State of the State fashion watch

We skipped the speech, so we were taken aback when we looked at the LA Times and found this photo of California's first lady Maria Shriver at Schwarzenegger's State of the State adress last night. We're no Fug Girls, but we have to comment.

The fashion bar is not set high in politics. Think Madeline Albright -- fashion plate: no; good Secretary of State: yes. So Maria Shriver, who spent 15 years as a TV reporter for Dateline, should be the belle of the political fashion ball.

What then can explain her wearing her bathrobe to Arnold's speech last night? She's got plenty of bling on, and her makeup is done. Maybe they were in a hurry and she dashed out of the Governor's mansion without ever getting a chance to put a dress on. If we could only see her feet, telltale fuzzy slippers could confirm the theory.

Or maybe there's some kind of mystic tie between the lavender bathrobe and the hands folded in a semi-Asian bow-slash-prayer. Is Maria leading a Hari Krishna-like cult? Is the Governor using her bling-with-bathrobe sway to exert evil mind control over chronically difficult California lawmakers?

Maria, please, put on some clothes next time. And while you're following our advice, eat a sandwich.