In the race for the White House, the U.S. republican presidential candidates and their wives are letting their clothes do the talking in a way words cannot.<br/> <br />Celebrity stylist Michael O'Connor says what a candidate wears is almost as important as their message.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Michael O'Connor, celebrity stylist, saying (English):<br/> <br />"Every brand, which every candidate is, in effect, a brand, really wants to position themselves for something or meaning something in the mind of the constituents or the voters. So I think people are positioning themselves in very different ways."<br/> <br />Mitt Romney, a man who made a fortune in private equity, wears jeans from the Gap and sometimes rolls up his sleeves.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Michael O'Connor, celebrity stylist, saying (English):<br/> <br />"He will partner his jeans with a shirt and a jacket. Which is kind of a relaxed, formal wear or a dressed-up casual if you will. So it really says, 'Hey, I am not unapproachable, I am not, way way up here, and I am not way out of everyone else's league.'"<br/> <br />Ron Paul favors a sweater.<br/> <br />The look is conservative, like his views, and simple.<br/> <br />And plays down the fact he earned his living as a physician before becoming a congressman.<br/> <br />Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has put the sweater vest on the political fashion map.<br/> <br />Santorum's vest now even has its own Twitter account -- @FearRicksVest.<br/> <br />As for the potential first ladies style, Tracy Taylor, U.S. editor of NET-A-PORTER.COM says Ann Romney is most likely to become the next fashion icon.<br/> <br />SOUNDBITE: Tracy Taylor, U.S. editor of luxury online retailer NET-A-PORTER.COM, saying (English):<br/> <br />"Ann Romney, is probably the one if we are going to sort of a next fashion icon in a first lady, she is campaigning hard for the job. She seems to favor more traditional colors, when she's dressed up, reds, blues, dark colors, very, very traditional."<br/> <br />While the race for the republican nomination continues, one thing is clear, whomever emerges as the challenger to President Obama will have to do their homework.<br/> <br />It will be a tough competition to win the title of most fashionable first couple.<br/> <br />Alicia Powell, Reuters.
