Michele Bachmann: Republican Presidential candidate steps up style game

Michele Bachmann, looked polished and elegant as she announced her campaign to be the Republicans' Presidential candidate today.

And while there is no denying that the Minnesota Congresswoman, 55, is an attractive woman, it appears she has stepped up her game when it comes to her style and beauty routine.

As she launched her bid this morning, it was clear that her pale grey dress and matching jacket had been carefully considered.

A triple-strand pearl necklace and matching stud earrings completed the look, which was only let down by a pair of kitten-heel mules, an unfortunate style she seems to have a penchant for. A pair of courts or peep-toes would have been a far more appropriate choice.

Mrs Bachmann's hair and make-up had not been left to chance though. Her shoulder-length brown locks appeared to have been professionally blow-dried.

Her make-up - which must always be more heavily applied for television and photography - still looked fresh and pretty.

A matte powder-based foundation prevented any shine, black eyeliner and mascara made her eyes stand out, while a soft pink blush and lipgloss lent a youthful look.

But it seems this careful styling is the case more often than not these days.

Fashion and beauty PR Pierce Mattie told the U.S. News & World Report that Mrs Bachmann has 'considerably amped up with... polished suits revealing an edge of female flair.'

The Republican Presidential candidate has indeed become a pro when it comes to threading the tricky line between stylish and appropriate.

Though her public appearances may not break any new fashion ground, s he knows what suits her and has developed a style that has consistently worked for her.

Sticking to a mostly monochrome palette, slash-neck shift dresses are a staple of Mrs Bachmann's wardrobe.

Her jackets are more trend-led, from the ruffled cream design she wore yesterday while speaking in Iowa, to the cropped black style worn on June 18 at the RightOnline conference in Minneapolis.

She almost always wears pearl jewellery of some description, and, it seems, will always ensure her make-up is flawless.

Her spokesperson Alice Stewart told U.S. News & World Report that Mrs Bachmann had been about to speak at last weekend's conference when she realised she didn't have her lipgloss with her.

She said: 'We thought she might need a little touch-up. [A friend] whipped out her lip gloss and off she [Mrs Bachmann] went.

the art of being different: why you shouldn't compare and compete ...

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Virginia Woolf wrote, “Across the broad continent of a woman’s life falls the shadow of a sword.” On one side of that sword, she said, there lies convention and tradition and order, where “all is correct.” But on the other side of that sword, if you’re crazy enough to cross it and choose a life that does not follow convention, “all is confusion. Nothing follows a regular course.” Her argument was that the crossing of the shadow of that sword may bring a far more interesting existence to a woman, but you can bet it will also be more perilous. – Elizabeth Gilbert