A lot has been said about the image of Hillary Clinton, and there are some recommendations I’d make if I were to meet with her. Color makes the difference. Hillary is a Summer in terms of a color category, so she looks best in bright cool colors, often called jewel tones. She doesn’t look her best grey-toned Winter colors or Autumn colors like brown and orange. Brown is a matronly color for most women, and it’s not a power color. Brown is Mother Earth, so it suggests baking cookies instead of changing the world. In addition, most women think that they should wear warm makeup in peach and tawny colors, including brown-toned  lipstick, when they wear brown. These colors are highly unflattering and not the least bit feminine.

Hillary’s best color, by far, is True Red – not burgundy, and definitely not orange-red. In the brown suit and orange-toned makeup, she looks harsh. In the beautiful red jacket, her makeup looks natural and is very flattering. Orange and red-orange wash Hillary out, as it does most fair-skinned people, and it also magnifies imperfections. Look at the photo below of Hillary in the bright orange suit and you’ll notice that when the background is blue, her advisors put her in orange. Now that’s a nice concept for decorating, but it’s a big price to pay when you WEAR orange, because if it weren’t for the blue background, Hillary would blend into her suit and look orange all over.  It’s far better for Hillary to wear blue rather than having it as a background. For one thing, it makes the face the focal point, not the background.

It’s an asset for a politician to look attractive, and Autumn colors like the moss green suit above make Hillary look weary and tired. They dull her complexion and her hair, and they make “marionette” lines pop out; but far worse, they dull her persona.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has adopted the pantsuit as part of her brand. Were we to meet, I would  show her how to wear a skirted suit successfully – just as Evita Person did. She had the same “sturdy” legs as Ms. Clinton. But when you do it right, all they remember is the impact you make with your overall feminine but powerful look. Next step for Hillary:  brand yourself with YOUR colors, all the beautiful jewel tones and their derivatives, plus black, white and  navy blue.

Most countries have three major power centers and subsequent influencers. In the United States they are New York financiers, Washington, DC politicians, and Hollywood actors. Also included with the influencers of Hollywood are celebrity athletes and rock stars.

The only group that can afford to dress overtly sexy and outrageous is the Hollywood group, along with the two other celebrity groups. Financiers in any city require the most formal attire, because they need to exude the utmost trust, since they handle your money.

Politicians can appear covertly sexy any time they like, and it’s also good for them to have an abundance of charm, charisma and attractiveness. The line is drawn when it comes to suggestive attire or photos, however.

Were President Putin of Russia the president of almost any other country, he wouldn’t be able to get away with appearing in print in such an overtly sexy pose. It’s nearly impossible to think of JFK posing for a similar picture; however, photos of him bare-chested at the beach, playing touch football with his brothers, or in his famous PT109 are in a different league. They are sexy but not suggestive, as is Putin’s pose.

While not sexy, the above photo of Putin is definitely suggestive and confrontational. It is not appropriate for a head of state – nor for a serious professional. Is it possible that Putin is one of the few men who know that a man’s tie is a phallic symbol? If men were aware of this fact, they wouldn’t be so quick to get rid of their ties. Just don’t strike this pose, fellows!

What was he thinking?

The names of the men pictured below have been withheld, but one of them is currently governor of a state. Guess which one.

If you guessed the man in the attractive suit and tie, I’m sorry to have to tell you that you are wrong. Are you as shocked and dismayed as I am to see a current governor at an official event dressed in a horrid, worn-out denim jacket and drab olive sweater instead of properly representing his office, his state, and his colleagues at this event?  Even at ground-breaking ceremonies with shovels and dirt, men still wear suits!

What makes this scene even more egregious is the fact that this governor was there for a rally before election day.  How do you think the man on the left felt, running for election and having to be endorsed by…well, what looks like just some guy off the street who cares more about his own comfort than anyone else’s?

One of the biggest mistakes people make about “business casual” (in which this governor’s outfit doesn’t even remotely qualify), is to put their own comfort above those of their colleagues and clients.  It is arrogant to assume that you can dress any way you want and that people “won’t really care.”  Even if they can’t put it into words, people are affected by the way you dress, so you want to make sure they react to you in a positive manner!

Readers, what do you think about the manner in which this governor dressed at an election rally?

Dear President Obama,
Please stop wearing those blue “Bush” ties. They are too washed out to be power ties and are best saved for trips to Palm Beach and other places in the Deep South. You look ever so handsome in your red ties – let’s see more of them.

What do you think? Do you like baby blue ties or not? Put in your two cents worth.

A lot of so called fashion experts accused that were too loose, they were not slim cut enough, in other words they were not sexy enough.
I’m sure if he wore designer jeans that were skin tight and sexy, he would get complaints from the average American saying “it’s not fitting for the president to be in skin tight jeans and so sexy”.
I thought he looked perfectly fine. It’s not the job of the president to look sexy in skin tight jeans. He would look great in them I’m sure.

Fashionistas, leave Obama alone!

Dear President Obama,
You’ve taken a bit of flack for going to the theater in New York City without wearing a tie. The office of President of the United States is such a venerable one, that I think it demands a tie even at the theater in Podunk. You look so much more handsome when you wear a tie besides. Look what happened with those dot.com millionaires threw away their ties. They gave the rest of the world an excuse for throwing their ties away. “After all, millionaires don’t wear ties,” they noted. Please don’t give the men in this country another excuse for not wearing ties! After all, casual attire suggests a casual attitude, and I’m sure you don’t have a casual attitude about running this country.

Glad to see Michelle following her own instincts again and wearing purple. It’s a color that suits her, because it makes her face light up – and, of course, also because it’s a regal color! Ms. Obama is a source of inspiration for women throughout the country.

Yes! That is Presidential, Mr. Obama. Those red ties say action, courage, strength. Keep it up.

Nancy Pelosi, incidentally, is not in one of her usual jewel tones and needs to ditch the army fatigues colors.

Andrew Card, former Chief of Staff for President George Bush, blasted President Obama for dressing too casually in the White House. He feels strongly that the dress code for the White Hous should respect the office of the President.

Dear Mr. President.

I do, too. And I hope you don’t mind if I give you a few other pointers. Wear navy blue more. It is a better color for you than grey or black. Grey washes you out too much and dulls your skin. Navy blue gives you a healthy glow and makes you look handsomer, too. White shirts are the most formal, so that’s what I’d suggest you wear with your navy blue suit. Of course, for informal occasions, a blue striped shirt or a French blue shirt would look great. You looked so fabulous on Inauguration Day with your beautiful red tie; I hope you will wear more ties in the red family, including burgundy (for power), maroon and raspberry.

Biden versus Bono

Both Vice President Joe Biden and Bono wear navy blue “power” suits. Dark colors bestow authority, so they are quite powerful as well as elegant. In addition, blue is the color of trust, so both trust and power are conveyed.

The Vice President wears a crisp white shirt and red tie, while Bono has opted for a coordinated navy blue shirt with stripes, accompanied by an elegant purple tie. The Vice President would look equally powerful with the beautiful purple tie worn by Bono. However, Bono has teamed his navy blue suit with a dark shirt, so it is a “fashion” look and never acceptable for a serious business occasion. It would be a great sport shirt, and it would also look fine with a jacket and no tie, but it is not a business shirt. Worn with a tie in the right color, it makes for an interesting fashion look. However, if Bono replaced his deep-toned tie with Biden’s bright red tie, it would look loud and flashy. Instead of a fashion look, it would become a “going to Vegas” look.

Lastly, when a gentleman stands, he must immediately button his jacket. He unbuttons it when he is seated.