Image consultants grade main party leaders’ styles

How politicians present themselves is sometimes as important — and scrutinized — as the message they are trying to convey.

Yahoo Canada News asked image consultants Karen Brunger and Christie Ressel to analyze the five main party candidates — Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, Green Leader Elizabeth May, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau — on how they do when it comes to presenting themselves sartorially.

We asked our style experts to analyze hair, accessories, colour choices and clothing fit. The bottom line: Duceppe should get a good tailor, Harper’s hair and glasses need updating, May can use some finesse in the colour department, Mulcair’s beard has got to go and Trudeau needs to tighten his (tie) knots. Read on for the detailed breakdown.

Gilles Duceppe

Brunger: His face has a sharp, professional look. Although his narrow jawline can detract from the look of leadership, his face generally gives him the look of being focused.

His look is pretty good. Sometimes the clothing proportions do not suit him, he is better in narrow collar spread and narrow tie knots, rather than the wide [knots] that I’ve seen on him.

There seems to be some brightness and clarity to his colouring, so that when he wears grey or very soft or muted colours he disappears.

Overall grade: B-

Ressel: His suits are too wide on the shoulders and don’t fit properly. They’re too big for him, which makes him look like he’s playing dress-up. He could benefit from a good tailor.

I do like the crisp colour choices, but often find them bland. He almost exclusively wears blue. I would love to see him in a bold red or purple, even if only in the tie. He needs some power colours to help him stand out.

Overall grade: B

Stephen Harper

Brunger: He has not changed to any degree that’s noticeable. If he was my client, I’d want to take him to my hairdresser. In the pictures when his hair is back, more off of his forehead, it’s more flattering because then it makes his face look less blocky. With his hair the way it is, coming a little bit in front of his forehead, it’s making him look closed off, not open. But when his hair is combed back from his forehead, that’s when he has credibility.

When mature people wear glasses that are wire-framed or rimless, it can be aging. It’s very conservative and dated. He will not come across as progressive and knowing what’s going on.

His colouring is earthy and warm but with his grey hair, you don’t see it as much. When he wears grey, he completely disappears. For him to have power, he needs to do the darker colours, a warmer navy and avoiding grey as much as possible.

Overall grade: B-

Ressel: His suits are OK but I wish he’d switch it up so he didn’t have such bland attire all the time. I find that some of the colouring is drab. He tends to wear a lot of grey, which is fine for his colouring but when you’re out in public and you want to stand out, a bold colour would be a better choice.

With the hair, he’s kind of got a Trump thing going on. He’s got a side-sweep. He just needs to trim his hair since it’s too long in the front. It’s dated. And his glasses are dated. A thicker frame, something that’s more current would be a huge bonus for him.

Overall grade: B+

Elizabeth May

Brunger: She’s changed her image over the years and it’s working for her. But she’s not wearing the glasses that suit her.

The colours that suit her are light, bright, clear and warm. That’s the opposite of corporate, business, power authority colours, which are dark, cold and neutral. She’s the opposite. When she wears grey, it’s death on her. When she wears green, which is appropriate for her party, like a lime green, that’s stunning on her. Moss green is too earthy, that’s not good on her.

She’s let her hair go light blond, but for more credibility and strength she can add cinnamon highlights. That would add strength to her face. Even if it’s subconscious, we see people who are blond as not being very bright. Her natural hair colour is strawberry blonde, she should go back to that.

If she did a coral red lipstick, that would be awesome. Being a woman, if she wears a light lipstick, she’s not going to be heard. If she’s wearing a bright red lipstick, you better believe she’s going to be heard.

Wearing the cross necklace might not put across the right impression. If she’s going to do jewelry it might be better to keep it more neutral.

Overall grade: C

Ressel: Her glasses could do with a little bit of updating. I’d love to see a bold frame, so it grabs your attention when you’re looking at her eyes.

The haircut is dated, but the colouring is nice, golden and warm on her. I think it makes her more appealing, youthful and approachable.

I’d love to see her in warmer colours. Any time you’re in a formal situation, you should be gravitating towards more corporate colours, navies and greys. Seeing her in cinnamon, coral, warmer colours, would actually look beautiful on her. Even a warm navy, especially when she’s in a debate, it would demand more attention.

The cross definitely sends a message on where her faith and views stand. It’s more than just a fashion accessory for her. You can alienate others that aren’t of that background and don’t support that view.

Overall grade: C

Thomas Mulcair

Brunger: Usually facial hair will work against a man. We don’t get to see his face, so we wonder who he really is. What’s behind the mask? It comes across as a grandfather, Santa Claus type of beard. Happy, jolly, that kind of thing. It’s not conducive to running a country. It’s going to turn people in business off.

His palette is earthy and warm and he wears greys and whites, because that’s a business look. When he wears shirts that are beige or cream, that’s healthier. If he could go dark, deep, chocolate brown, that’s cooling it down. When he wears grey it’s pretty bad. He is all over the place with ties. He’d be better with a half or full Windsor tie. When he does a narrow knot, it’s too narrow for his face.

Overall grade: D

Ressel: Facial hair isn’t recommended in business situations, especially in the formal, corporate environment he’s in. It actually lacks credibility in the business end of things. It does suit him but I’d recommend he get rid of the beard.

Most of the suits he wears are OK for his colouring. Maybe a shot of colour would help, maybe a stark white instead of the creams. It’d be nice to see him in purples, things that are icy, or colours that are more current than what he seems to be selecting for himself. His ties are a bit dated. A lot of his suits don’t fit him properly. Most of the hemlines are too long and it looks like his pants are baggy around his legs. He could do with a good tailor.

Overall grade: B-

Justin Trudeau

Brunger: He tends to come across with a more casual, relaxed look but he does put on the suit when he needs to. His tie knot is too wide for his face. A Prince Albert tie knot would be best for him. He needs to avoid the ones that are really narrow or really wide, because his face is more medium in width.

There’s a more mature look coming into his face, especially when he cuts his hair and slicks it back so there’s less curl in it. That definitely brings in more of a look of let’s get down to business and I’m serious.

His colouring is a little bit soft. It’s almost more neutral; the colours don’t seem to jump out on him as being bad or good. Sometimes when he wears a tie that’s bright red, all you see is a tie and not him. Because of his soft colouring, he needs to do a softer red. He dresses well and he’s got a good haircut. In terms of his visual appearance, he’s getting it to work.

Overall grade: B+

Ressel: A lot of his suits don’t fit properly. His suit jackets are too big for him, his pantsuits are the wrong size, and they’re baggy around his feet.

I don’t find much wrong with his hair. As long as it doesn’t get too long and he grooms it a little bit, it would give him more credibility so he doesn’t look like he’s just finished college.

He wears a lot of navy suits with a red tie, which is a power look. I think based on the fact that he’s younger and people think he lack power, going for that corporate look is a bonus for him. But he could improve on the details, like hemming his suits. It’d be nice to see him in warmer suits, but when you’ve got a brown suit it can look dated. The navy’s a good choice for him.

Overall grade: B+