Italian socialist champagne under the AOC brand costs more than 300 euros per hour.

Ellie Schlein was elected leader of the Democratic Party in February. Photo: ALESSANDRA BENEDETTI/CORBIS

Newly elected leader Italy's centre-left opposition party has been accused of being a supporter of socialist champagne after it was revealed that it has a personal shopper who helps her choose outfits.

Ellie Schlein, the head of the Democratic Party, said in an interview that a consultant charges up to 300 euros an hour to advise her on what shade and tone of clothes to wear.

This admission drew criticism for not being supportive association with working class supporters of the party, and a lot of ridicule on the Internet. .

Ms Schlein, 37, who has been hailed by the Italian press as her country's answer to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for her youth, feminist views and rapid rise through the party ladder, spoke of her fashion sensibility in an interview with the Italian publication. Vogue, which one news site sarcastically called «typical working-class publication».

Even the leftist daily La Repubblica said Ms. Schlein's use of personal shopping smacked of elitism at a time when many Italian families were struggling to pay bills and find jobs.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, nicknamed AOC, wore a dress that read 'tax on the rich' at the Met Gala in 2021. Photo: Kevin Mazur/MG21/Getty Images

«My choice of clothes depends on the situations I'm in,» Ms. Schlein told Vogue. “Sometimes I behave unconventionally, sometimes more formally. In general, I say yes to flowers.”

She said she consulted with a personal shopper named Enrica Ciccio, whom Ms. Schlein called “armocromista,” which roughly translates to “color harmony consultant.” .

For the vast majority, this word was «unknown until yesterday.» Italians, writes La Repubblica.

Carlo Calenda, leader of a small centrist party, remarked ironically: «As you know, I belong to the elite, but I swear that even I do not know that there was such a thing as » armochromist».

Color and tone matching began in Hollywood

Ms. Cicchio said she first met Ms. Schlein about a year and a half ago, but has seen her often lately.

The idea of ​​identifying tones and colors to match appearance of a person, “this is what started with the diva of Hollywood,” she said.

“In Italy, it has been around for about ten years. When someone thinks about promoting a person, the first thing you work with is the colors based on their skin, eyes, and hair.» .

The politician was elected in February and faces the difficult task of resurrecting the electoral hopes of the Italian left after they were defeated by a coalition of right-wing parties in last fall's general election.

Ms. Schlein, who campaigned for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, vowed to make the Democratic Party more radical, arguing that it has shifted too far to the center in recent years. right, she is in a relationship with a woman.