How do you tell the rest of the world that you mean business without resorting to Joan Collins-esque shoulder pads? Let Hilary, Cristina and Maxine be your guides.

With Super Tuesday just gone, never before has one woman in a US Presidential race been so in the public eye. Enter Hilary Clinton and with her, the fashion police. Through Iowa through Florida, Mrs Clinton has packed an artillery of tailored suits, layered over softer colours such as peach, powder blue and honey. Then there was the butter yellow suit that seem to scream “Look at this colour! I’m a woman! But take in the tailoring! It means I’m tough!” No arguments there. She definitely kicks it over Mc Cain.

In contrast, other female political forerunners have taken a different bent. Argentinian President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner decided on girly florals, lace trimmed white suits and bare shoulders to stake her political claim. Voted in as Argentina’s second female president towards the end of last year, the lady leaves no question as to her wardrobe preferences: florals and lace.

On the Australian front, Maxine McKew’s years as an ABC journalist equipped her with power dressing smarts. In the run up to the most recent election, McKew herself ran a gauntlet of white suits, oriental high necks, low cut shirts and experimental accessories. If the results were anything to go by, her taste paid off. Seems in the political game the fashion risky win out. Hopefully Hilary is listening…

Images courtesy of smh.com.au, wikimedia.com, and Getty.