Turns out Sarah Palin really does have a stylist. This from the New York Post.

AND NOW for something entirely trivial from my inside fashion
source. Wondering who is masterminding Sarah Palin’s exquisite dressing
for success? We’re told it’s Gahl Hodges Burt, one of the chicest women in Washington, said to be "the best-dressed Republican in town." She was social secretary to Nancy Reagan from 1983 to 1985 and she is also reported to be sartorially advising Cindy McCain. Mrs. Burt’s husband, Richard Burt, was the US ambassador to Germany from 1985 to 1989 and he is still a senior adviser at Kissinger McLarty Associates.

The candidates do not want to be considered rich, elite or
knowledgeable about such things, so they feel they can’t make calls to
fashion names or go out shopping lest they be found out. Sarah Palin
probably wouldn’t like to admit that for her big speech at the GOP
convention, she was wearing a $2,500 shantung silk Valentino jacket.
(And Page Six first told you about this – some soccer mom!) But she is
getting high marks for how she looks, and she looks better and better.
She has makeup sculpting her face for photo advantage, including the
subtle lighter foundation stripe down her nose that brings out the
cheekbones and narrows the nose. Her suits accentuate her slim waist
and hips. And she carries no handbag, just like Hillary Clinton, Carla Bruni, Anna Wintour – we seldom see these women with pocketbooks, save for evening dress. Recent photos of Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain and Laura Bush
show these ladies are also liberated, usually without pocketbooks. (All
of these women have entourages to schlep stuff for them.) But they look
good with hands and arms free.

And she has indeed been looking good (too bad about the politics!). The suit in this photo is a lovely dark brown and it looks as if she’s wearing black sling backs and maybe even very light stockings — a more demure look, sure, but one more in keeping with what she’s doing.