The presidential debate in the United States is a delicate game, the rules of which sometimes change in real time. There are no trifles here, because the stakes are too high. Millions of people follow the candidates closely, assessing not only their political programs and reactions to questions, but also such non-verbal sources of information as gestures, facial expressions, clothing and accessories. Great attention is paid to the suit, cufflinks and watches. Even stylists and political consultants approach the choice of a tie with great care. It is not surprising, because this subject has appeared on the political arena 42 times since 1976, and managed to acquire its own traditions and unwritten rules.
In one of Teffi’s stories, a tough dictator suddenly appeared in the life of the main character – a collar. First, he demanded a new blouse, then a skirt and shoes, and then he tried to change the whole well-established life of his mistress. Presidential ties are a similar story: during debates, they receive a huge portion of attention and can turn from a familiar accessory into a political statement in their own right.
In recent years, red ties have been in favor. Their political career began with the confrontation between George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000. It was then that the red color won a decisive victory over the blue with a score of 13:5, if you count all the rounds of the election race. Bush wore a red tie for all three rounds of debates in 2000, but switched to light blue, red, and light blue with white stripes in 2004. However, in 2008, red went strong for a new term: both Barack Obama and John McCain chose a red tie with thin white stripes in the second and third rounds of the debate, respectively.
“Psychologists explain the choice of red or blue as a desire to emphasize intellectual superiority. This season, red seems to be trending again,” predicts Lisa Dandeo, associate professor at Lynn University.
Interestingly, with all the variety of colors, it is red and its variants that appear on presidential candidates most often. Of the exceptions, one can only recall the modest green tie of Bob Dole, in which he participated in the debate against Bill Clinton in 1996.
Of course, neither yellow, nor purple, nor blue, nor pistachio, no matter how stylish they may be on the catwalks, will not be admitted to the highest power and government. But even such a universal and strict option as black is rarely involved in debates. He was last seen during the presidential debate between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. Then both applicants chose black for the first and only round. Reagan sported a black patterned tie, while Carter opted for a black pinstriped one.
By the way, about the strip that returned to the campaign in 2012 in the form of Mitt Romney and who gave up under the onslaught of Obama’s rich dark blue. Both Romney and Obama relied on the colors that betray their intellectual superiority – red and blue. However, Obama was smarter, adding small polka dots to the blue tint a couple of tones darker than the tie itself, thereby highlighting his significance and authority as opposed to his opponent.
What came of it? Yes, pea blue never became the main trend at New York Fashion Week, nor the favorite in the wardrobe of Obama himself, but Obama, who preferred the classic combination, retained the reins of power for another four years until 2016.
“To dress well – not flashy, but with understated elegance – requires a special confidence. The important thing here is to be prepared to draw attention to yourself, not with something obvious or loud. Here it is important to believe in the power of whispering,” Robin Givan, author of The Washington Post, writes in one of his articles. And only a person who is very far from the world of fashion cannot agree with her.
Take at least a year when we had the opportunity to watch the debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. It is worth mentioning right away: any comparisons of Trump and Clinton’s style will be inappropriate for one reason only – Clinton does not wear ties. But the influence of the color of the Clinton suit on the color of Trump’s tie is ambiguous. How else to explain the fact that in the second round of the debate, following Mrs. Clinton in the first, Mr. Trump opted for the color red, which he remained faithful to later? And after the images of Clinton sounded literally in contrast to the costumes of Trump, whose choice remained unchanged every time.
However, the question of who copied whom is still controversial. A proponent of bright, saturated colors, Clinton succumbed to the pressure of somber hues in that campaign debate, choosing muted navy blues, browns and blacks, like her opponent, that did not go unnoticed by critics. Vanessa Friedman of The New York Times said at the time that Clinton put an end to her style with her outfits, “silencing everyone.” Disputes have not subsided so far, but, even despite the different genders, the commonality of interests is visible to the naked eye. And it showed up in the American flag badge, which both candidates never forgot to wear to any debate.
Let’s get back to ties. It seems that the fashion for practicality has not bypassed politics. How else to explain the fact that in June last year, Democrat Andrew Young appeared at the debate without a tie at all, thereby violating the long-standing dress code for such events?
Keeping track of whose tie wins, Democratic or Republican, red or blue, striped or not, is no less interesting than understanding the nuances of political agendas. The debate begins on September 29, which means that today we will not only hear new promises from Trump and Joe Biden, but also see their ties, which will say much more about their owners than their campaign speeches. And yes, very soon we will find out what fashionable political course the Americans will choose. There is very little time left to wait.