Bush Twins' Fashion Sense

Texas Designer Lela Rose Offers A Preview Of What The First Daughters Will Wear

(CBS)  When they take the stage at the Republican National Convention later this week, first daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush will be taking another big step into public life.

They've spent the summer campaigning with their father, but the convention podium attracts a much brighter spotlight, which begs the question: "What are they going to wear?" The Early Show’s Laurie Hibberd has the answer in this week's Hib Report.

It is not quite the red carpet at the Oscars, but many eyes will be focused on what the first family is wearing at the convention. The first twins will be sporting clothes by Texas designer Lela Rose. And she told Hibberd that for them, individuality means everything.

"I would say that Barbara is definitely a little more ecclectic,” Rose says. “She will really mix different looks from different designers. And Jenna will do the same. I think she's a bit more casual than Barbara is. And I think they both really like to have fun with what they wear."

Rose should know. She has known the Bush family for years and has dressed the twins for many occasions, including the 2000 innauguration. So are the girls fashion plates?

Rose replies, “Well, I think Barbara has always been interested in fashion. I think Jenna is less, though, but loves to kind of see what Barbara's into, and what Barbara is learning about in terms of who's the new hot designer; who's doing what.”

Historically, first daughters aren't known for their fashion sense. In the 1970s, Jimmy Carter's daughter, Amy, was a little too young and awkward to be starting trends; Ronald Reagan's daughter, Patty, was practically invisible during that administration; and Chelsea Clinton spent a long time as a geek before she turned chic, virtually before our eyes.

Rose is hoping to help her fellow Texans break the first-daughter curse.

Eric Wilson of Women's Wear Daily notes, “I think it’s great that they support Texan designers, because it shows their pride of state and pride in country."

But is Rose a good match for the Bush twins?

“I think so,” Wilson says. “It’s not necessarily the match you'd expect for a 19-, 20-, 21-, 22-year-old, to wear a grown-up, more sophisticated, style of dressing. But overall, I think the style does do them justice. I think they look great in these dresses."

Not just dresses. Rose has given Jenna and Barbara different looks for both night and day.

Going through the racks and pointing out what each has chosen, Rose says, "They both like some kind of jacket or some kind of grey top with a more basic pant or skirt. Neither one likes to wear anything too fitted. It’s a little bit more easy.”

And Rose says they both have great figures so there are no body issues she has to deal with. (They're 22. Of course, they don't have body issues.)

They are 22 and in vogue. They may not be full-fledged fashion icons just yet, but Barbara and Jenna Bush were featured in a photo spread and gave their first media interview in the August issue of Vogue magazine, a high-fashion bible.