At Crikey, political fashion is standard water cooler fare. The softening of Julia’s look. Abbott’s penchant for lycra. Kevin Andrews’ lego man hair-cut. Those John Howard botox rumours. So we’re always on the look-out for evidence of a stylist preening in the background.   A wonk friend recently made the observation that Kevin Rudd’s tie always matches his background — or at least co-ordinates with it too often, and too neatly, to be the mere product of coincidence.   Having trawled the evidence of the last few months, we can report that there might be something in this. Crikey once asked readers to tell us the contents in Howard’s briefcase. We now know what’s in Kev’s: an arsenal of ties.    Here he is on The 7:30 Report :  

  At a Labor rally in May, invoking the flag:  

  Rudd wears his religious colours on his tie talking to the Christians via webcast:  

  Green was an obvious choice for this environmental announcement:  

  Not yet convinced? Here’s what we think is the clincher. Rudd outside Brisbane’s Camp Hill School in mid-July*. Not content to merely echo the aqua of the stairwell behind him, the tie appears to also mimic its angular movement. Quite the flourish.  

  There is of course the danger that he’ll blend into the background. But mostly, the overall aesthetic effect is positive, with the viewer processing the message subconsciously: Kevin Rudd belongs to this political scene; he’s a good fit.   And importantly, Rudd has the wisdom to know that sometimes, the best tie of all is no tie.  

*PIC CREDIT: Liam Kidston, AAP Image, 17/07/2007 Send your tips to boss@crikey.com.au or submit them anonymously here.