Boxer and Hutchison face the neckline

Senators Boxer and Hutchison were on CNN this weekend for a discussion on taxes. Each of them wore a blouse with a jacket over it, but with two different techniques for complimenting face shape using "balance points." Look at http://youtu.be/9-CNkHlXlCg (you can see both of them on screen at about 2:15):


Senator Boxer's neckline compliments balance point 1: the distance from the top of her face (below her bangs) to her chin is equal to the distance from her chin to the neckline of her blouse. The oval shape of her face is perfectly echoed in her clothes.

Senator Hutchison has highlighted balance point 2: the distance and shape from the widest point of her face to her chin is the same as from the top of her shoulder to the neckline of her blouse. Her rectangular face shape is in harmony with her high rectangular blouse.

Either technique can work for you, no matter what your face shape. You can even combine them, hitting one balance point with your neckline and the other with a necklace. Jewelry also works well if your first balance point is lower on your chest than you would like your neckline to be.

The most pattern-y pattern of all?

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.

Great shape

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.

In living color

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?

One problem too many

On Monday, Kay Bailey Hutchison spoke on the Senate floor about the Education Jobs Bill. She wore a beige suit:

You know what I'm going to say, don't you? This color is so close to her skin tone, she just blends into... all beige. If this were my only concern with this suit, I might suggest pairing it with a scarf in a color that works better for her, like a bright, true red, and the suite could be saved.

The problem is that the jacket is also quite shapeless. Without darts or a lapel, her shape is entirely lost.

How about something like this little peach number instead?

Pastels can be powerful

Pastel colors don't work for everyone. We know that. But if pastels are in your color palette (have you booked that color analysis consultation yet?) they're a great choice for summer. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison shows us how it's done:

The Senator makes spearmint into a power color by wearing it in a very structured jacket. The prominent shoulders are a subtle but effective nod to the '80s fashion moment we're having this year. She stands out against her male colleagues in the background in just the right way.

Kay Bailey Hutchison campaigns in Arlington, TX

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is running for governor in Texas, made a campaign stop last week in Arlington. She wore green:

This grass green color is a good one for the Senator, but the styling of this jacket is giving us too much of a good thing. It's a lot of green, with buttons all the way up to the collar and no blouse to break up the color block or the line. A soft cream scarf over this jacket might have softened the look a little bit and brought our attention back to her face instead of the wall of green with bold black buttons.