Julie Nixon Eisenhower, President Nixon’s daughter, was wearing one of the designer’s popular wrap tops and A-line skirts while being questioned at a news conference. As Julie defended her embattled father against charges that he’d covered up the break-in at Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex, Diane noted the flattering contours of her top, how the snug fit and V neck enhanced Julie’s curves without being too provocative. Diane had little sympathy for Nixon, but his younger daughter impressed her. Julie looked confident and forceful, so different from the guileless girl in pictures at Nixon’s inauguration. It was as if Julie had absorbed the spirit of her clothes to become a new woman, a woman more like Diane—bold, independent, alluring.Diane had seen this happen before—on her trips around the country when she watched women of all shapes and ages try on her clothes—she had seen how they’d go into the dressing rooms as frumps and come out, well, not exactly sirens, but feeling better about their bodies and themselves because Diane’s brightly colored clothes in printed jersey with no zippers or other clunky hardware were so easy and hopeful.
