Political Fashion

I think that it is safe to say that as a people, we judge based on looks, especially by how a person is dressed.  It is in my opinion that fashion plays a huge role in politics, especially during an election.  The candidate is trying to physically portray themselves as a certain type of person in order to secure votes.  There is a great scene in the movie "The Adjustment Bureau" in which Matt Damon's character is giving a speech on authenticity after just having lost the senatorial race (link below).  He talks about how his ties are selected by a team of people who have tested and gathered data about tie colors and the colors that he wears are chosen for a specific reason.  Damon's character says that he is told to either wear a blue or red tie, not yellow because it makes it look like he is taking his situation too lightly and that a silver tie would make it appear that he has forgotten his roots.  He also discusses his shoes, saying that he has to have the right amount of scuff on his shoes, so that he doesn't alienate any social class.

For me, this scene is totally true and reflective of how politicians dress.  Their outfits are carefully selected, from the tie to the shoes that they wear, in order to reflect something in particular.  We associate certain traits with people by the close that they wear.  When I see a person wearing scrubs, I automatically assume that they are a doctor and therefore intelligent and hardworking.  The same goes for when I see someone in a business suit.  On the other hand, when you see a person who is poorly dressed, you automatically assume negative things about them.  All of these things are taken into account and carefully calculated on a campaign trail and I think Mitt Romney is the perfect example.  

When Romney first started on the campaign trail, his hair was a littler stiffer, his suits crisper.  He looked like a millionaire business man.  This was probably the perfect look for him during those first weeks, when he was competing for the official presidential nominee for the republicans.  He wanted to appeal to the rich republican, corporate types who would be donating money to his campaign.  Romney wanted support, at that time, from those people who could afford to help his campaign.  After he was officially selected as the republican nominee for president, Romney's style completely changed.  He started dressing more in clothes that would appeal to the average American.  Typically dressed in a button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, sometimes in blue jeans but typically in khaki pants, Romney was presenting himself as an average American man.  What is that common expression?  Something about rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty?  His sleeves were always rolled at just the right amount of length to convey a certain image, the picture of a man who has rolled his sleeves up himself and is prepared to work hard.  Any farther and it would look to contrived.   Even the color of his ties give off a certain air.  In the first presidential debate, Romney wore a red tie.  Red is a color that is typically associated with fire, anger, strength, passion, etc.  He was a reflection of all of those adjectives in the first debate.  In the second debate he wore a blue tie, which is a color that is typically associated with being cool, calm, and composed which was a reflection of his behavior during that debate.  Obama wore the red tie in second debate and he was red that night because he was the one who came out fighting.  The colors red and blue even brings thoughts of certain parties to mind, red for republicans and blue for democrats.

It is interesting to also watch the style of their wives.  They also want to appeal to every woman in America, dressed smart, but not wearing too expensive clothes that they alienate the masses.  Typically women in politics wear suits that are mainly composed of either a skirt and top/jacket or a dress and jacket.  I feel like I rarely see them wear pants, probably in an effort to appear more feminine and subservient to their powerful political husbands.  They must look sophisticated, elegant, classy, but also matronly.  They are representing the mothers of America and must dress accordingly.  Rarely do you see the wife of a politician with a skirt too short or a top too low.  Michelle Obama is constantly discussed in the fashion world because she dresses so well.  She does a great job of combining expensive and inexpensive pieces for a great put together look.  Michelle has a wonderful fashion sense (or at least her stylist does) and she is a great role model for young women.  It is all part of the role that she plays as the wife of the President.

I thought it was interesting how both Michelle Obama and Ann Romney were wearing hot pink outfits to the second debate.  October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I wonder if their camps talked to each other.  I am also curious about if the stylists for Barack and Mitt speak with each other before each debate to let the other know what tie they are wearing.  One wore a red striped tie and the other wore a blue polka-dot tie.  At the second debate, they switched with one in a blue striped and the other in a red polka-dot.  I am sure it is not a coincidence that they did this.  I wonder what sort of interpretations or messages are given off to people by stripes vs. polka-dots.      
      


http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/the-adjustment-bureau/authentic-speech