Who needs fashion anyway?

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano gave a press briefing last week on the border security bill. She wore brick red:

You know that I put only a limited emphasis on fashion and trends in this forum. But the combination of muted brick red with black collar and trim is so dated, I can't not say anything. It sort of reminds me of "holiday party" outfits that were popular about 15 years ago. The low contrast of the two colors, and the muted color palette aren't doing her any favors either.

As we've said before, a clear, true red would have been a much better choice for her.

The iconography of stripes

The opening of the Read My Pins exhibit at the Smithsonian got me thinking about the subtle and not-so-subtle messages we can send with what we wear. And then I happened to see this clip of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano:

First of all, these sharply contrasting stripes are awfully harsh for her. Your eye goes straight to the jacket, and her face starts to look pale by comparison. But secondly, there's the cultural reference of black and white stripes to contend with. No one is going to mistake Secretary Napolitano for a prisoner while appearing on CNN, but it's not an inference I would even want to suggest if I she were my client.

Janet Napolitano testifies on 2011 Homeland Security budget

Janet Napolitano explained the 2011 Homeland Security budget before the House committee on Homeland Security. She wore a tan jacket and a turtleneck:

Do you recognize this jacket? This is a beautiful jacket, elegant and well constructed. But it's just not the right choice for the Secretary. As we've seen before, she looks so much better in vibrant color, especially red.

But let's imagine that this is the Secretary's favorite jacket. She loves it, and she wants to keep wearing it. What to do?

• Lower the neckline of the blouse underneath, and choose a color there. A red or blue or aqua crewneck would be much softer than a black mock turtleneck.
• More delicate accessories. A chain with a pendant and earrings that are airier and less solid would lighten things up.
• Jewelry on the jacket. I'm not sure if Secretary Napolitano is really inclined to the Albright brooch technique, but it's an option.

Napolitano discusses air travel security on CNN

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano appeared on CNN to discuss the government's actions and reactions related to the attempted bombing in Detroit. She wore a stone jacket with a mandarin collar with a dark shell under it:

Secretary Napolitano is definitely going for sober here with her choice of neutral colors, but something more saturated like charcoal gray or medium navy might have suited her better. I'm also very concerned about the fit of this jacket - it appears too tight across the shoulders, which is why she's getting those little points sticking up above the natural slope of her shoulder. It can be difficult to find jackets that fit well when you have wider shoulders (as a woman or a man) but it is critical and can't be altered. If it doesn't fit in the shoulder, it doesn't fit.

Her makeup looks great. I wonder if she's wearing Benefit silky finish lipstick in nice knickers. A fantastic color for a lot of people, it's always selling out at Sephora...

Janet Napolitano on the Daily Show

Here's another positive use of the red jacket: Janet Napolitano on the Daily Show. Her coloring takes the red well. Her necklace is the perfect length too. I just wish her white top had a scoop neck instead - the V fights with the shape of her face a little bit. But overall, she looks professional but at ease, which is perfect for late night television.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Janet Napolitano Pt. 1
www.thedailyshow.com
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