I've looked at a lot of photographs and it's my opinion that Republican candidates have a more uniform look than their opposition across the aisle. Black oxfords, blue suits with the sleeves cut too long to show shirt cuff, white shirts, red or blue ties and flag lapel pins appear to constitute the uniform of the Presidential candidate in 2008. And that's too bad because we've had some Republican Presidents these past fifty years who could teach these guys a thing or two. For example, here's Ronald Reagan wearing white tie a lot more elegantly than President Bush did recently.
I give Rudy Giuliani props for seeming more comfortable in black tie than the other candidates. At least, he's photographed in it more often, and in those photos he's put together reasonably well. But his day to day look is the same old same old. At least add a white pocket square!
Fred Dalton Thompson cuts a Presidential figure, but the clothes don't demonstrate much leadership. His sleeves need shortening and there's no pocket handkerchief.
Then there is Mitt Romney who, as a former governor of Massachusetts, has apparently been influenced to adopt John Kerry's style of dress. He spices up his otherwise boring look with Vineyard Vines style neckties and could take it up another notch with a touch of white at his breast pocket.
Finally, consider John McCain, another man we can respect for his accomplishments if not his dress. In this photo, the jacket body and sleeves are too long, the necktie is tied too long and the shirt collar does not stand high enough above his jacket.
Overall, the Republican Presidential candidates dress is undistinguished. We'll see how the Democrats fare in the next installment of this series.
Overall, the Republican Presidential candidates dress is undistinguished. We'll see how the Democrats fare in the next installment of this series.
