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Style in Politics

Erinn Morgan

Just in time for election season, the results of a new poll reveal that when it comes to politics, style does matter to many Americans.

The Style vs. Substance survey, recently conducted by the Huffington Post and Weatherproof, an apparel company, found that almost four out of 10 of those surveyed were more likely to vote for a well-dressed candidate. Though still the minority, almost 20 percent said a better-dressed candidate had a distinct advantage over their opponent, even if the opponent is better qualified.

THE RIGHT LOOK

Interestingly, the populace likes their politicians to look good—but not too good. More than 27 percent of the respondents view designer clothing as "elitist."

In many cases, people seem to see a politician's look as even more important than their agenda. Just over half (55 percent) of those surveyed believe "presentation" or the energy put into personal grooming is important, but, only 45.3 percent felt that a politician's policies were more important than their presentation.

IDEALS VS. AESTHETICS

Have our priorities really shifted from ideals to aesthetics?

"Politicians are becoming our premier celebrities, so it's no wonder that Americans factor in a candidate's style and appearance when voting," says Eliot Peyser, the CEO of Weatherproof.

Additionally, over 95 percent of those surveyed said it was not important for a politician to have a full head of hair. [Note: The U.S. hasn't elected a bald president since Dwight D. Eisenhower.] Also, almost 33 percent said they would be less likely to vote for an overweight candidate.

As for the question of the ages: Who is the most stylish male/female politician? President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the honors. EB