Continue reading »]]>

Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are tied for LAST when it comes to ties. A serious political candidates needs a serious tie to make a powerful statement. Pastels are powerless, pale, passive, and pathetic. High-stakes contenders in the political or business arena need to work with an image consultant so their words are congruous with their "message without words" - their image.

Most men favor blue, and they tell me it is their favorite color 99% of the time. However, dark blue conveys power, while pastel versions of this color put you to sleep. Save these ties for the country club, gentlemen.

Continue reading »]]>

Newt Gingrich - You've fallen into the trap that most men do: wearing a blue tie with a blue suit. Boring. Your tie needs to pop and make a statement - like your red tie does. Your tie would look fine if it were red with small blue stripes; that way, the red would make a nice contrast with your suit, and the blue stripes would coordinate with your suit.

Continue reading »]]>

Congressman Santorum - Honestly, those baggy jeans and that grandpa sweater vest when worn together go way beyond the pale. It makes you look downright hokey and not clued in.

Remembering the storm that surrounded President Obama's "unfashionable" jeans a few years back, I feel compelled to make a comparison. The President was advised to have jeans that were fitted and snug so he would look more fashionable and with it. I disagreed then and I disagree now. Fashion looks are the opposite of power looks, and no person in power needs to look sexy first, and powerful second. However, they needn't look thoroughly unfashionable. Obama's jean were loose enough to be comfortable without looking rumpled and baggy.

Incidentally, it's okay to be covertly sexy, and that's what happens when men wear beautifully-tailored dark suits with power shirts and ties. Conversely, ill-fitting sack-style suits are about as un-sexy as can be; and coming in second are really baggy jeans.

I have to be honest and say that Santorum's jeans just make him look plump and out of shape.

If you aspire to a position of power, stick to power suits.

Continue reading »]]>

Dear President Obama - Please give up those grey suits. They make you look much older and very tired. Please remember that grey has mostly negative connotations: a grey area, a grey lie, old and grey, sad and grey, tired and grey. Of course, it's favored by politicians because it personifies a grey area that says "Maybe Yes - Maybe No." But you're the President of the United States, and you can't take a neutral stance.

The photo of you in the navy blue suit was taken only one day apart, and there is a world of difference. You look proud, confident, healthy and positive. Navy blue, that's your color. And dark blue signifies both authority and trust. That's why policemen are often clad in navy blue. The dark color is for authority, but blue radiates trust. The perfect presidential combination.

Most of my clients who have grey suits tell me that they "needed" a grey suit to round out their wardrobe. When you have grey hair, you don't NEED a grey suit. It accentuates the negative side of grey hair. When you wear navy blue, it says "distinguished, worldly gentlemen." If you need another color, think about black. But think back to Senator John Warner. He wore only navy blue suits, white shirts and red power ties. No one ever commented about that fact. Instead, they said, "Now he looks like a senator - or a president."

You can't have too many navy blue suits.

Don't forget, colors radiate energy and send out signals not only to others, but to those who wear them. I watched you on TV as you spoke in your grey suit, and you seemed to be enveloped in a cloud of grey drabness and sadness. Give up grey!

Continue reading »]]>

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.

Continue reading »]]>
Political pundits may argue about who won the debate in Sioux City, Iowa. However, it's Newt Gingrich who wins the image contest. He, no doubt, learned years ago that a suit camouflages excess weight at the midriff better than anything else. His dark suit sets off his silver hair and gives him a distinguished look.

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.

Continue reading »]]>

"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.

Continue reading »]]>

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.