The Style of Politics

Give Style: My Preppy Valentine

2012-02-01T08:49:00.004-05:00

Valentine's Day conjures up all kinds of traditional gift ideas: restaurant meals, chocolates, lingerie, flowers, sports tickets and even plane tickets.

But consider perhaps something that will last beyond the day. What political ladies and gentlemen like best is something that fits into everyday life (or almost everyday). Consider perhaps a trip to Sterling & Burke in Georgetown for fine leathergoods and fragrances. The service is impeccable and many of the products can be customized.

For the gentlemen:

My Preppy Valentine, for Gentlemen by styleofpolitics featuring wallets

1. J.W. Hulme Bi-fold Wallet. Truly an everyday item, ensuring he'll think of you all the time. And it's crafted from American heritage leather.

2. Filson passport wallet. If you are going for plane tickets, present them in style. I mean really, a loose printout of your e-ticket confirmation is not exactly romantic.

3. Daines and Hathaway cufflink box. If he only has one or two pairs, this could be a nice way to encourage an expanded wardrobe.

4. Swaine Adeney travel bar. Indulgent? Sure. But it's hard to go wrong with indulgence that has this much class.

For the ladies:

My Preppy Valentine, for ladies by styleofpolitics featuring handbags

1. Halcyon Days bangle bracelets. Jewelry for when you're not ready for JEWELRY yet. These are hand enameled in England.

2. Daines and Hathaway heart shaped box. When you are ready for JEWELRY, it deserves to be presented in suede.

3. Penhaligon's eau de parfum. There's something just a little undignified about celebrity scents, no matter how good they smell. This beautiful line is the perfect alternative.

4. Sterling & Burke Beatrice bag. These bags are custom made for Sterling & Burke by Swaine Adeney Briggs in England and come in five colors. The quality must be seen to be believed. This is truly a lifetime bag.

The image of fur

2012-01-27T08:33:00.000-05:00

Senator Boxer was on MSNBC this week discussing America's dissatisfaction with Washington. She wore a gray jacket with a fur collar:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It's not completely clear to me if this is real or faux fur (my guess is faux just from the texture) but the effect is the same either way in this case. As one communications expert said to me: "It just looks like she's wearing a fur coat--not exactly the right visual for a party trying to talk about how Washington works only for the wealthy."

Fur trim is a tough look to pull off in the daytime, no matter what message you're trying to convey. But this is a particularly unfortunate juxtaposition. You don't have to be trying to make a political statement with what you wear to make one when you get dressed. In this instance, the statement doesn't even have anything to do with the politics of wearing fur itself and whether that's ethical. It goes more to the iconography of fur. It's what the fur implies about the wearer. Namely, wealth and privilege.

This is not a new issue for Washington, so there's no excuse not to make a conscious decision when choosing those garments.

Giffords resigns in style

2012-01-23T08:28:00.005-05:00

Gabrielle Giffords released a video announcement of her resignation from Congress this week. She chose the classic power color: red.

This video also shows a montage of images of Rep. Giffords from before and after the shooting. If you ever wanted to see an example of how the colors you wear should change when you change your hair color, this is a very good one. From whites and pastels as a blond, to reds and saturated colors as a brunette, clearly she's had some good advice.

Will Bachmann turn back the clock?

2012-01-06T05:22:00.000-05:00

We've been following Michele Bachmann's Presidential campaign wardrobe since the very beginning. Hasn't it been interesting? And now here at the end, it seems to have come full circle.

On the night of the Iowa caucus, when she was still a candidate, she wore navy blue:

Dark color, almost no jewelry, small flag pin. Her outfit is simple, conservative, and, except for the jacket neckline, devoid of detail. It's everything we've come to expect from her on the campaign trail.

But when she announced the next day that she was leaving the race, her look had already begun to change:

She's still in a dark color palette, but her jacket has a pattern and beaded trim. She's wearing larger earrings. Her eye makeup is considerably bolder, and I'm pretty sure those are false lashes. She hasn't gone all the way back to the pink twinset, but this is definitely a return to more overt femininity.

We'll continue to watch as Bachmann returns to Congress no longer a presidential candidate but with an elevated national profile. I'm not sure if we'll ever get back to her "date night with Fox" look, but I do expect we'll start to see more color soon. This Congresswoman Bachmann will look both familiar and new.

See also the Reliable Source in the Post today and the slideshow that goes with it!

Senatorial New Year's Eve

2011-12-30T09:24:00.005-05:00

I hope you have some satisfying plans for New Year's Eve, whether you're going out, visiting friends, or curling up with cocoa and a movie. We don't often get to hear about what Congress does for New Year's Eve when they're all back in their districts, but I thought it would be fun to imagine what a Senator might wear to a New Year's Eve party. And who better to imagine than Kirsten Gillibrand, a senator from the place much of America watches on TV that night.

We know from past experience that Senator Gillibrand sticks to her customary palette of mostly black, even for a night out. But since we're imagining, let's imagine we can get her to go a little further around the color wheel:

Everyone likes a little sparkle on New Year's Eve, and this warm creamy blazer is both festive and structured. The forest green blouse keeps her face from looking washed out, and the bow at the neck eliminates the need for a necklace. Instead, we've paired rose gold stud earrings. The senator gets to keep her black in the form of a pencil skirt and black suede pumps to balance out all that sparkle.

Professional and dignified while still festive. You can do it too!

Give Style: 5 ideas for political gentlemen

2011-11-23T09:12:00.019-05:00

And now some ideas for the men on your list. Because I can't resist, we'll have 4 ideas in pictures, and one by video.

Give Style: 5 ideas for political gentlemen by styleofpolitics

1. US Mail tote. This reproduction of an American classic makes a great laundry bag, and there's little chance of confusing it with another one in the laundry room. $24

2. Bright socks from Richer Poorer. Your feet are a much more creative (and subtle!) place to show some personality with a suit than a knot under your chin. $12

3. Monocle magazine. With a unique blend of politics, style and design coverage, this thick periodical always brings a unique, forthright perspective. $15.65/issue

4. Lucky Tiger grooming products. These classics from heritage American purveyor Caswell Massey not only look cool, they feel cool too. $71.50

5. Kings County Beef Jerky. I know what you're thinking. Jerky? Is this a gift, or provisions for the car ride home? But trust me. This is the best, most flavorful jerky you'll ever have. $26.95 for 3

Skeptical? Watch thi s:

And don't forget: The Style of Politics can do your shopping for you! You give us your shopping list (my religious aunt, my teenage cousin, my 20-something assistant) and your price range, and we deliver to you links to a hand-selected gift for each one. It's just $80 for up to 12 gifts.

For more details, email us or call 908-642-2745.

Give Style: 5 ideas for political ladies

2011-11-22T07:20:00.010-05:00

Tis the season for gift guides! Since I believe you can never have quite enough "guidance" until you've found just the right thing, we'll take a brief detour from our usual format. Today, the ladies. Tomorrow, the gentlemen.

Ladies Gift Guide 2011 by styleofpolitics on polyvore.com

1. Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey. Yes, my evangelizing for lipstick extends to the gift guide! This shade is almost universally flattering, while the formulation is sheer enough to apply even with a shiny surface as a makeshift mirror ten seconds before camera. $14.50

2. I would have been a Suffragette t-shirt. This is cheeky enough to wear to play touch football, but sincere enough to appear in a campaign slideshow. Perfect combination. $24

3. The Ace flag tote. This one of a kind tote is made from a recycled American flag with straps made from an old leather jacket. It's green, durable, and unique. $225

4. The Gentlewoman magazine subscription. This is one of the coolest titles I've come across in a long time. Imagine that Vogue was rewritten by Arianna Huffington, Tina Fey, and Ann Patchett. $43.54/year

5. Lollihop subscription. An assortment of healthy organic snacks delivered monthly to your home or office. Good food means good decisions. $18.95/month

Still don't see what you're looking for? Let the Style of Politics do your shopping for you! New this year: you give us your shopping list (my 40-ish bachelor cousin, my neighbor who picks up my mail, 3 nephews ages 2/5/7) and your price range, and we deliver to you links to a hand-selected gift for each one. It's just $80 for up to 12 gifts.

For more details, email us or call 908-642-2745.

Haley shines on

2011-11-09T09:18:00.005-05:00

Gov. Nikki Haley visited a Bridgestone tire plant last week. She wore black and white: (http://youtu.be/gSguCfO4HF8)

This much shine is very difficult to pull off in the daytime, and I don't think it works here.

She made a valiant attempt at dressing down the blazer with a plain black top and her customary cross, but all we see is the sheen on the blazer. In fact, the sharp color contrast between the black and the white makes the jacket stand out even more than it otherwise would. If you're incorporating a shiny or sparkly piece into your outfit, a tone-on-tone color palette will do a better job of balancing it out.

Illuminated makeup

2011-10-28T09:18:00.009-04:00

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul spoke about the jobs bill at a press conference this week. She wore a tan jacket, and blue eyeshadow: (http://youtu.be/cEtwnGuMbVA)

There's nothing wrong with blue eyeshadow per se, despite what some magazines may tell you. If you have hazel or light brown eyes, it can be a great choice.

But be careful, especially using the colors marked "highlight" in your little eyeshadow palette. They go on lightly and they're supposed to. If you don't have enough light while applying your makeup, you can inadvertently pile too much on your brow bone - it appears that may have happened to Rep. Hochul here. The best way to avoid this is to use a makeup mirror with lights on it.

They're not too forgiving to the little lines and blemishes on your face, but you can see exactly what you're doing.

Too much white around the face

2011-10-27T09:03:00.007-04:00

Hillary Clinton gave an interview to Voice of America this week. She wore a white blouse:

We often turn to white tops because they "go with everything" but in this case, it doesn't go very well. As we have seen before, bright white reflects too much light on Secretary Clinton's face, making her skin and hair look washed out. Cream would have served similarly as a neutral color without being so harsh, although with a black jacket she could have paired almost any color.

What you look like on a jumbotron

2011-10-05T09:30:00.003-04:00

I'm always telling you to consider the context and the background of the setting you'll be speaking in (all black on Charlie Rose, bright sunlight at a state fair, etc) but sometimes it can be hard to picture what that will really be like.

Here's some video of Rep. Tammy Baldwin speaking at a black-tie dinner for the Human Rights Campaign. Or rather, video of video of her on large screens above the crowd. She wore purple:

You can barely see her standing on the stage, but you can certainly see her on the screens. Not only is the image large, it's repeated right next to itself. As much as I'm an advocate for prints, this would not be the right time! I think she chose well with a satin wrap around blouse with a subtle sheen.

When candid is better, it's time to change the portrait

2011-10-04T09:06:00.002-04:00

Until recently, I was most familiar with Rep. Shelley Berkley's image from her official portrait, which appears on her website and her social media profiles:

I can't be the only one who's noticed: her hair in this photo is BIG, completely overwhelming the rest of her. And that's really saying something for a woman who has strong features otherwise.

Rep. Berkley is now running for Senate, and her campaign machine is ramping up accordingly. And you know what I found out? She doesn't have that hair in real life. Here she is on the House floor recently, speaking about the Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN:

Her hair is longer and somewhat straighter and decidedly less poofy.

Her current look is so much more up to date. I hope a new portrait for her new campaign will catch up to that. While hair stylists and makeup artists are helpful for portraits (or weddings, or trials...) it's important that you continue to look like you. What good is looking good if no one can recognize you?

John Boehner breaks the rules

2011-10-03T09:14:00.001-04:00

If there's one thing the conventional wisdom seems to know about how politicians should dress, it's that men have a uniform, and that uniform includes a bright red tie. "Red is a power color," they say. "Red is patriotic," they insist.

And then you notice something like this: John Boehner is Speaker, and his ties are pastels. Look:

He wears pink:

And green:

And yellow:

Not much red this year!

Now, you might remember my discussion in Politico this time last year about Boehner's sharp, authoritative style of dress. But that was election season - expect those red ties and cuff links to make a comeback as election time draws near again.

Get Involved: ElectWomen Magazine

2011-09-30T11:19:00.002-04:00

We've talked before about how female candidates feel a greater need to be prepared and experienced than their male counterparts do before running for elected office. One way to feel prepared is to read, so I have some reading for you: ElectWomen Magazine. Here's publisher Kathy Groob on why she founded the site:

ElectWomen is a great compilation of original writing and links from around the web on women's leadership and electoral politics. There's also a great community on the facebook page, which adds a much needed interactive element to the conversation.

Poor placement

2011-09-28T08:54:00.001-04:00

Have you ever been told that a woman with a larger bust shouldn't wear tops with pockets on the chest? It's a common piece of advice, and this clip of Rep. Terri Sewell on the House floor this summer shows us why:

The top is a bit too snug too, which exacerbates the problem. Chest pockets and their accompanying details like buttons, or in this case trim, can draw the eye away from the face and your intended center of attention.

If you'll recall, I had hoped just after she was elected that Ms. Sewell would move on from distracting clothes before she appeared on c-span. Not so far.

The hidden benefit of scarves

2011-09-27T09:42:00.001-04:00

We've been talking about scarves a whole lot lately. Here's some more! These two examples illustrate well what the right scarf can do (and not do) for your complexion.

Here's Nancy Pelosi with a positive example:

And here's Cynthia Lummis with a less successful attempt:

Do you see the benefit? It's color! Scarves are a great way to bring complimentary colors (for you) close to your face. For Pelosi, the scarf helped soften a dark suit. For Lummis, the scarf was the same ale color as her jacket, blouse, hair and skin tone, which washed her out. Maybe she should have tried something like this instead:

The most pattern-y pattern of all?

2011-09-26T09:29:00.002-04:00

Senator Hutchison spoke on the Senate floor last week in support of the Cornyn amendment. She wore a black jacket with a pattern:

As you may recall, we have seen this problem with patterns on television before. But this one is particularly dizzying. And if you're one of my readers who doesn't usually click the "play" button on these posts, let me clarify that this jacket is black. There are no colors in this pattern.

It's difficult to tell from this footage, but I suspect this effect is the result of not just pattern but also texture, which can also bend light in a way that is confusing to a camera lens.

Senator Hagan knows how to tie one on

2011-09-23T10:27:00.001-04:00

Senator Kay Hagan participated in a press conference this week on international trade. She wore a brown suit, and a scarf:

If you missed our Tie one on event in New York last week on how to tie a scarf, you need look no further for a role model than Senator Hagan. She got this one just right by demonstrating one of the basic rules I taught that day: when tying a scarf, don't pull to tight. You're not tying your shoes, you don't need to make a strong not. Think more about draping than tying and the rest will fall into place.

2011-09-20T09:14:00.010-04:00

Lisa Murkowski spoke last week at a press conference for the Senate "oceans caucus." She wore a beige heathered jacket:

Once again, this jacket is too big in the shoulders for the senator. This seems to be a chronic problem for her.

Don't let it happen to you too: in a modern fit, the shoulder pads of a blazer should line up with the outer edge of your shoulder. If you can push the shoulder pad in towards your neck, the jacket is too big. The rest of it can be taken in (or let out) but the shoulders need to fit if you're going to buy the jacket.

Event: Tie one on

2011-09-14T10:43:00.000-04:00

Image by Leigh Viner

One question I've heard again and again from my readers and clients is: "How do I wear this scarf?"

On Friday, September 16, the Style of Politics will host Tie one on. Bring your favorite scarf for a free informal lesson over drinks and fashion magazines! Not into scarves? Just bring your burning fashion questions!

Stop by any time between 5:00 and 6:30pm at the Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. For more details and to rsvp, click here.

Print power

2011-09-12T09:55:00.001-04:00

Last week, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers contributed to the Republican House leadership weekly press conference, as she often does. She wore a black and cream print jacket:

As we discussed before. prints can be challenging to wear simply because the print must be just right or it can go all wrong. Here's why this one works:

The smooth edges of the print compliment the sleek, smooth lines of her bob hairstyle.
The robust cream color (instead of more common stark white) warms up the color palette and takes the edge off the color contrast.
The print is varied, abstract, and in proportion to her features, which keeps it from drawing too much attention.

So many events, and you're invited!

2011-09-07T09:02:00.008-04:00

There are so many wonderful fashion events coming up in September, I hope I see you at at least one of them!

Thursday, September 8: Fashion's Night Out

This annual shopping event has grown to encompass many stores in many cities in just three years. My advice is to wear something that makes you feel good, bring a positive, easygoing attitude, and be ready to shop. The point of this event is (supposed to be) to get shoppers in the stores, so you can score some good deals or extra goodies, or both. I'm philosophically opposed to the FNO parties which include a cover charge, which I'm seeing quite a bit in DC this year - if the party aspect has surpassed the shopping aspect, that retailer has lost sight of what Fashion's Night Out is all about.

In DC, the locus of events is in Georgetown, but there are events happening on U Street and elsewhere as well. If you're wondering where I'll be, I hope you're following me on twitter where I will post the Style of Politics schedule.

In New York, there is a truly dizzying schedule of events, both large and small. In my experience, the small ones are the best - sometimes you even get to chat with the actual designer or founder of the stores. I also want to clue you in to a special "FNO pre-game" event from 4-7pm at New York Vintage. Stop by for a drinks, cupcakes, and a raffle, and tell Megan that I sent you.

Tuesday, September 13: Missoni for Target
People are seriously salivating over this latest designer-discount collaboration. It's not the easiest stuff to wear, but the low price point lowers the risk, too, so start scoping out your favorites. The full collection will be available online at midnight (plus a few exclusives), but going to the store is half the fun. To that end, I'm planning a jaunt to the Columbia Heights store when it opens at 8:00am. Anyone looking for a little free shopping advice or just something fun to do before work is welcome to come along - just email me to let me know you're coming. Yes, it's early. Just have some coffee and think zig zag.

Friday, September 16: Tie one on

Image by Leigh Viner

This is a Style of Politics exclusive in New York. Bring your favorite scarf for a free informal lesson over drinks and fashion magazines. Not into scarves? Just bring your burning fashion questions, or your strongest opinions of the new collections. For more details and to RSVP, please go to the event page. There should be some surprise goodies to take home, too.

Haley attacked by stripes

2011-09-06T09:05:00.000-04:00

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley visited a Bosch facility in her state last week. She wore a striped blazer (sorry, the sound on this isn't great):

Oh my there is a lot going on with this jacket. We're not having our usual "patterns on television" problem, but it's making me dizzy just the same.

The stripes are variable widths and have serrated edges, which makes the pattern much busier than a smooth edged, even width stripe would be. The stripes on the sleeves are also not matched up with the stripes where it joins to the body, which is additionally jarring.

The lapel features silver studs about the size of a nickel, adding an additional set of focal points.

To this she further adds her usual jewelry: a cross and a US/SC flag pin.

All these details just completely take over. It's really hard to look at anything else.

Blue on Labor Day

2011-09-05T19:03:00.000-04:00

It's Labor Day - a day of rest for most of us, and a day of casual clothes. For her Labor Day address, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson chose a cotton blazer:

This cornflower blue works for her, although the epaulettes are adding an unnecessary distraction on what is already a busy outfit. And while Labor Day is casual, the setting of this video is not - cotton jackets and leather bound books don't go that well together. Too bad they couldn't find a bit more relaxed spot for this one.

Get Involved: Kirsten Gillibrand's advice

2011-09-02T09:09:00.001-04:00

Here's a quick Q&A with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on getting involved in politics. Not exactly groundbreaking advice, but enthusiastically delivered:

It's really interesting to me that she notes that she did not one, not two but three different training programs for women candidates before she ran for office, and she recommends doing so to young women considering a run. I'm of two minds about this advice to some extent. It's not that I don't think the programs have value - I've even highlighted some for you on more than one occasion. It's just that we might do well to remember that not only do most male candidates not go through so much candidate training (especially at the most local levels), but the very idea often doesn't even occur to them.

For more on how men and women tend to make different decisions about political involvement and running for office, I insist that you read Madeleine Kunin's Pearls Politics and Power.

When is a disaster area like a baby?

2011-08-31T08:59:00.001-04:00

Senator Kay Hagan surveyed damage from Hurricane Irene this week on the eastern shore of North Carolina. She wore a white shirt:

This crisp button-down shirt paired with dark slacks is a bit more formal than Senator Landrieu's polo shirts, but still appropriate for the situation, provided you have access to an iron. She looks authoritative while also having literally rolled up her sleeves in a messy situation.

I would have perhaps not chosen such large earrings, though. Imagine a disaster area is like a baby - you might lose anything that's dangling or delicate.

Visual pinball

2011-08-22T09:04:00.004-04:00

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin spoke to the Washington Times editorial board last week. She wore a white shirt and black blazer:

The governor has five distinct visual focal points in this outfit, causing your eye to bounce from one to the next like a pinball:

large embroidered crest *PING!* gold button *PING!* sparkly brooch *PING!* diamond cross pendant *PING!* chunky earring *PING!*

Try to stick to one or two strong visual details in an outfit. Your audience won't notice enough to be grateful, and that's the whole point.

Consdier more than just the date for white shoes

2011-08-19T09:27:00.001-04:00

Hillary Clinton and Leon Panetta participated in a formal "conversation" at National Defense University. Secretary Clinton wore a signature monochrome pantsuit and white pumps:

You've probably heard the "rule" before about no white after Labor Day (or before Memorial Day), and this rule is most commonly applied to shoes and bags specifically. Whether you adhere to this rule or you don't, there's more to consider when choosing a white shoe than just the calendar. A white shoe or bag will "pop" or stand out significantly more when it's close to another, colored item of clothing. In this case, her pants come very close and touch her shoes (obviously) which makes the white color stand out. They also stand out as the only non-blue part of her outfit, on a stage where she is visible from head to toe.

My advice in this case would probably not be to draw the eye down to the shoes in this way, so I would recommend a beige shoe instead. It's still light and summery, but would blend more seamlessly in to the rest of the look.

Get Involved: Running Start

2011-08-18T10:11:00.002-04:00

And now for the next installment of our Get Involved series: Running Start.

Running Start stands out in it mission to get not just women involved in politics, but very young women and girls. You can read more about their mission and programs on their website here. I had the opportunity a few months ago to attend an event for DC interns and young professionals with Rep. Jackie Speier, and it was clear that they view their mission as not just training and organizing, but inspiring young women, and they know just how to do it.

They recently awarded the first Christina Taylor Green Scholarship award, and I could tell you about it, but I'd rather let Diane Sawyer do it:

Ellie Van Houtte wrote a great post about this organization as well, which you should definitely check out.

Wardrobe versatility

2011-08-17T09:48:00.004-04:00

Are you a new employee at the EPA? Because if you are, you may have seen this message from Administrator Lisa P. Jackson:

For this appearance, Ms. Jackson chose a white jacket and a black top with a very unusual neckline. It features a keyhole opening in the center, with a metal and fabric chain that goes up around her neck, presumably like a halter. Technically, there's nothing wrong with this top. It doesn't show too much skin or cut to low and reveal cleavage.

But the feeling of it, the spirit of it is sexy. The whole idea of a keyhole is to reveal a little bit of skin for the purpose of suggesting more skin. The chain going from her neckline up around her neck all attached demands visual attention that makes you wonder how it works, and how she got it on this morning. A regular top with a regular necklace doesn't do that, even though the lines are very similar. I wouldn't recommend it.

Colorize

2011-08-16T09:40:00.000-04:00

Connecticut State Rep. Pat Widlitz recorded a message last week about a paint recycling law the legislature just passed. She wore black and white:

The lines of this outfit are perfect. The jacket fits her, the scarf is elegantly arranged at her neckline without being too fussy. But the black and white color palette is much too harsh for her.

Some color near the face would have served her much better, with a lower level of contrast. Maybe like this:

Bachmann wins in white

2011-08-15T09:10:00.001-04:00

As you probably know by now, Michele Bachmann won the Iowa straw poll this weekend. She wore a white suit:

This suit returns to her achromatic theme of campaign dressing, and although it's not as business-like as the black and gray we've seen in her campaign announcement or the debates, it's still a far cry from the soft sweater sets of last year. The jacket is shaped and darted, but noticeably loose on her body, a clear attempt to avoid too much body-consciousness in her clothes. Although the long nails point back towards that overt femininity, it's still notable that her look is less girly-girl than it used to be.

It's baaack!

2011-08-10T08:27:00.004-04:00

Color has returned to Michele Bachmann's official campaign wardrobe. And not just any color.

For this Iowa campaign ad, she wore canary yellow:

After weeks of gray, Rep. Bachmann appears to have chosen a jacket for this video that we saw at least once before: when she introduced Sarah Palin at a Minnesota campaign rally last April.

This choice is significant for two reasons:
1. It diverges from her apparent strategy of trying to look more "neutral" by wearing mostly gray, black and white and toning down her jewelry, at least in the mainstream press.
2. The previous look was widely commented on as being unserious and dated, although that may have just been a result of her close proximity to Palin's outrageously over-accessorized look that day.

This jacket is actually a lot more successful in this video because she's by herself and in a natural setting, which can offset the bright saturation of the color. When she was surrounded by other people in harsh stage lighting at the rally, the color drowned her out. This jacket depends heavily on context.

The stunning return of Gabrielle Giffords

2011-08-02T07:19:00.001-04:00

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords made an unexpected but timely return to the House yesterday. She wore blue:

No commentary here, I just wanted you to see the footage. May none of you ever need advice for what to wear after something as terrible as what this woman has been through.

Senator Boxer goes minty fresh

2011-07-29T09:16:00.001-04:00

Senator Boxer spoke at a Democratic press conference last week about proposed changes to Medicare and the debt ceiling. Her jacket was mint green:

This is a tough color to wear, for anyone, and I'm not sure that I would recommend it for Senator Boxer in particular. There are two features of this outfit that help rescue it though:

The relaxed silhouette of the jacket - too much tailoring makes unusual colors look even more strange.
The French blue shirt she paired it with - placing a color that is within your recommended palette closest to your face helps you wear more challenging colors further away.

Coburn spices up summer

2011-07-27T08:50:00.000-04:00

Tom Coburn was on Charlie Rose earlier this month. He wore a tan suit and a grass green tie:

If ever you gentlemen are on a search for a summer suit that can get longer (and less conspicuous) wear than seersucker, the tan suit is your man. The Senator does the right thing here by choosing a brightly colored tie and a non-white shirt to keep the look summery.

To quibble, I don't care for a button down collar in a business setting, but there are those who disagree with me there, so I'll let it pass (or not, as I'm mentioning it now...). The lapel is a touch too wide too. But overall an excellent look, especially for television, where white is problematic.

Final word on scrunchie-gate

2011-07-25T08:29:00.004-04:00

I know it's summer and you may have (like me) spent some time at the beach, and some more time basking next to the air conditioner, and basically let some routines go. But I bet no matter what you were reading, you heard about the day Hillary Clinton wore a scrunchie. Oh boy did you. The story was everywhere - you would have thought she stepped off a plane wearing one of my grandmother's house dresses:

And yet I wonder, was the scrunchie really such a problem? I'll let you decide:

We've talked before in this forum about how Secretary Clinton isn't particularly well served by pulling her hair back. It tends to focus us in on each individual feature of her face, instead of seeing her face as a dynamic and expressive whole. I think it's that discomfort that we're really reacting to here. There's nothing wrong with wearing a little white silk ruffle in your hair - and ultimately, that's all a scrunchie is, provided it's clean, well cared for and made of good materials, just like all the rest of your clothing and accessories.

The other thing I think some of my fellow bloggers and journalists were reacting to is simply that it's Hillary Clinton, a woman whose looks have been a lightning rod since her public life began. On another political woman, this might have been a non-story. If you're skeptical, simply ask yourself: Did you hear a single word out of anyone when Kirsten Gillibrand wore a banana clip in the Senate last week?

No, you didn't. Not until now.

The forecast in DC today is a high of 92 degrees. I might pull my hair back. Now let's grow up and get back to work.

Subtle sparkle

2011-06-29T09:38:00.001-04:00

Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero led a panel discussion earlier this week for LGBT Pride Month.

She wore magenta:

This deep, clear, cool color is perfect for Ms. Otero's olive skin tone. But what I like best about this jacket is the very subtle sparkle it has, courtesy of some silver threads woven in to it. They add dimension and sophistication to the look, without crossing the line into evening wear (which is always a risk when you add shine or sparkle).

Michele Bachmann is going gray

2011-06-28T08:37:00.055-04:00

No sooner do we identify Michele Bachmann's switch to dark suits with white shirts than she blends it together and chooses all-over gray for her announcement of her Presidential run.

Here is a view of her silver shift with matching jacket:

Here we can see the sleeve, turned up to three-quarter length, which is perfectly on-trend this spring:

By Victor Juhasz for Rolling Stone

This fabric has a little bit of sheen to it, which is only a bit problematic in the bright sunlight here. What's trickier is the continuation of a single color in the whole outfit, especially when it's a light one. It's the core of the problem with Hillary Clinton's pastel pantsuits that got her needled in the press for years. Matching suit pieces in a light color can sometimes make you look a bit like a cartoon character. This particular suit also bears an unfortunate similarity to a recent Bachmann parody in Rolling Stone: Her supporters won't be likely to make this comparison immediately, but others might.

Gray isn't turning up in Bachmann's wardrobe just for this announcement, though. We saw another (more familiar) gray suit in her pre-announcement media appearances as well:

The trouble with gray is less about the semantic implications of it sounding dull, and more to do with it having the potential to be dull. So far, Bachmann has avoided that fate. Although a color that complements your complexion can an extraordinarily effective tool for looking good, medium gray is also considered a "universal" color that looks good on everyone. (Want to know the others? Email me for a color consultation appointment!) But it seems unlikely that she can go on without color forever.

I'm officially declaring a color watch for the Bachmann 2012 campaign.

Too sharp

2011-06-23T09:56:00.001-04:00

Rep. Jan Schakowsky recorded a YouTube message on the economy this week. She wore a polka dot blazer:

This is a bold print, and there's nothing wrong with bold prints, but this is the wrong print for this woman. Polka dots can be very sharp and unforgiving, especially in the scale where each dot is about the size of your eye. They are perfectly round, perfectly defined (there are no soft edges on a dot) and in this case, they are the highest possible contrast of black and white. Comparing this print with Rep. Schakowsky's features, the dots don't compliment her. Her hair is softly framing her face, with many variations of color within it. Her eyebrows have soft edges. Her nose and her mouth are comprised of straight lines, not round ones.

It's also interesting to note that this was a planned appearance on camera - she wasn't in the middle of doing something else. So this is my opportunity to remind you that when you plan to go on camera, consider not just what your clothes look like on you, but also how they look in your surroundings. The size and contrast of the dots are in direct competition with the flag right behind her (and the flag wins). The black backdrop just absorbs the rest of it.

This is one instance where I definitely would have recommended a solid, maybe in a steel gray like this:

Cut in half

2011-06-22T09:40:00.001-04:00

Secretary Hillary Clinton traveled to Tanzania last week. She wore a signature pantsuit, this time in contrasting shades of orange and brown:

The contrasting colors here create a sharp visual line that cuts her body exactly in half. Remember that because we are humans and we bend at the waist, we tend to think of our waist as our "middle" but it isn't. The middle of your body (minus your head) is usually down around the bottom of your hips. Dividing this body exactly in half tends to look clunky. It's much more flattering to alter the proportions a bit, to have a longer section on top or on bottom. For example, look at the lady standing right next to the Secretary in a dark top and print skirt - the skirt portion of her outfit creates a much longer "section" than the top, which looks much more elegant.

The Bachmann Formula

2011-06-16T08:10:00.001-04:00

Last fall, we here at The Style of Politics began to notice a change in the way Michele Bachmann was dressing. For appearances with the mainstream press or in the House, her style became much more conservative and achromatic. The colorful, more feminine look that had been her signature became reserved for appearances at Tea Party rallies and on Fox News.

The frillier, decorative look that I began to think of as "date night with Fox" survived on cable news well in to 2011. Here she is in March:

The rosy cheeks and flip hairdo we've known for so long hadn't been seen much in Congress this year, but here they were on conservative cable. Bachmann played well to this particular audience, that places keen emphasis on femininity in women candidates (for an excellent discussion of this, see Big Girls Don't Cry: The Election that Changed Everything for American Women by Rebecca Traister).

But by May, it was gone. As speculation of a Bachmann presidential run reached the boiling point, her straight hair and gray suit had reach Fox News too:

Look carefully here, and remember what you see: plain suit, three-strand pearl necklace, pearl drop earrings. Got that?

Here it is again in her campaign announcement:

And again in the CNN debate:

It seems Bachmann has found her look.

I'm not sure that she can sustain a no-color wardrobe over an entire campaign, but we see a strategy emerging here. Where Hillary Clinton was mocked for too much color (and too many pants) and Sarah Palin was mocked for spending too much money and wearing labels as famous as she was, this wardrobe seeks to disappear. It may work for now, as long as the candidate inside doesn't disappear with it.

How to wear a name tag

2011-06-08T08:29:00.019-04:00

Political events and business networking events of all stripes make frequent use of name tags. They're useful, reminding us of names of those we've met before and providing a visual as well as an audio cue for new introductions. But sometimes they can be awkward for us to wear.

For example, it looks like a name tag gave Nevada State Treasurer Kate Marshall a bit of trouble recently:

Here are some tips for Kate (and for you) to help next time go better:

If you're already wearing a name tag at an event, take it off before you go on stage. No one can read it up there anyway, and it can end up distracting your audience. Removing it will also help you project more authority.
When you're not on stage, you're not too cool for a name tag. If you bothered to come to an event, then you should make it worth your while, as you never know who you'll meet. But new or renewed contacts are much less useful if they can't remember who you are. Wear your name tag, and don't ever relegate it to your waist, your purse or your notebook.
Place your name tag on your right shoulder, high on your chest, just below your collar bone. This will make it easier for people you meet to see it and read it quickly while shaking hands (hence the right side) without breaking eye contact for too long. Stay well above the bust line!
Keeping a small binder clip and a large safety pin with you when you go to events will allow you to convert a clip to a pin or a pin to a clip as needed.
Check on your name tag periodically throughout the event. A name tag that is sideways, falling off or missing can't be read.

Disaster preparedness

2011-06-01T09:41:00.001-04:00

The country has been beset by a remarkable number of natural disasters and near-disasters this spring, pulling our elected officials out of their offices and into some harrowing conditions. As you might imagine, in that moment no one can really stop and think too hard about, "What do I wear?"

In wardrobe, as in so many other areas of life, it is for these emergencies that we prepare, well in advance. If your entire stack of casual clothes are, at least, the right colors, a good fit and free from damage, then you can just grab and go - whatever was on the top of the pile will serve you well. Why are you holding on to that shirt with the stain, or the pants that are too short anyway? Cleaning out your closet gives you the tools to be comfortable and prepared when the moment strikes, so you can focus on what's important.

My example for today is Senator Mary Landrieu, surveying flood protections in Baton Rouge:

This shirt fits her well, is a good color for her, and has enough structure (by having a collar) to give it some shape and look put together. If she has a whole drawer full of these, she's in good shape.

Get Involved: The White House Project

2011-05-26T09:08:00.033-04:00

And now for something new at Style of Politics: a periodic feature called "Get Involved," profiling organizations, opportunities and events that put women in politics into action.

Today, The White House Project.

You can read more extensively about the work and mission of this organization on their website here, which centers on filling the leadership pipeline in civic and corporate arenas with women.

What I think is remarkable is that the White House Project is at a moment of transforming transition: their visionary founder Marie C. Wilson has passed the leadership baton to a new president, Tiffany Dufu. Tiffany is young, ambitious, dynamic and most critically, she is ready and eager to make her own path for the White House Project. She spoke recently at a luncheon in Washington, DC about her plans as president, part of which include giving the organization more of a presence here, in addition to their headquarters in New York and regional centers around the country.

So, my point is this: if you're in DC, get ready for more from the White House Project. You might want to check out the DC Leadership Circle. And if you're in New York, they're hiring! To go along with Tiffany's new presidency, the organization is seeking a Chief Operating Officer. It's an incredible opportunity, so check it out.

Wear white in May

2011-05-20T08:49:00.001-04:00

By now, most people take the old "rules" about wearing white only after Memorial Day and before Labor Day as antiquated. But I do usually advise reserving a white suit until May, unless you live in a tropical climate.

Now that it's May, Senator Kay Hagan recorded a message for Armed Forces week in a particularly great white suit:

The gold trim on this jacket gives definition to the lapels without creating high contrast - an excellent look for her.

Standing Up

2011-05-19T08:29:00.002-04:00

Hillary Clinton gave remarks to the Global Diaspora Forum this week. She wore black and white:

We have seen some great examples in the past of stand up collars, like Eleanor Holmes Norton last month. And we've seen great examples of bold, multi-layered necklaces, as on Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in January.

Mary Queen of Scots

Unfortunately, this look isn't doing the Secretary any favors. It's a shame because I think the spirit of this look was right - achromatic, dimensional and a bit feminine.

But it fell down on the proportions. The collar is so large, I hope I was the only one who thought of Mary Queen of Scots when I saw this blouse, but I suspect I wasn't. A collar just half an inch narrower would have had a completely different effect, allowing for the softness of a ruffle instead of emphasizing the stiffness of the material standing away from her body.

I hope this helps you understand why it's important to try things on, not just for fit but also for proportion!

In the height

2011-04-26T09:48:00.003-04:00

Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina spoke to the Columbia Tea Party last week. She wore a teal jacket:

The governor has chosen well from this spring's palette of popular colors with this soft green.

What's most notable about this jacket, though, is the design details; epaulets and flap pockets on the chest could be overwhelming for some. It works here because of Haley's specific proportions - she is tall and has an average size bust. Women with larger busts or shorter statures may well find this style difficult to carry off.

Find the Fit

2011-04-25T09:29:00.001-04:00

Senator Lisa Murkowski had questions for Janet Napolitano in a recent Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing. The senator wore black:

We could have a discussion about the pros and cons of wearing a shinier black satin jacket during the day (tricky, but doable) but I would prefer to discuss fit here. This jacket is just a bit too big for the senator. Notice that it sags around the arms and floats away from her body at the shoulders. The lapels are somewhat out of proportion too, which adds to the "too big" look. Not a disaster by any means, but perhaps not the best possible choice.

How to wear gray

2011-04-15T09:17:00.000-04:00

Senator Boxer spoke on the Senate floor this week about Planned Parenthood and women's health. She wore a gray blouse under a pink blazer:

This combination works so well on the Senator because the contrast between the shades of pink and gray is low, similar to the low contrast between her skin and hair color. The heathered variation of the gray blouse makes this a less formal look (as do the big hoop earrings) but the structured jacket keeps her looking appropriate for the Senate.

Just a little bit longer

2011-04-12T09:13:00.001-04:00

Hillary Clinton recorded a message last week about the 2011 Hours Against Hate campaign last week. She wore red:

Her necklace is attractive and visually interesting, but it's much too short for her. At this length, it cuts off the line of her neck, emphasizing the loose skin there. It almost looks uncomfortable. If this necklace were longer, reaching down near the top of her red blouse, it would work much better, emphasizing her second balance point.

Highs and lows of the budget debate

2011-04-11T09:25:00.001-04:00

So it turns out that we won't be writing this week about what our elected officials wear in a government shutdown after all. Here's what Senator Claire McCaskill and Rep. Marsha Blackburn were wearing on CNN on Friday night:

These women have opposite challenges: McCaskill's neckline is a bit too high and Blackburn's is a bit too low.

For McCaskill, we can see readily where her neckline should be - right along where her necklace is. The fact that her necklace does sit there helps this look, but it would be better if we didn't have that extra sliver of white above it, hiding the lower part of her neck.

For Blackburn, her neckline isn't so low that we're seeing cleavage (thankfully) but it's still not at the optimal point. For the shape of her face, she would be well served by a neckline that's 1.5 to 2 inches higher. Sometimes a camisole is a very simple way to achieve this, and that might have worked here.

All about the bangs

2011-04-08T08:32:00.001-04:00

This is National Public Health Week, and EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson recorded a message:

Ms. Jackson has kept a short hairstyle since we first saw her on camera for the EPA, but this is a new style that is shorter on the sides and longer on the top. It's a chic look for her, adding height on the top and elongating her face with long bangs.

Pop the collar

2011-04-07T08:59:00.002-04:00

Here's Eleanor Holmes Norton in her office, discussing DC home rule:

Raising (or "popping") the collar of a blouse when it's paired with a structured jacket can look a bit aggressive. But here she pairs it with a two-tone sweater, which looks much more dressed up with the crisp white blouse underneath. An excellent, elegant outfit.

Not white, not blue

2011-04-06T08:58:00.003-04:00

John McCain spoke to Charlie Rose last week about Libya:

The Senator chose a pale green dress shirt and a muted red tie. These aren't colors we're seeing a lot of in menswear lately, but they work well for him.

White can be problematic on television in general (too reflective) and the difficulty is compounded for those with white or very light hair color, as the hair might look "dirty" in comparison to the shirt. This leads many men to choose blue dress shirts, which works fine, especially for those with blue eyes. But this green color compliments the Senator's skin tone better than a saturated French blue would, and it has the benefit of being a little bit unusual.

Scarf lesson

2011-04-05T09:10:00.001-04:00

Rep. Donna Edwards wore a scarf last week on the House floor, as she discussed the budget:

My clients often tell me that scarves are the hardest accessory to wear, because tying them seems hard. I hope this example will show you that there is no "right" way to do it, it's all in what works for you and your body. In this case, draping the scarf in a long and wide shape across the chest adds lots of visual interest to an otherwise plain dress.

Great shape

2011-04-04T08:49:00.001-04:00

Here's Senator Hutchison last week, discussing the budget and the economy:

This cornflower blue is consistent with her usual pastel palette. What I want you to notice is the shape of the neckline. This jacket and blouse work so well for her because the neckline echoes the shape of her jawline. It's a subtle effect, but a beautiful one.

Remembering Ferraro, and her wardrobe

2011-03-27T10:35:00.001-04:00

Last year, we took a look back at Geraldine Ferraro's look during her 1984 vice presidential run. Her passing yesterday has produced a flurry of memorial articles accompanied by images from that time, all the way through last year.

One of the most common is an AP file photo from '84 where is she wearing glasses, long pearls and an argyle sweater vest. At the time, it was a common preppy look but now she looks....pedantic? dorky? Part of that is certainly the pose. But this is not the kind of look she is typically remembered for.

It's usually something more like her Time cover, or the white suit she wore to accept the nomination, which features in this CNN clip, along with lots of other great '80s fashion:

ABC News has helpfully assembled a slide show of Ferraro through the years. I was most struck by the fact that objectively, she was always very much in style with career women of any given year, even if she did refer to herself as "a Queens housewife."

It's a match

2011-03-18T07:50:00.001-04:00

Rep. Mary Kaptur appeared on Washington Journal this week to discuss defense spending. She wore royal blue:

You can guess what I'm going to say, right? One too many details - the ruffled lapel, the necklace, the House pin and THEN the earrings that match the jacket. It's time to turn to Coco Chanel: before you leave the house, take one thing off.

Her lipstick is great, though. It's a rich color for day, but it works because her lips aren't super full.

Pulling back

2011-03-17T08:12:00.001-04:00

Kirsten Gillibrand held a press conference yesterday about the repeal of DOMA. She wore her hair pulled back in a bun:

The senator did two things really right in this hairstyle: She parted her hair to one side, and she created some lift in the front. Both techniques prevent an up-do from turning into a hair-plastered-to-my-head-do.

With this style, we do notice her ears more, and with them her earrings. Like many women with pierced ears, my guess is that the piercing sits a little bit low on the earlobe. This can cause small earrings like these to look very small, and the ears look larger. I would have gone with a slightly larger style here, perhaps a very thin, small hoop.

Pointed Purple

2011-03-16T09:09:00.001-04:00

Barbara Boxer spoke on the Senate floor this week about foreign oil. She wore a purple blazer:

A one button blazer a a bright, saturated color like this can veer in the direction of the cliche of the woman politician in the "colored suit." But this blazer works quite well - it is a flattering color for her, it is perfectly fitted, and it is paired with simple jewelry and a plain white shirt.

The key to wearing this much color is frequently to make that single garment the showcase and let the rest of the look recede.

Animal prints on television

2011-03-02T08:11:00.005-05:00

We've talked about prints on television quite a lot, and it may seem sort of arbitrary what "works" and what ends up all wavy looking. But consider what happened when Rep. Barbara Lee made remarks last week on the House floor in honor of Black History Month. Here she is on c-span:

And now here she is again, with video uploaded to YouTube:

A dramatic difference, isn't it? As the video quality breaks down, so does the pattern on her jacket. She looks great in HD, but not in you average web video. Same camera, same footage, different results.

Who is the trend setter?

2011-03-01T08:23:00.000-05:00

I had always planned to show you Secretary Clinton's remarks on Afghanistan and Pakistan last month:

And then on Sunday I watched the Oscars, and I knew we had to talk about this:

Square shoulders and cream colored Belgian lace overlay? I'm not sure it's the best look for either of them, but it is interesting to see how the lace trend that emerged on the runway three years ago has played itself out to this point. It's important to note that these are both evening looks - all over lace in the daytime would be great for a baby shower or a tea party, but probably not business.

It isn't summer yet

2011-02-18T08:13:00.002-05:00

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito made remarks on the House floor this week about Energy Department funding. She wore a tangerine blazer and a black top:

This color is unexpected for a professional setting, and mostly distracting, especially in the middle of winter. Bright pastels, when appropriate at all, are typically a summer look. It's also tough to pair such a light pastel color with a harsh, solid black layer underneath.

Go nude

2011-02-17T07:43:00.000-05:00

Senator Kay Hagan appeared on local television in her home state of North Carolina recently to discuss job creation. She wore her signature color, red:

The senator chose to pair this true red suit with opaque black hose. Although opaque hose are usually recommended for daytime instead of sheer ones, the black and red contrast really sharply here. It makes the legs look heavy and the suit look like it might be out of season. If ever there were an instance for "nude" hose, this was it.

I know some women of the younger generation find the mere mention of nude hose anathema, but I hope here you can see how the senator would have benefited from a sheer leg covering in a color close to her skin tone. It would actually be much more natural looking.

Trend on trend

2011-02-16T08:08:00.001-05:00

Rep. Mary Bono Mack made a House floor speech last week on labor contract regulations for federal projects. She wore a black cardigan with a belt:

This look represents an excellent example of translating current trends into a professional look. Sticking to a neutral color palette has allowed her to add multiple other elements to the outfit without being too busy: a wide belt, a print blouse, and layered necklaces. She has also placed her House lapel pin in the position of a brooch, higher up on the shoulder, which integrates in into the look as naturally as it would be on the lapel of a man's suit.

Is blue the new pink?

2011-02-15T07:18:00.002-05:00

Rep. Michele Bachmann's remarks opened the CPAC conference last week. She wore a blue suit:

We have increasingly seen Ms. Bachmann appearing in these buttoned up silhouettes and shades of blue. Could her signature pink cardigans and girly accessories officially be a thing of the past? She certainly looks like the major player here that her position on the docket implies. It's certainly a far cry from the playful, colorful look she was sporting on the campaign trail with Sarah Palin.

Longer isn't leaner

2011-02-14T07:58:00.010-05:00

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers appeared on ABC News last week to discuss Congressional spending. She wore navy blue:

The Congresswoman paired this jacket with a cowl neck blouse and a long necklace. The neckline of the blouse is just right, meeting her first balance point nicely after her new hairstyle. But the necklace is very distracting. Not only does it drag well below the best length for her face, it competes with the detail that the cowl neckline of the blouse already adds to the outfit. I would skip it, especially with the dangling earrings.

Many women gravitate towards long necklaces and scarves post-pregnancy, feeling self-conscious around the midsection. But it's worth remembering - if you weren't tall enough or bohemian enough to carry off these accessories before, your baby hasn't changed that. Long necklaces, like black, can be "slimming," but not automatically.

Small change, big impact

2011-01-07T09:43:00.003-05:00

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is sporting a new hairstyle. Check it out in the this video message about Baltimore's mentoring program:

This shorter cut looks great on her. It's neat and it highlights her cheekbones. Her jewelry also works really well here. She's wearing multiple necklaces in different styles, but she has scaled down the size from previous looks, delivering a more professional effect.

All very good. Is Mayor Rawlings-Blake reading Style of Politics???

Who's that lady?

2011-01-06T08:05:00.004-05:00

Did you catch Michele Bachmann on Face the Nation this week? You could be excused if you didn't recognize her:

This look represents a continuation of the more businesslike image she began projecting this fall. Gone are the flip hairstyle and piles of dangling jewelry that have been her hallmark for "friendly" appearances on Fox News. For the network news magazine, her image is sober, serious and down to business. This lady knows what she's doing.

"You would have thought I was walking on the moon."

2011-01-05T08:32:00.003-05:00

Today, Barbara Mikulski becomes the longest serving female senator in US History.

Senator Byrd had to "check" the Senate rules before allowing her on the Senate floor while wearing pants in 1988. My.

Pumping up the volume

2011-01-04T07:02:00.005-05:00

If you saw yesterday's Republican Committee Chair debate, then you saw Ann Wagner discuss her candidacy. Please take note of her hairstyle:

I'm all for volume, I really am. But there is too much of a good thing here for Ms. Wagner. It's easy to do. You're working with a round brush and a blowdryer, and suddenly you've gone overboard with the hairspray and you end up with a heart shaped confection instead of individual strands of hair.

It's worth considering, especially in dry winter air, whether you really need as much hold as your favorite styling products provide. Flexibility is key to a natural look.

Wait it out

2010-12-29T09:59:00.001-05:00

Assistant Secretary of State Rose Gottemoeller gave remarks on the new START treaty last week. She wore a red jacket:

This brick red color works for her, but the proportions are off. The wide collar and chunky jewelry are out of proportion with her closely cropped hairstyle.

Considering her facial features, I would recommend a somewhat longer hairstyle, just to give some volume, particularly on the sides. Waiting longer between haircuts might well do the trick.

When the best is nothing at all

2010-12-28T09:00:00.001-05:00

Amy Klobuchar's recent video on food safety gives us a great view of her choice in glasses:

Glasses with bold frames are a popular fashion choice right now, but for Senator Klobuchar, this rimless pair is a win. They allow us to see as much of her eyes as possible, which is important since her eyes are a bit smaller in proportion to her face.

New accessories, new look

2010-12-27T09:47:00.003-05:00

When the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act came around again last week, Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor. She wore a red dress with a scarf:

Do you recognize her dress? I bet you don't. We saw her wear this dress with one of her signature large bead necklaces earlier in 2010. But the scarf gives the dress a whole new life, creating a different focal point for the outfit and introducing several new colors into her palette.

Shine doesn't make you a star

2010-12-20T08:19:00.006-05:00

It's holiday time, and it's easy to start focusing on what you'll wear for the parties each evening while losing sight of how those looks translate into day wear.

Have a look at the blazer Rep. Carolyn Maloney chose for an appearance on New York's Capital Tonight:

This shiny silver jacket is straight off a "day to night" page in a magazine.

But multipurpose dressing often doesn't translate well for television. Items that you can get away with in normal daylight look much less appropriate under the strong lights needed for television cameras. The effect is a lot of light being reflected back at us, distracting from Rep. Maloney's face and message.

In living color

2010-12-07T07:54:00.000-05:00

Kay Bailey Hutchison gave a floor speech last week on tax cuts. She wore magenta and purple:

This look is a significant departure from what we usually see on Senator Hutchison. She chose bold colors instead of her signature pastels, but also went to a softer silhouette with a cardigan, instead of her usual structured jacket. The effect is well balanced and fresh. Don't you think she looks younger?

Color me senatorial

2010-12-03T09:03:00.001-05:00

Lisa Murkowski recorded her comments on offshore drilling this week. She wore brown:

This jacket might be a little bit big in the shoulders, but this shade of brown works well for her. We've seen the senator struggle with color selection in the past, but lately it seems that the electoral fight of her life may have pushed her into a more somber but also more flattering color palette.

Up around the neck

2010-12-02T09:41:00.002-05:00

Senator Gillibrand spoke to State of Politics this week about Don't Ask Don't Tell. She wore a dark suit and a blue print blouse:

Although blue is a great color for the senator, the style of this blouse is all wrong. The business of the print and the fussiness of the ruffles don't harmonize with her overall look. It sort of looks like she's wearing someone else's clothes.

Remember, you can like a garment a lot and it can still be all wrong for you. Don't get so caught up on one element (like color) that you don't pay enough attention to the other elements, like silhouette and style.

A scarf, as I was saying

2010-11-30T08:42:00.000-05:00

Secretary Clinton gave a statement yesterday on recent leaks of classified documents. She wore a dark jacket, and a scarf:

This outfit is a perfect example of what I say all the time: anyone can wear any color, you just have to wear it the right way. I wouldn't ordinarily recommend a black jacket for her, unless she pairs it with a bright scarf near her face. And that's exactly what she did here. The variation of two different colors in the scarf provides added visual interest without being distracting.

Give thanks for your style sense

2010-11-25T09:07:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's a Thanksgiving message from Senator Kay Hagan:

What do you think of her double strand pearl necklace?

Collins in color

2010-11-24T07:54:00.003-05:00

Susan Collins testified on air cargo security during a meeting of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. She wore blue:

There seems to be a bit of "conventional wisdom" floating around that wearing a suit in a color is somehow automatically out of style and looks "dated." I hope this example shows you that isn't true. She looks professional, vibrant and strong amongst her male colleagues.

Patterns on television, busy background edition

2010-11-23T08:40:00.004-05:00

Rep. Jan Schakowsky was on PBS NewsHour last week to discuss the budget deficit. She wore magenta plaid:

This bold plaid and oversize collar might be distracting no matter what was behind the Congresswoman. But the bright city lights in this background are particularly problematic in combination with this print. The only place we're not looking is her face, unfortunately.

Her best choice for this program might have been a light gray jacket paired with a magenta blouse under it.

Rookie mistake

2010-11-19T07:55:00.001-05:00

Terri Sewell has just been elected to Congress, the first-ever African American woman from Alabama. For an interview on CBS News, she fell into the red jacket trap:

The trap goes something like this: "Politicians wear red. I'm a politician now. Therefore I should wear red." But the red glows, brighter than her face or anything else around her. It takes over the picture until we can see nothing else. No jacket should do that. Hopefully she'll choose something less distracting before we see her on C-SPAN.

Casual and dry

2010-11-18T07:38:00.005-05:00

Florida's political leaders have shown us before how to do casual in the heat. Now we look to the Pacific Northwest to see how casual on the water. Washington Governor Christine Gregoire toured the Puget Sound last week:

Governor Gregoire's jacket is significant for its colors: white and periwinkle blue. So often we default to black or primary colors in weatherproof garments, to the detriment of the overall look. But they now come in almost as many colors as our other clothes do, and we should take advantage of the variety, especially if we know the cameras are coming along for the ride.

Twinkling texture

2010-11-17T07:26:00.005-05:00

Nikki Haley held a press conference last week to announce her transition team. She wore a textured tweed jacket:

The texture and color variation of this jacket create excellent visual interest without being distracting. And it's neutral enough to be worn many times without looking like a "repeat" - something that's harder to accomplish with a print.

I would have liked a little color added to this look, either in a scarf or maybe an earring. But it's a great look overall.

Baroque

2010-11-16T08:14:00.000-05:00

Rep. Michele Bachmann went on the O'Reilly Factor last week to discuss her Congressional agenda. She wore a twinset:

There are some matters of style that are subjective, that we can debate back and forth the possible merits of a particular look.

This is not one of those times.

The beading on the cardigan AND the shell AND the big necklace AND the dangling earrings makes this look a study of excess. It's so distracting. If you're going to wear a garment with this much heavy beading, you need to leave the jewelry at home.

Fashion awarding politics

2010-11-14T18:47:00.002-05:00

Last Monday evening, I attended Glamour's Women of the Year awards in New York City. This event, now in its 20th year, has frequently highlighted leaders in politics, including Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Condoleezza Rice, Ann Richards, Olympia Snowe and Barbara Mikulski.

But this year they took a somewhat different approach, and honored "Our World's Female Heads of State" collectively, as represented by:

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia

President Dalia Grybauskaite of Lithuania

Prime Minister Iveta Radicova of Slovakia

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago

who were able to attend the event. Here they are from my upper balcony perch, with their awards that were presented by UN Ambassador Susan E. Rice:

I'm not sure if their power was fully understood by the assembled audience of fashionistas (would they have paid more attention with Angela Merkel on the stage?) but they were some of the most eloquent speakers of the evening for sure. Here's their advice for us:

It was a surprisingly inspiring night!

Roundup

2010-11-03T08:42:00.002-04:00

If you missed it, check out our election night coverage on Twitter and Facebook.

Lame duck (advice) session

2010-11-02T12:31:00.000-04:00

With election day less than a month away, we're all BUSY. But soon the lame duck session will be upon us, and there will be no excuse not to have our lives - and closets - in order.

To that end, you have another chance to get the advice you need.

Who: women, men, politicians, candidates, staffers, policy wonks, political junkies and those who aspire to be.

What: the advice you need. Maybe one of these:

Color analysis. Land on the right side of a color comparison by discovering what colors are best for you.
Style consultation. Learn what you should be wearing, so people hear your words without staring at your clothes.
Closet audit. Don't be tempted by that jacket that's just all wrong or the flag tie.
Personal shopping. Spend wisely.
Media readiness. You know what to say, but do you know what to wear? Don't end up in a big blur .

When and where:

Washington DC, November 6-7
New York City, November 13-14

How: Call Christina at 908-642-2745 or email styleofpolitics@gmail.com for a confidential appointment.

Happy Election Day!

2010-11-02T06:58:00.001-04:00

I'm sure you already know, but today is election day. Please vote. To find your polling place, click here and enter your home address.

I hope in reading this blog this year, you've had occasion to consider the way we judge our candidates, particularly the female ones. And I hope that when you vote, you will think about whether you have chosen these candidates based on the words coming out of their mouths, and not on the pictures they present on a screen. (That is, after all, why I'm so committed to using video in this forum.)

Here's Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff with their final thoughts before the election:

Theme dressing

2010-10-31T08:29:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween from Assistant Secretary of State Esther Brimmer:

Wearing a Halloween costume or even a themed t shirt would not have been appropriate for a message that highlights Unicef's support work in Haiti. But look what she did here: her suit is in subtle shades of orange and black. This light pumpkin color is tough to wear, but it works for Ms. Brimmer. Her skin looks warm and healthy.

Framing the message

2010-10-30T08:51:00.003-04:00

Mary Fallin is running for governor in Oklahoma. She has something to say:

Her words may be about lower taxes and small government, but her jewelry communicates a separate message. It's not just that her necklace is a cross. The pendant is small, and wouldn't be much of a focal point without the help of the jacket neckline, which creates a distinct square frame around the pendant, drawing your eye in to it.

Super sleeves

2010-10-25T08:04:00.004-04:00

U.S. Veterans Affairs Assistant Secretary L. Tammy Duckworth has any number of wardrobe challenges as a double amputee and user of a wheelchair, but she consistently looks great. The primary focus of her look is typically on the top half of her body, particularly her shoulders. For this interview on the artificial limb research being done at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, she chose a blouse with an interesting sleeve. (She appears around 1:15)

This layered sleeve gives her a little extra volume at the top of the shoulder, and also allows free movement of her arms, which is obviously important for her in getting around.

Bare arms are for late night talk shows

2010-10-22T08:10:00.001-04:00

Condoleezza Rice appeared on the Daily Show last week. She chose a sleeveless dress and a very bold silver necklace:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

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Condoleezza Rice Pt. 1

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Rally to Restore Sanity

This outfit reminds me of Michele Bachmann's outfit that got us talking about sleevelessness in the first place. But in this case, Dr. Rice is appearing on a late night talk show as part of her book tour. This is an evening event, and she's dressed for evening. She looks great.

Breaking the rules

2010-10-21T08:52:00.001-04:00

We were just talking the other day about how wearing a really bold necklace with dangling earrings is not a good idea.

Except sometimes it is:

The key for Joyce Elliott is an extremely short hairstyle, which keeps competing visual elements away from the earrings. Her bright yellow blazer also helps keep our attention focused on her, even with some very noticeable distractions behind her (flag, former president, etc).

A shade too far

2010-10-20T08:35:00.001-04:00

We've seen Connecticut Senate candidate Linda McMahon use bright color to great effect in the past. But check out this latest campaign ad:

This iris color is perhaps a bit too bright. She practically glows, probably in part because of the strong reflective lighting at this event. She does stand out against the crowd, but she could have accomplished the same goal with a classic red.

Competing elements

2010-10-15T08:45:00.003-04:00

Hillary Clinton accepted the George McGovern Leadership Award last week. She wore a print blouse:

Secretary Clinton paired the blouse with a gold necklace that almost perfectly bisects the flower that is meant to be the visual focal point at the collar. It's so distracting! I would have recommended that she forgo a necklace entirely, given how much detail the blouse involves.

Not all blue is for boys

2010-10-14T08:27:00.002-04:00

Rep. Alan Grayson didn't wear a flag tie for his statement on foreclosure fraud (thankfully) but his choice still wasn't one I would recommend:

The abstract print on this tie with a white and aqua color palette, paired with a matching bright aqua shirt looks almost...feminine. It certainly doesn't position the Congressman in a powerful or authoritative posture.

Bachmann buttons up

2010-10-13T08:55:00.009-04:00

Rep. Michele Bachmann appeared recently at a Republican press conference in a very buttoned up navy blue suit:

We've seen the Congresswoman before in seersucker, in sweater sets, in shiny yellow jackets, and we know that she has no qualms about making television appearances with bare arms (not just that one time but all summer on Fox and on the House floor).

But we have not often seen her like this, in a style that is so covered up and...conservative. Bachmann's style has typically been overtly feminine, in the same mode as many Republican women this season, who allude to their values by referencing traditional gender roles in their clothing. This outfit reminds us much more of a corporate board room than one of Sarah Palin's "Mama Grizzlies."