Cathy McMorris Rodgers takes on too much, too soon

Cathy McMorris Rodgers spoke at a Republican press conference this week on earmark reform legislation. She wore a tweed jacket with a purple blouse:

The Congresswoman has put together a fashion forward look that would be pretty successful in another context. But for a Hill press conference, this is a case of too much, too soon. A bold color (purple) AND pattern (black and white) AND texture (tweed) AND an unusual jacket silhouette (no collar, cropped sleeve) adds up to a look that is too far outside mainstream business attire to be truly effective. The visual juxtaposition of her standing between two male colleagues in solid suits, white shirts and blue ties is a strong one, and she doesn't come out ahead. She would have been better served by a plain white blouse here.