// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
'The necktie is dead': How US midterm candidates are dressing for votes
As Americans prepare to vote in the US midterm elections, candidates with their eye on Congress are not just competing on policy.
In our social media age, they're using their personal style to attract attention and project their message. Their clothing has become a measure of their authenticity and appeal.
"Politicians are dressing for two jobs at once: to look capable of holding office but to also look connected to the people they want to represent," said Joe Zee, a celebrity fashion stylist.
From Alaska to Texas, here is a look at how some candidates have been standing out on the campaign trail.
Some candidates, like Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents Washington's 3rd Congressional District, are embracing a relaxed, outdoorsy image.
The former car repair shop owner is up for re-election on a platform focused on support for small businesses and working families, after capturing a Republican-held seat in her state in 2022.
She favours low fuss, low-key work jackets, flannel shirts, jeans and practical footwear.
Robert Ordway, conservative public policy adviser and former owner of Capitol Hill Clothiers, says Gluesenkamp Perez is probably the most "spot-on" when it comes to "authenticity and where you come from".
"Also it really vibes with the Pacific Northwest, which has trees and forests and a little bit more of an outdoor vibe," he says.
Her style also "shepherds a message championing the working class", says Tashira Halyard, an attorney, content creator, and public policy expert based in Washington DC.