When thinking of politics, good fashion sense does not
necessarily spring to mind; some of David Cameron’s ensembles have been questionable at times, especially when let loose on holiday. However, despite politician’s attempts to shun it, fashion is becoming an increasingly important PR tool.
Fashion being an expression of ourselves and our views is as true in government as it is in our everyday lives; it simply cannot be disregarded as part of the political package. This can be seen in the re-emergence of political style icons, namely the more accessible and savvier wives. From 1961, First Lady Jackie O (alright then, Kennedy…) epitomised and symbolised a whole era and look; big sunglasses, Chanel suits, Pillbox hats. Long gone were the days of conservative dressing, as Jackie experimented with colour, patterns and European labels in a way no other political wife had before. She sparked manufacturers’ attempts to emulate her look and was renowned worldwide for her elegance and beauty.
Jackie’s fashion know-how was as important then as it is today, an understanding shared by current First Lady, Michelle Obama. Listed among “10 of the World’s Best Dressed People” by Vanity Fair in 2007, there was a rush of designers to dress this woman, Oscar de la Renta, Isabel Toledo and Calvin Klein to name but a few. Her style is often described as populist and she defined the recent trend for sleeveless shift dresses.
Brits can get it right too, as shown by PM wife, Samantha Cameron, who has not only appeared in Vogue but radically turned around Smythson, an accessories company that has now won numerous awards. Samantha was made an ambassador for London Fashion Week and even managed to achieve critical acclaim of her maternity clothes – clearly this woman can use her fashion sense! Even Carla Bruni, First Lady of France (and we are now placing ex-models in politics, quelle horreur!) has diplomatically used fashion, choosing Dior to dress her for her state visit to the UK – a French fashion house headed by a British designer.
Fashion also infiltrates politics in a more subtle way; colour. Noticeably at election times, political leaders always wear their party’s colour. The Big Debate was awash with blue, gold and red ties, occasionally adjusted to subconsciously draw our eyes and minds to the connotations they hold. Margret Thatcher, Britain’s first female PM, favoured a particular royal navy Aquascutum wool suit, reflective of her ‘conservative’ views. She took emphasising the necessity of colour to the extreme, rarely being seen out of some form of blue, even today. To this woman, power dressing was a necessity and she exploited it to its full potential. The 80’s are known for their broad shoulders, severe suits and masculine approach to dressing and perhaps such trends were inspired by the ‘iron fisted’ woman at Britain’s helm.
Nowadays, it is fashionable to be fashionable in politics. Although their male counterparts sometimes run riot, the well-dressed wives are there to tweak their primary colour tie and send them on their way. Fashion is finally something that is politically correct.
By Hannah Pomfret
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