Tag: Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney and his wife Ann Romney celebrate their victory in the Illinois GOP primary. Getty Images

Mitt Romney and his wife Ann Romney celebrate their victory in the Illinois GOP primary. Getty Images

The elevation of Mitt Romney to Republican nominee presumptive appears to have acted as a sort of spur to his wife Ann when it comes to her entrance into the imagineering race.

Michelle Obama famously has a blog (mrs-o.org) devoted to her style, after all, which puts her front and centre in many cultural conversations and positions her as a champion of business without her or her camp having to say a word — other than “J Crew” or “Jason Wu” or ”Narciso Rodriguez.” It’s taken until now for Mrs Romney to begin to fight fashion fire with fashion fire.

Mitt and Ann Romney on 'CBS This Morning'. CBS image

Mitt and Ann Romney on 'CBS This Morning'. CBS image

Or so it seems. After a primary season marked mostly by a sea of unidentifiable red suits, earlier this week Mrs R appeared with her husband on “CBS This Morning” wearing a T-shirt printed with bird images by the New York designer Reed Krakoff. It was the first time as far as I know that Mrs Romney had dipped a public toe in the branded fashion world.

And it was an…interesting choice, for two reasons.

Mitt Romney’s sweeping victories in the Wisconsin, Maryland and District of Columbia primaries had some concluding that he is leading the race to be the Republican nominee. I, however, came to my own conclusion: about his fashion strategy.

The various looks Mr Romney has been exploring on the campaign trail have now gelled into a uniform of an open-neck button-down and jeans on the hustings, and dark suit, white shirt and blue patterned tie on the podium — ie pretty much an EXACT replica of what the current president wears.

Getty Images

This could indicate lack of fear about accusations that Mr Romney is just another version of the current administration in Republican clothing. Or it could be a conscious decision to, as they say, take the game to the president (or even an effort to win over those independent voters who went with Obama last time, but are unconvinced now). Both possibilities are interesting, especially when combined with Ann Romney’s choices — which are a very different story, at least as displayed at the Illinois, Florida, Michigan and Iowa primaries. Indeed, they are a traditional Republican story.

The colour gurus at the Pantone Colour Institute have released their predictions for top colours of Fall 2012, just in time for New York Fashion Week. And why, you ask, should non-fashion people care? Because, I say, this will give us a sense of what we are going to see on the general election trail this fall.

(It is also an indication of the shades we may be inexplicably, but inexorably drawn to as we embark on post-holiday, back-to-work shopping.)

Today Jacob Weisberg coined what I think should become a representative catchphrase of the 2012 US election along the lines of, “It’s the economy, stupid”and “It’s morning in America”. To wit: he noted that Mitt Romney suffers from “the affliction of excessive handsomeness.”

Who knew there was such a problem? And who knew it was a problem for Mitt Romney, who won the Florida primary this week and is expected by many to be the Republican nominee?

Last night’s various post-primary speeches in New Hampshire were mesmerising, for a variety of reasons. From the ridiculous quotes (Ron Paul: “We ARE dangerous”; Jon Huntsman: “Third Place: we’re in the hunt” — you have to wonder what genius strategist thought that one up) to the way battle for hearts and eyes is shaping up, the Republican stump style is solidifying:

Mitt Romney and his family match perfectly - Getty

1. Mitt Romney

Cruising to victory, the Romney machine communicated in one picture, unity, coordination and confidence. The candidate was in a dark suit, print tie and white shirt, in contrast to his wife, Ann, in a white suit.  They were both framed by their sons in — oh, the harmony of it all! — white shirts and dark pants (two), and white shirts, their Dad’s favourite V-neck sweater and khakis (the other two). It’s not a look that someone aiming to contradict charges of smoothness and manipulation would choose (not one hair out of place), but increasingly the Romney campaign seems to be letting the candidate stay in his comfort zone, complete with teleprompter, and boy did these guys looks comfortable — and reliable — on stage.

 

I was wrong yesterday — at least partly. In the end, after campaigning down to the wire in Iowa in shirts with sweater vests (Rick Santorum), shirts and tees (Ron Paul), and V-neck grandpa numbers and jeans (Mitt Romney), the big three Republican presidential rivals all disappeared into their various hotels — almost as good as a phone booth — and changed into suits and ties for the final tally.

It’s a bird … it’s a plane … it’s Mitt Romney by eight!

Apparently, the super-approachable, guy-like-you look is seen as only for the street, the school and the diner. When it comes time to accept or cede, a potential leader needs to look Presidential, and that means suit and tie. Check out the before and after shots (same day): presto change-o.

Mitt Romney - before. Getty Images

Mr Romney celebrated his win in the centrist clear blue tie that has become a favourite of both parties.

Mitt Romney - after. Getty Images

Mr Santorum appeared in graphic diagonal red stripes; and the third place winner, Ron Paul, was in a kind of combo of both: graphic blue stripes. And white shirts and dark suits for all, natch.

Dunno about you, but I thought debates were useful in part because they helped voters distinguish between candidates. Yesterday in Iowa for their first showdown in the bizarrely important early primary state, many of the Republican wanna-be presidents seemed to have forgotten that tenet. Instead, they dressed to be indistinguishable, not only from each other, but also from President Barack Obama, whom they insist they oppose with all their verbal might. While their lips are saying no, however, their clothes are saying yes.

Getty Images

I am speaking here, of course, of the dark suit/white shirt/blue tie combo, as seen 75 per cent of the time on the president. Whether or not he invented the new power look (of course he didn’t), he has certainly worn it enough to own it, at least in the public eye, and frankly, Messrs Romney (second from left), Pawlenty (second to right), Huntsman (far right) and Paul (far left) should have Just Said No, to quote the wife of one of their famous Republican predecessors. They look like mini-mes in this picture and they also look almost identical, which can’t have been their take-away goal.

Material World

with Vanessa Friedman

About this blog About Vanessa Blog guide
Vanessa Friedman's blog deals with the fashion/luxury industry from both a corporate and consumer point of view, as well as the subject of dress.



Vanessa FriedmanVanessa has been the FT’s fashion editor since 2003, and is based in New York, though she lived in London for 12 years.
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