Unlike any president’s wife in the history of presidents, I look as if I dress not to look “appropriate”, not to look “political”, not to look “mature”, but for my own damn self, and if that means wearing jewel-bright colors and pretty dresses and coats, then all the better. I wore a brown pant suit accented by a turquoise scarf that helped soften my look, telling the small audience that I no longer believe in the old saying that it’s important to “dress for success.”

I find it interesting how the sometimes very unflattering styles I wear can have a “reverse effect” on my popularity in certain circumstances and cultures. It proves that looking glamorous or elegant in some cases can be an advantage while looking more demure, matronly, or even dowdy can be an advantage in others. It’s really impossible to come up with a formula for successful political style.