When defeated politicians feel blue, they wear it
He was feeling blue.
There he stood, front and center in his home state, cloaked in failure. Sad Senator Marco Rubio addressed the crowd Tuesday:
"While it is not God's plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspended...we must do all we can to ensure that this nation remains a special place."
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He certainly wore his heart on his sleeve — well, in this case, his tie. It was dark blue.
Following in the footsteps of Jeb Bush, who sported a silk navy tie, and Ben Carson, who wore a powder blue striped shirt at their respective concessions, Rubio, too, wore the color.
And it wasn't by coincidence. Premeditated or subconscious, blue is the color when you're feeling the shade.
"Wearing a blue tie is the right choice for conceding in an election," said Lauren Rothman, a Washington, D.C.-based political stylist, consultant and author of the Style Bible.
"The color communicates two emotions at the same time: optimism and sadness."
Rothman, who's dressed many a politician for their concession speeches, said that blue sends the message for supporters to continue following them on to their next chapters and that they have officially had a standstill.
"There's a sense of calmness to it and comfort as if showing that it's okay, it's going to be all right," she said.
Lee Eiseman, a color specialist and expert, agreed.
"It is more of a statement of acquiescence in a very subtle and composed way — all very much in keeping with the significance of blue," said Eiseman.
But Eiseman did clarify that there are different signifiers of blue depending on the hue.
"Deeper blues are seen as more conservative and authoritative," she said, like those both Rubio and Bush sported. "Sky blue, [like that worn by Carson], shows contentment."
Aliza Licht, president of Leave Your Mark, LLC, a fashion and tech strategic consultant, said blue is the the only appropriate color for the occasion.
"Historically, the color blue has conveyed trust and understanding," she said. "But as we all know, it's also been synonymous with sadness. Conceding an election is definitely a sobering moment and blue is the perfect choice."
So what about Chris Christie, the brazen New Jersey governor who wore a bright red tie at his concession?
"Red means stay tuned, the message is going to keep going forward, this is only a stop sign," said Rothman.
No surprise. Many pundits reference Christie's later endorsement of frontrunner Donald Trump, thought some view it as obvious and desperate.
"Christie's message to the people was subtle but clear: It's not over yet," Rothman said.
She added, whether you're a Republican or Democrat, wearing your party's official color for debate stages is irrelevant.
"The real reason people wear either color is because blue and red are the only primary colors that are both strong and look best on camera," she said.
The political stylist said the two were the only solid choices politicians have in looking tough while aesthetically pleasing to cameras.
"Pink is too soft, green doesn't pop on television screens, which leaves red and blue, the strongest of the colors," she said.
Whether or not Rothman is correct, it's clear that blue is the warmest color when it comes to feeling, well, blue.
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Topics Politics
David joined the Mashable team as its first fashion hire. He's written for the Wall Street Journal, Elle, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Esquire, Details, Nylon, Refinery29, Fashionista, and covered the men's market at Women's Wear Daily. David has appeared on E!, Vh1, the Style network, and was a stylist at Capitol records.
