Will it be Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama who comes out the winner on Super Tuesday, February 5th?
In terms of image, Obama wins, but not because he has great sartorial sense. He doesn't. His image is up and down. His presence and charisma are not; both are always up.
Hillary needs to level the playing field a lot more in terms of image, and then her presence and charisma would increase dramatically. Take a look at the picture in the center and you will see that both candidates are virtually dressed alike. There is one big difference, however. Obama towers over Hillary, and that's also what happens in corporate America. Men are judged to be more powerful because of their stature and their deep voices. Women need to add stature and presence by dressing in powerful colors and styles and wearing powerful accessories so that they make a powerful statement when they enter a room.
Hillary's red jacket is a great power color but the style is ordinary. It's literally a copy of daddy's jacket and she needs to ditch all her pantsuits, particularly those with boring blazer jackets. They say "follower" instead of "leader" - and furthermore, pantsuits are not as powerful as skirted suits. Pantsuits are for comfort and for I.T. staff who need to do physical activities.
Hillary should have said Yes to Vogue Magazine and appeared on the pages with a skirted red suit in a high-fashion distinctive style. The way you look and dress announces the outcome other people can expect from you, and a red suit would have shouted to the world, "Get on my team, I'm a winner!" As it is, her wardrobe suggests she is a follower most often.
The way you look also announces how you feel about yourself - and you will be treated accordingly. Notice how Hillary beams in the red jacket. That kind of energy is contagious and makes other people feel good about themselves as well as Hillary.
Obama wins the contest in terms of image, even though he doesn't always look Presidential. With that in mind, Hillary could gain an advantage if she dressed in a more distinctive and dynamic manner.
2 comments
Sylvia Ellis
March 6, 2008 at 10:10 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Nice article. Hope someone sends this to her. Hope to see more.
SE
March 7, 2008 at 8:40 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Dear Sylvia,
A number of people have called me and said the same thing you did. Maybe there is someone out there who would like to send it to her.