer, (revealing the writer's clumsiness with words...or his trying too hard to be "writerly").

rcocean said...

I must say that I never would associate a Bowel movement with leaving a car. Your bowels aren't black for one thing. If Ivanka was getting out of white car, dressed in black, the insult/analogy would make more sense.

Robert Cook said...

"And then there is that paragon of style 'Dr.' Jill Biden. Gauche is too kind a word."

Why the snarky quote marks around "Dr.?" Why gauche? The word Doctor derives from the Latin "docere," which simply means "teacher" or "scholar." Any person who has achieved an academic doctorate in any field may correctly be addressed as "Doctor." Those who think "Doctor" suitably applies only to medical doctors are in the wrong. It's entirely appropriate for a newspaper article to address Jill Biden as "Dr. Biden", as it acknowledges her professional status apart from being the President's wife.

(I do think people who immediately correct others who address them as other than "Doctor"--(e.g., Person A: "Hello Mr. Shinbur--" Person B: "That's DOCTOR Shinburn!") are perhaps a bit too impressed with themselves, except in circumstances such that using the appropriate honorific is appropriate or expected, or in cases where someone who knows another's professional status insists on calling another "Mr." or "Ms." rather than "Dr." as a means to denigrate them.)

Rich said...

Ms Kushner is a reflective person who is very thankful for what she has been given in many ways from both her father and mother. If she was brought up as a Presbyterian Christian (Wiki), she would feel very responsible for these endowments, both spiritually and physically..

Her choice of Judaism would serve to reinforce the aforementioned principles.

The many photos in the NYT and elsewhere depicts a reflective person and mother who loves her family and deeply cares about the future of her husband and children.

She loves her father and loved her mother, a good woman who, according to both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, raised her children well..

We do not choose the families in which we are raised… But if we approach life, being thankful for what we have been given, we face it with a solid foundation…

Sebastian said...

"I'm so tired of the meandering this-way-and-that wavy cascade-y hair women have been wearing for what seems like 2 decades. What does it mean?"

It means nothing. Except that it does mean no one cares about your taste, which is as arbitrary as any other.

Ivanka looks prettty hot for her age. Judging by appearance and professionalism, she is not crazy. So: sweet spot in the matrix. Of course, she's a Trump, so progs have to work hard to vilify her. But I'd venture she's actually more dangerous to our side, a lib in wavy-hair drag.

Candide said...

"... leather tote clutched in one hand,..."

Speaking of clichés, why is it women are always described as "clutching" at their personal items?

Big Mike said...

Kevin (6:18) beat me to it.

Kate said...

Where's Laslo and the swishing ponytail when you need him?

n.n said...

bowels of a black car

Car sounds like "har" which is short for harlot. It sounds diversitist. What say ye NAACP?

Political Junkie said...

The sad thing is there are women (my wife) who read these rags and vote D but won't admit the rags favor D.

Political Junkie said...

Kate at 1023 - Agree. In my years here, I thought Laslo was the funniest.

Joe Smith said...

'In other words.. the turd doesn't fall far from the asshole'

I hope a Trump, any Trump actually cures cancer.

The worldwide headlines would be "Trump destroys millions of healthcare jobs."

Howard would nod in agreement, he's that much of a communist tool...

Ann Althouse said...

""... leather tote clutched in one hand,..." Speaking of clichés, why is it women are always described as "clutching" at their personal items?"

A "clutch" is also a type of handbag. So just as Ivanka clutched a tote, she could have toted a clutch.

Bruce Hayden said...

“Why the snarky quote marks around "Dr.?" Why gauche? The word Doctor derives from the Latin "docere," which simply means "teacher" or "scholar." Any person who has achieved an academic doctorate in any field may correctly be addressed as "Doctor." Those who think "Doctor" suitably applies only to medical doctors are in the wrong. It's entirely appropriate for a newspaper article to address Jill Biden as "Dr. Biden", as it acknowledges her professional status apart from being the President's wife.”

Because she makes a big thing about it. Joe, Beau, and Hunter have/had doctorate degrees too (in law, as a number of us do here too). Why is she Dr Biden, and they aren’t? In the Bell Curve, it was pointed out that the mean IQ of Doctorates of all types was around one standard deviation above the mean, with two exceptions - EdDs, whose mean IQ was around the population mean, and Physics PhDs, whose mean IQ was higher than other doctorates. EdDs are often called Summer School Doctorates, since that is how many are earned - teachers spending several summers acquiring them when they are off work from teaching. PhDs often laugh at the rigor of EdD dissertations/thesises - many/most are unreproducible, because they just involve the candidate interviewing several self selected test subjects (apparently, often either other EdD candidates, and/or other teachers). And, yet, Dr Biden was deferred to, in the discussions about the COVID-19 pandemic, just as if she had earned a relevant doctorate, like an MD or PhD. Personally, and I really hate to say this, but I am far more impressed with Crooked Hillary’s Yale JD. Heck, Hunter’s JD is apparently from Harvard.

Then there is her fashion sense, very often being seen in outfits that seem to have been picked to match flowery furniture upholstery. It’s telling that her sense of fashion is often rated below that of Michelle Obama (from another double doctorate First Family).

boatbuilder said...

"Why the snarky quote marks around "Dr.?" Why gauche? The word Doctor derives from the Latin "docere," which simply means "teacher" or "scholar." Any person who has achieved an academic doctorate in any field may correctly be addressed as "Doctor." Those who think "Doctor" suitably applies only to medical doctors are in the wrong. It's entirely appropriate for a newspaper article to address Jill Biden as "Dr. Biden", as it acknowledges her professional status apart from being the President's wife."

It is astonishing to me that Cookie is actually a commenter on this blog, because in order to comment, you need to have access to something called "The Internet."

You be you, Cookie.

boatbuilder said...

"So just as Ivanka clutched a tote, she could have toted a clutch."

And you know what else? Cars have clutches too. In their "bowels."

Makes ya think.

Well, that's enough thinking for now.

Bruce Hayden said...

“A "clutch" is also a type of handbag. So just as Ivanka clutched a tote, she could have toted a clutch”

But the symbolism of the words is different. The adjectives that often accompany the two verbs have almost opposite connotations- desperately for clutching, and easily or negligently for toting.

BTW - this is one reason that I am glad that I am a man, and not a woman. I couldn’t tell a clutch from a tote, or a shirt from a blouse, if my life depended on it. Their lives seem cluttered with required knowledge of such trivialities, that seem irrelevant to us. My partner eschews both, having her male attendant (or, as she calls it, her “beast of burden”) carry her necessities in their pockets. We also typically carry her purse too, though her ex husband did so on his pinky, to keep it as far from him as possible. He may have been overly sensitive though, despite being massive, he apparently tended to bounce a bit when he walked.

Colleen Brown said...

Ann,
I am also tired of the wavy, cascade-y hair style. Does anyone remember when long hair was worn behind the shoulders instead of cascading down the front of the body? Governor Kristi Noem wears her hair this way. She needs a haircut! Also, hers might be hair extensions.

Skeptical Voter said...

Our host speaks of "visualization of automotive defecation".

What she didn't mention was seeing the writer's act of "journalistic defecation" splattered right there in front of her on the page.

As I've noted before, reading the NYT is a nasty job and I'm happy to leave it to our host. I'm appreciative of her efforts in that regard.

Rusty said...

Howard said...
"In other words.. the turd doesn't fall far from the asshole"
And if anyone knows it would be you.

A "clutch" is also a type of handbag. So just as Ivanka clutched a tote, she could have toted a clutch."
Back away from the keyboard, Althouse. Leave the comedy to the professionals.

Michael K said...

(I do think people who immediately correct others who address them as other than "Doctor"--(e.g., Person A: "Hello Mr. Shinbur--" Person B: "That's DOCTOR Shinburn!") are perhaps a bit too impressed with themselves,

That's "Dr Jill"

walter said...

Buried lede: She looks great.
I do appreciate this instance of female fashion fisking being found in a fashion article, for a change.
She uncovered the Trump family Blue strategy!

Joe Smith said...

'Those who think "Doctor" suitably applies only to medical doctors are in the wrong.'

Seriously?

DOCTOR Jill got her degree from a Cracker Jack box.

Have you read her thesis or whatever it is? She is semi-literate.

One of my friends has a PhD in hard science from Stanford from a time when it meant something.

He NEVER uses it unless at a professional conference, etc.

Richard Dolan said...

"I'm so tired of the meandering this-way-and-that wavy cascade-y hair women have been wearing for what seems like 2 decades."

Funny. Since that "this-way-and-that wavy cascade-y hair" has never been you, at least to judge by the pix online, you're tired of something you haven't tried at at least 2 decades, and perhaps never. It's like a life-long couch-potato being tired of exercise. Note too that "tired" and "tried" differ only by transposing two letters -- the connection between the two is right there in the spelling.

Rick67 said...

Such examples tell us far more about the journalist class than it does about Trump and anyone associated with him including members of his family.

Kirk Parker said...

Richard Dolan

I took it to mean, tired of seeing this style on other people.

Gack... Imagine having an opinion about something like that.

n.n said...

A clutch is a group of eggs laid by a hen.

donald said...

Vanessa Friedman is aggressively unattractive. Wouldn’t fuck her with Readering’s dick (Assuming he has one).

Ugly girl desperately jealous of the girl who has it all, it’s a time worn story.