President Obama was in top form last night, and particularly in the arena of image. This is the way the President should dress at all times. The dark suit conveys power and authority, the white shirt is formality but also very elegant and refined. And there is only one tie that is more powerful than a red tie, and that is a dark red tie!

By contrast, Vice President Biden's image was a washout; and the baby blue tie of Speaker  Boehner was definitely low impact and not suited for an occasion  as significant as the State of the Union address.

It's time this boring tie was retired forever. Send it back where it belongs:  the country club dinner or the Deep South where pastels are de rigeur.

It''s no wonder this color has been dubbed Royal Blue.  It is one of the loveliest colors Mrs. Obama has worn, and she looked exquisite last night at the State of the Union address. I'd like to see the neckline an inch or two lower, however, as the proportions would be more harmonious and flattering.

Anyone who is a serious presidential candidates ought to wear a white shirt in a political debate, and both candidates did. However, wearing a blah blue tie that blends in with a man's suit is not a good choice. It suggests passivity rather than power. A red tie is symbolic of energy, enterprise, courage and action. On the negative side, it can also be impulsiveness, so Newt might need to consider wearing a yellow tie at the next debate. Yellow is symbolic of mental energy, so it's good for thinking on your feet.

My advice to Romney:  to look more powerful, wear a dark red tie tie that is close to burgundy. For a formal TV debate, I would suggest small repeating patterns like tiny dots in an off white color or blue. Solid-color ties often look unimaginative. For less formal occasions burgundy with stripes would be appropriate.Lastly, I'd suggest he let his hair grow just a bit fuller at the sides. It is trimmed so closely that it makes his face appear quite thin. There would be better balance and harmony with fuller hair at the sides.

Hillary Clinton, Looking Fabulous!

Madame Secretary, this is a really wonderful style for you. It's tailored perfectly but bears no resemblance to the unimaginative blazer jacket that is so popular with women today. It would look good with a statement-making brooch  as well as the simple strand of pearls you're wearing.

"Perfect Makeup" vs. "Perfect Skin" - Vive la Difference!

Dear Secretary Clinton,

Your makeup changes from natural-looking cool colors to artificial and cakey-looking warm colors (photo on left).  If you look closely, you'll see that those yellow-toned warm foundations do a pretty poor job of making you look better. When you're in the wrong foundation and blusher colors, any little furrows or lines will be exaggerated. Makeup is not about "heavy coverage" - it's about making the skin color uniform. When that happens, you're judged to be younger (in university studies), because any "lumps and bumps" are smoothed away.

You'll also notice that you look prettier and more natural in the photo on the right. Your skin also looks more luminescent and youthful in cool foundations with subtle pink tones. Don't sell yourself short. Get rid of all those yellow foundations and blushers.

Bad Color - Good Color "Quelle Difference!"

Madame Secretary, just a gentle reminder that all colors in the peach or apricot family will cause you to pale out and disappear into your clothing. Not a good idea for a woman of your standing and presence. It can actually diminish power and credibility.

On the other hand, the deep royal blue color above creates contrast with your beautiful face, and it also enhances your natural pink undertones. The apricot color, on the other hand, creates "hot spots" on the face (it does for nearly everyone, actually) and makes you look anemic. The blue suit gives you radiant, healthy color. It also makes you look pretty.

You owe it to yourself. Ditch all those peach, coral, orange and apricot suits.

Bad Style vs. Good Style

Dear Secretary Clinton,

The jacket on the left is in a splendid color for you, but large polka dots are very whimsical, so not appropriate for a formal state occasion, nor for a person of your stature. In addition, big patterns always make a person look bigger; furthermore, big round circles suggest roundness. The best place for polka dots is with blouses or shells worn underneath a suit. The smaller the pattern, the more sophisticated; the bigger the pattern, the more whimsical.

In sharp contrast, the blue suit on the right is very slimming and elongating, because it is a solid sweep of color from head to toe. It can be dressed up or down, unlike the jacket on the left. Lastly, you look especially good in jackets that are worn open.

President Obama in VERY Casual Attire - and in Casual Atatire

Dear President Obama,

Where is your tie? As President of the United States, you don't need to dress down for any occasion. You are there to represent the office of the President of the most powerful country in the world. Just as an expert speaker wears a tie (but not a jacket) when he does a workshop at a weekend retreat where the dress code is "casual." He walks into the room with a powerful presence and commands immediate authority. He doesn't "offend" the audience by not dressing in khakis and a polo. When you're the "outside expert" you don't dress  for so-called "rapport" - you dress to impress!

Wearing a white shirt with a blazer and no tie  sends a mixed message. A white shirt is the most formal of all, and it begs for a tie.  It is a classic example of "business casual" but the jacket must not be removed,  because then, the white shirt looks like a fish out of water when its tie is missing.  A French blue shirt, on the other hand, does not look so out of sync without a tie - with or without a navy blazer.

My suggestion: wear a French blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a striped business tie. You are there for business, not to attend a picnic. In my corporate workshops, I show side-by-side photos of a man in a French blue shirt with navy blazer and no tie, and the same man in the same shirt, but worn with a tie. I ask the audience which man has the most capability and authority. The man with the tie gets 90% of the votes every time.

Please note that your staff, and many audience members wore ties out of respect for you. They also get it when you dress to impress them !

The ubiquitous blue tie needs to disappear from the halls of power. It isn't a power tie!! It's a country club tie - its origins are the Deep South, where it's hot and that cool blue shade presumably makes you feel cooler. Mr. President, this tie doesn't make a statement. Furthermore, wearing a blue tie with a blue suit is unimaginative. A red tie with blue dots or other patterns would be much better.

A red tie with a blue suit shouts power and authority. Let's see more of this!

That's a lovely yellow jacket - the beautiful trim adds a lot of oomph and style. This is the perfect yellow for you; it's a soft chiffon yellow. Buttercup yellow, canary and mustard yellow are all warm shades of yellow and wouldn't suit you. Mustard yellow is also very drab and dreary looking. Your suit is a cool shade of yellow.

The suit on the right has overall warm tones, so it's not nearly as flattering to you.