Theoddbird
If it was a man would you have commented on what he was wearing? I get so annoyed by posts such as these.
Yes I would, because I believe politicians, male or female, should dress to a certain standard.
People often commented on Johnson's appearance, and I can remember people being incensed by Michael Foot's donkey jacket. It is not only female politicians who get it wrong.
Clothing is important, it is not frivolous nor is it about vanity. It goes much deeper than that. Why do you think so many institutions are so pernickety about dress codes.
The military wear uniforms specifically designed to impress and project an image of power and strength. Financial institutions and the judiciary insist that their members wear dark sober clothing to give an impression of gravitas, responsibility and sobriety. And so on........
Our politicians represent our country on the world stage. It is hugely important how they dress and present themselves.
I agree that Nicole Surgeon always looks smart and businesslike, not especially chic or stylish but always well groomed. Her look is no nonsense, efficient. It says "I am a capable, serious person, ready to do business".
Whether we like it or not, everyone is, to some extent, judged on their appearance. Our image sends out all sorts of messages, some of which are subliminal. If this were not the case why do people go to some considerable effort to look good for a job interview. Because we know how important it is to make a good impression. We have 7 seconds to make a good first impression and we don't get a second chance. It's the first impression that counts and which remains in the memory.
But it doesn't end there. It goes even deeper than that.......
Psychologist are becoming increasingly aware of just how important image can be and how clothing is also such an important component of our self image.
"Enclothed cognition". Def: The systematic influences that clothes have on the wearers psychological processes.
In plain English - how clothes can affect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Put simply when we look good, we feel better about ourselves, and often, because we feel better, we tend to perform better. We feel more upbeat, more positive, more energised.
The great Hollywood costume designer Edith Head once said "we can be anything we want, all we have to do is dress the part".
This is why we understand the principle behind the expression "you should dress for the job you want, not the one you have".
If politicians want to be taken seriously, then they have to dress seriously. Thatcher (love her or hate her) knew this and wore a uniform guaranteed to show herself as a serious person who meant business.
A perfect example of "dressing the part" is the Queen. Her preferred off duty attire was relaxed country tweeds, cashmere sweaters, wax jackets and headscarves. But when she was on duty as the Queen then she wore a distinctive uniform, matching dresses and coats in bold colours, matching hats, black sensible shoes and bag. It became her signature style and it worked beautifully for her. She knew the value of getting it right, even having weights sewn into the hems of her garments so they would remain in place when it was windy (no Marilyn Monroe moments?) . Something that Kate Middleton often struggled with in the early days but she seems to have got that sussed now.
A lot of our politicians would do well to think carefully about the messages their clothing send out. They need to remember that they represent our country on the world stage. Is it too much to ask that they at least look smart and businesslike. And yes that means ties for the men.
Truss looks unkempt, untidy and disorganised. Not exactly a look that is guaranteed to inspire confidence.
