“It isn’t really about clothes”, Franca Sozzani, the editor of Italian Vogue said this to the Financial Times a few years ago. “It’s about life.” Style is to reflect the world around it. What we wear can really represent who we are.

In this case, we look at how public figures’ styling become the tool to reflect their inner worlds, or at least what they want public know about themselves. To provide both interviewees with four different female public figures being covered on their faces and see if they can recognise any of them only based on their styles. The result clearly shows that  like any art form, clothes are propaganda.

We have Emma Watson, Victoria Beckham, Kate Middleton and Hillary Clinton. For the former two, they are wonderful examples of how stars show their personalities by presenting specific styles. Their styles actually speak for them.

Unlike Hollywood celebrities, public figures representing more serious concepts always need to concern more, as they don’t dress up only for themselves. Talking about representative image in Britain’s royal family, civilian princess, most people may think about Diana. A marriage between families with equal social status is kind of a common sense around the world. Once a young woman marries with a royal member, the real Cinderella story makes public has partiality for her: a civilian princess with nice appearance and personality becomes a national sentiment they are proud of. Kate Middleton entered into public view on 2011, from political to fashion news. Elle published a long feature analysing how she became a civilian princess. Even her story is a lack of stirring attraction compare to Diana’s, Kate successfully builds her gentle and elegant public image. Her fashion taste has been many women’s favourite.

For Hillary Clinton, that’s another situation then. In the video above, both interviewees point out, it is a pity that she has to dress up like men by wearing pantsuit to fight in political arena as female. In fact, as first lady in 1990s, Hillary Clinton showed her great taste at big occasions. Many of her styles well presented the soft and even sexy side of Hillary. But since she officially turned from a supporting role to an individual politician, public rarely see her in this kind of wearing. From being secretary of States to a presidential candidate, Hillary always had suits to show her independence and toughness. It can be seen how fashion style is important for public figures to build their images: as the social role changes, style follows.

Hillary at the Inaugural Ball following President Bill Clinton’s second inauguration

Hillary accepting her Grammy Award for Best Spoken Album on 1997

Coco Chanel once said: “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.” In fashion world, popular elements for trends come and go. However, it is style that always reflects individual’s attitude and personality. Rachel Zoe also states: “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” Just dress out-you wear in who you are.