The journal Politico, citing expenditures listed on the Republican National Committee’s monthly financial disclosure forms, reported that the RNC shelled out in excess of $150,000 for the clothing, makeup and accessories of GOP vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, and her family, in September.

The spending described in the Politico report is notable, not because of its size alone, but also because Palin projects herself as an ordinary “hockey mom” and a “maverick” politician opposed to frivolous public expenditures.

Most of the shopping for Palin was done at high-end stores. At the Neiman Marcus department store alone, in Minneapolis - where Palin spoke at the Republican National Convention in what was effectively her national introduction - $75,062.63 was spent. The RNC expenditure forms also documented $4,716.49 on hair and makeup in September.

A large part of the total $150,000 expenses were initially incurred by Jeff Larson, a Republican consultant who was the CEO of the host committee for the Republican National Convention in early September. As per the records of Federal Election Commission, the RNC reimbursed Larson for the expenses, which totaled $132,457.

Politico report said that such expenditures raised questions among campaign finance experts about their legality under the FEC’s advisory opinions on using campaign cash to purchase items for personal use.

However, this was not the first time that a candidate’s attention to style has wound up as campaign fodder. In 2006, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who like Palin changed outfits several times in a day of campaigning, was criticized for two hair-styling sessions that cost an estimated $3,000.

Tracey Schmitt, a Palin spokeswoman, trying to play down the significance of the Politico report, said: “It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign.”