From ‘My cherry for Kerry’ to Putin pants: Political underwear is hot
Personally, I wouldn’t want to be found dead in any bit of clothing that sported the name of any politician but, as they say, ‘Different folks, different strokes’:
What with the tide of western commercialism that has been sweeping over Russia these past few years, it was only a matter of time. A 20-year-old fashion designer linked to the Kremlin has designed some Putin-supporting underwear. (Not literally, as far as we know. These knickers are strictly for girls.)
Antonia Shapovalova, “a commissar in the pro-Kremlin movement Nashi”, has designed the lingerie with a view to persuading the young ladies of Russia to have more babies. We could point out that printing “Vova [Putin's nickname], I’m with you,” across the front of a tiny pair of briefs might in fact have the opposite effect, disconcerting, for example, the men required to help produce these babies, but that would be quite cruel to a young designer just starting out.
There is quite a precedent for this kind of thing. In the run-up to the 2004 US election, for example, an outfit called Axis of Eve organised what they called “Operation Depose and Expose”: gaggles of women flashing red, fuschia, black and lavender drawers at TV cameras. It was the slogans that were the point, however. “Weapon of Mass Seduction”, many of them read. “My Cherry for Kerry” and “Expose Bush”.
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