No coats politicians

Annie nobody is going to disagree with you about how male and female politicians are perceived because everyone is aware it is wrong. At the moment we're comparing the styles powerful female politicians.

M0nica I agree about Christine Laguarde, she is a striking woman and I like her hair now it is short and sassy. She wears a monochrome wardrobe and it suits her. It looks too harsh on most women, but pulls it off with accents of colour and always looking tanned and healthy.

On the other hand she's paid much better than elected politicians who get paid from the pub purse. LaGarde gets a tax free salary of about $500k, plus generous allowances. Of course, money is not a guarantee for looking good, but she wouldn't have got such a high profile job if she had a reputation for dressing badly. I don't mean her looking good was a factor in her getting the job, but looking the opposite would be a factor in her not getting it. Men only have to wear a suit and tie and make sure their shirt is clean and they're ready. Some men look better than others, but suit is their uniform and everyone can look good in a uniform. Look at the Queen and Angela Merkel.

Sorry .wilma, I can't agree , I don't think any men have posted on this and the majority of posts critcised TM, so it's what women do

That's fine, although men posting never seems to be a factor on any other thread.

I only spoke of men because I had said they don't criticise what male leaders wear in an earlier post , I am not getting picky with you Wilma, just think saying a dress isn't a suitable colour is something we all do, I think Megan Narkle wearing black to much is boring , why are women so critical of other women's clothes , is it we all enjoy a good bitch , I don't know

I like Theresa May and always have admired her as a 'no ego' politician. She isn't showy or flashy but she is bright and seems a very sensible woman with genuine integrity. I imagine her slight stoop comes from being a bit self-conscious about her height. I think she dresses well and her makeup and hair colour look quite sophisticated.

Corbyn has obviously been having lots of advice regarding the way he presents himself which is a shame imo. I quite liked the fact that he wore baggy jackets, corduroy and elbow patches and no tie, mainly because he was being himself. I like that sort of 'realness' even if I don't like his policies or political allies. Now he is smartly suited, wears a tie and even his voice and speaking style has changed. He has been coached almost out of existence. I wonder if they keep the real Jezza in a cupboard somewhere in Islington and wheel him out for rallies?

But annie, isn't the reason why men don't criticise what male leaders wear just that most men aren't all that interested in clothes? Conversely, we like discussing other women's clothes because most of us are, surely, not because we're bitching.

I don't think most men even notice that other men are wearing clothes unless it's something really outlandish. How could they even sit round a table with Boris without saying something if they actually noticed what he looks like?

Annie I honestly don't think we're bitching. You can comment on what a woman wears without it being bitching. Women's clothing is much more interesting than men's.

Day6 I don't dislike TM, but I don't think we've got any female 'ego' politicians in parliament. I certainly don't doubt her intelligence or her integrity. I hadn't particularly noticed a stoop, but I can understand if she's a bit round shouldered from being self conscious about her height. When she's giving a big speech as PM to the EU or some similar occasion, I think she looks immaculate and has clearly taken advice for the occasion, as is sensible. On a day to day basis as PM, I'd say she's getting there.

I don't envy her one bit. Every country's leader ends up looking older than they should because of the demands of the job.

Corbyn is wise to have smartened himself up a little bit because I have no doubt feedback would give his appearance as a reason not to vote Labour. He'd be foolish not to make such a simple change. He can wear his old style when he's out canvassing. I have noticed though sometimes his collar button is undone or it looks like he's been pulling at his neck and his tie has shifted a bit!

Does anyone remember Michael Foot and his donkey jacket? That came in for plenty of criticism.

It was not a donkey jacket

I didn't know that Annie. I don't really remember the day he first wore it, so I just Googled it and came across this article about the jacket which I think is good

Michael Foot and the donkey jacket that wasn't

It's disappointing to read it was one of his own party who first made the criticism. Some things never change in politics.

I can assure you it was not a donkey jacket, Jill, his wife showed it to us, she was upset because she had bought it for him she was concerned for his health which was poor, more so after the car crash . It was a three quarter pure wool coat , not what is worn in Rememberence Day but not a donkey jacket

Anniebach I disagree with you. Male politicians are just as much judged for their dress as women are. The male dress of suit and tie is just as hard to get right. Look how Jeremy Corbyn's standing has risen as he has smartened up how he dresses. I believe he has had the advice of a stylist who has carefully crafted a style for him that is smart and business like, but muted and not too expensive so that his admirers can still feel he is one of them. If he had stayed untidy, or dressed to sharply, his standing with supporters would have suffered.

Christine LaGarde's power lies with her demeanour and success, not how she dresses, but her style and presentation complement her importance as a world class power broker. Yes, she has a big salary and can afford big designer clothes, but their are plenty of less well known designers and tailors who can produce clothes just as smart for a fraction of the price. Several Saville Row tailors cater for women as well as men.

Whether you are a male or female world leader, dress inappropriately and it will diminish your standing.
For example, both Ken Clark and Boris Johnson look as if they sleep in their clothes and this only enhances the general belief that Boris could not run a p*ss-up in a brewery, or tea party in a nunnery, if you prefer. I think Ken Clark's career also suffered because of the way he dressed. Harold Wilson's avuncular way of dressing and pipe made him seem both 'one of the people' and reliable, neither attributes those who knew him well would grant him.

Regardless of sex Mrs May needs to learn how to walk like a leader and dress like a leader. Unflattering skirt lengths, too tight jackets, also cut to an unflattering length do her no favours. Angela Merkel is no fashion plate but she gets the basics right. Her clothes fit, are co-ordinated and she looks comfortable in them.

She only has to walk into a room for everyone to know where the power lies.
But not infallible.

MOnica,i did say men don't judge men as women judge women,

If clothes are not an important statement of who we are, why are alleged criminals/thugs encouraged to wear a smart suit, shirt and tie when appearing in court?
Their normal attire may be something entirely different but their solicitor may suggest they wear something which conforms with what people perceive as what a 'responsible citizen' would look like to try to get them off the charge.

Clothes are important for public appearances but I just think commenting on a woman's underwear is uncalled for, I think TM wears what she likes to wear full stop,

I don’t think Theresa May should be criticised for the way she stands or walks. Perhaps her feet or back hurt.

I doubt if she’s self-conscious about her height. Why should she be? She’s a confident woman. According to what I‘ve read she’s five foot eight, which is a good height for someone in authority to be. Tall enough to be impressive, but not excessive.

Annie I didn't disagree with you about Michael Foot. The link in my post backed up what you said and gave a bit more information too. Also, I didn't comment on TM's underwear, but I did say what I thought underwear should do to make an outfit look best - any outfit.

I think M0nica has summed things up perfectly by saying

Whether you are a male or female world leader, dress inappropriately and it will diminish your standing.

Grandma70s I am very surprised to hear that TM is only 5'8". I thought she must be more like 6'. Sometimes women with shorter husbands try to minimise their height and I imagined she was doing that, or even try not to tower over her male colleagues. She is a great height for clothes which in theory are supposed to be ideal for a 5'9" woman.

That's two new things I've learned today and both were on this thread. Thank you ladies.

Wilma, her underwear was mentioned before Foot and that jacket, I wasn't getting at you x

I don't think TM dresses inappropriately , she just isn't a fashion plate .

I do not think she dresses inappropriately, that is primarily a male problem, but she dresses badly. She needs a good stylist, Margaret Thatcher had one, Jeremy Corbyn has one, David Cameron had an in-house one in his wife.

Jalima has mentioned how defendants (and witnesses) dress tactically for court appearances and who hasn't been warned to dress appropriately for job interviews, so why shouldn't we expect our Prime Minister to take proper advice on how best to dress in their role?

But why can she not be herself ? Don't mean start walking around in shorts but the shade of her tights? Corbyn needed help , vests are not acceptable in public , I never noticed any change in Cameron's suits

Ah, but Cameron is a PR man, to the depths of his soul. I expect he was dressing for effect when he was in nursery.

Nobody is stopping Mrs May being herself, it is a question of what your style is and then doing it well. That is the job of a stylist, to see who the person is, and then help them look it well.

Corbyn needed help. he got it and has transformed himself slowly and carefully, until today, he still looks the man he was, but just does it with style. As you know, I am neither a Labour nor a Corbyn supporter but I can admire a good job well done - and my admiration for those who carefully crafted his sartorial transformation is unbounded.

Mrs May needs to do the same.

I would never vote for May (or Corbyn) but I think how she dresses is entirely up to her. She looks all right. Why should she need more than that?

If Margaret Thatcher had a stylist, heaven help us. That stylist must have needed a stylist.

I think Jeremy Corbyn took the advice of David Cameron's mother, got a decent suit and smartened himself up.