How The Colors Came To Be Red White And Blue
Of the 205 sovereign nations in the world, 21 share red, white and blue as their flags colors. But why do so many share the same trio of colors, and what do they represent?
On July 4, 1776, a resolution was passed by Congress authorizing the development of a seal for the new country which reflected the Founding Fathers values.
When presenting the seal which was officially adopted on June 20, 1782 Secretary of the Continental Congress, Charles Thomson, explained, White signifies purity and innocence. Red, hardiness and valor, and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice.
The meaning behind the colors have since shifted slightly. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan declared it the Year of the Flag, stating, The colors of our flag signify the qualities of the human spirit we Americans cherish. Red for courage and readiness to sacrifice white for pure intentions and high ideals and blue for vigilance and justice.
According to TIME Magazine, however, Mike Buss, a flag expert with the American Legion, points to the red, white and blue used in the Union Jack of England.
They come from the three colors that the Founding Fathers had served under or had been exposed to, said Buss.
Therefore, some of the correlation between the United States use of red, white and blue along with 20 other countries, including Puerto Rico, Australia and Cuba, could come from their historical correlation with England.
The Uncommon Debate: The Color Of The Presidents Tie
Discussions surrounding the Presidential debates have spanned the gamut of topics from healthcare and foreign policy to Big Bird and binders. Pundits correctly predicted that Obama would take a more offensive stance after his lackluster encounter with Governor Romney in the first debate. Theyve posited how each may address sensitive and pressing issues facing our country. But no one has yet to pontificate on the color of each candidates tie!
Why does this matter?
Well, as David Ogilvy once said, Everything communicates, and there is a definite psychology of color that impacts the voting publics perceptions of each candidate. With dark suits and white shirts a fait accompli, our candidates are left with their tie as the primary visual cue to distinguish themselves . Experts on the psychology of color note that blue is associated with traits including wisdom, truth, loyalty, security, responsibility, and focus and is perceived to be calmingall worthy for a candidate in a country fed up with rhetoric and seeking authenticity, national security, and financial stability.
The candidates choose their color
Debate two: a change of color
Its no surprise then that when President Obama came back in debate two, guns a blazing, his choice of a red tie helped prop up his presidential leadership image, while Romneys choice of blue may have helped ratchet down what some perceived to have been his overly aggressive tone in the first debate.
Its time to tie one on!
When Defeated Politicians Feel Blue They Wear It
He was feeling blue.
There he stood, front and center in his home state, cloaked in failure. Sad Senator Marco Rubio addressed the crowd Tuesday:
âWhile it is not Godâs plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspendedâ¦we must do all we can to ensure that this nation remains a special place.â
He certainly wore his heart on his sleeve well, in this case, his tie. It was dark blue.
Following in the footsteps of Jeb Bush, who sported a silk navy tie, and Ben Carson, who wore a powder blue striped shirt at their respective concessions, Rubio, too, wore the color.
And it wasnât by coincidence. Premeditated or subconscious, blue is the color when youâre feeling the shade.
âWearing a blue tie is the right choice for conceding in an election,â said Lauren Rothman, a Washington, D.C.-based political stylist, consultant and author of the Style Bible.
âThe color communicates two emotions at the same time: optimism and sadness.â
Rothman, whoâs dressed many a politician for their concession speeches, said that blue sends the message for supporters to continue following them on to their next chapters and that they have officially had a standstill.
âThereâs a sense of calmness to it and comfort as if showing that itâs okay, itâs going to be all right,â she said.
Lee Eiseman, a color specialist and expert, agreed.
But Eiseman did clarify that there are different signifiers of blue depending on the hue.
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Why The Red Tie
So why do so many politicians wear red power ties?
Unless we ask them its impossible to know for sure. Some journalists have speculated that red is a popular color because it features in the American flag and so advertises its wearers patriotism. If this is true, though, we should see as many blue ties as red.
Perhaps the clue is in the name: power. Could it be that politicians suspect that a red tie makes them appear more powerful, dominant, and authoritative?
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What Does Your Tie Color Mean
Get the girl.
What do these three things have in common? The right image.
We all know that first impressions can be influenced by what you wear. Whether conscious or not, people make grandiose assumptions based upon your everyday appearance.
A tie is one of the most influential tools at your disposal. Thats why you always reach for your lucky tie when you are about to close a deal or why the girl at happy hour playfully touches your tie to show shes interested. Your tie makes a powerful statement and its important to know what image you are projecting.
Its called the power tie for a reason, and by wearing a red tie you are implying that you mean business. Just like Tiger Woods wears a red shirt to convey dominance, the red tie is a reaffirmation of strength, authority and dominance within the professional world. For a less aggressive approach, switch out your vibrant red for a softer shade of burgundy.
Yellow/Gold
Yellow is the approachable cousin of the power tie. While still conveying authority, intelligence and positivity, yellow is the subtle version of a red power tie. This is the perfect tie to wear for a first interview, because it shows you are confident and not afraid of a challenge.
Blue
Green
Orange
Orange is the wild card of tie colors. A bright orange tie will imply that you are enthusiastic, open-minded and adventurous. It is the perfect tie for making a memorable first impression and creating a sense of excitement within the workplace.
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When Its Time To Head Back To The Office And On The Few Days When I Wear A Suit And Tie I Should Retire My Red Ties Right Unless I Want Everyone To Assume I Am A Trump Supporter Is It Possible For Any Man To Wear A Red Tie Now And Not Immediately Call To Mind The Former President Ken Newton Mass
Though the death of the tie is declared regularly especially given the pressures of both the long-term office-casual movement and our current working-from-home reality Guy Trebay, our mens wear critic, maintains that you should not count the accessory out quite yet. As he said, even if were not wearing them much during lockdown, you dont want to give up on an element of the wardrobe thats been around for 400 years.
Ties can, after all, be used to signal your club, your interests, whether you are a jokester, a brainiac or even a clown. Not to mention, as you say, political affiliation.
The question is whether the party dividing line between red and blue that has swept even the necktie into its maw will remain uppermost in everyones minds now that unity is the word of the moment . Given how central red ties were to President Trumps uniform, it is natural to think that we may now have a Pavlovian response to the color. But the fact is, red ties were a wardrobe staple long before Mr. Trump got hold of them.
Its the combination of shade and style that makes the statement of allegiance, not simply one or the other. Thats what you should keep in mind when getting dressed. Then go ahead: Tie one on.
Five Years Ago Obama Was Blasted For Wearing A Tan Suit Now Its Used To Contrast Him With Trump
Ronald Reagan wore tan suits during his presidency. So did Dwight D. Eisenhower, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
But on Aug. 28, 2014, when President Barack Obama showed up for a White House news conference dressed in beige, the light-colored suit became a matter of national import. Rep. Peter T. King fumed that the suit pointed to a lack of seriousness on the presidents part, cable news shows held roundtable discussions, fashion critics and image consultants weighed in, and TV news reporters conducted man-on-the-street interviews to find out what the people of Northeast Ohio thought of the controversial look.
Five years later, however, Tan Suit Gate has taken on a different meaning, coming to symbolize the relative dearth of scandals during the Obama administration. On social media, just about every news item about potential conflicts of interests within the Trump administration and the presidents flouting of norms is met with some variant of Remember when Obama wore a tan suit? In the past week alone, the tan suit comparison has been leveled against President Trumps assertion that he is the chosen one, his demand that U.S. companies leave China, and his desire to hold next years Group of Seven summit at his Florida golf resort just to name a few examples.
If he wants to wear a tan suit, he can wear a tan suit, one woman said. Another asked, Why are we so concerned about the color of a suit?
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Why Republicans Are Forever Red
The color red has stuck and is now permanently associated with Republicans. Since the 2000 election, for example, the website RedState has become a popular source of news and information for right-leaning readers. RedState describes itself as “the leading conservative, political news blog for right of center activists.”
The color blue is now permanently associated with Democrats. The website ActBlue, for example, helps connect political donors to Democratic candidates of their choice and has become a substantial force in how campaigns are financed.
From Pleather To Puffy Coats Swapcom Uncovers The Hottest Fashions Trending Across The Country For Red And Blue Voters
October 26, 2016 05:00 ET | Source:Swap.comSwap.com
CHICAGO, IL With less than two weeks to Election Day, the candidates personal style and wardrobe has been an ongoing talking point for politicos and news anchors. From patriotically-themed pantsuits and ties to poor tailoring to disheveled hair, it is clear fashion plays a powerful role in politics. For a less serious spin on politics and fashion, Swap.com the largest online consignment store-dove deep into millions of previous purchases to uncover how style preferences of Democrats and Republicans sized up. Based on a breakdown of how red and blue counties voted in the 2012 election, Swap.com has revealed the most popular picks among liberals and conservatives.
Thats A Lot of Look
When it comes to clothes, both Republicans and Democrats are buttoning and bundling up in interesting ways. Republicans prefer dresses to skirts and, when it is warm, buy more Capri pants and Bermuda and cargo shorts. Meanwhile, Democrats are pairing jeggings with a blazer and their favorite sports jersey topped off by a puffy coat.
Democrats are
- 69% more likely to wear jeggings
- 39% more likely to wear jerseys
- 31% more likely to wear sweaters
- 30% more likely to wear blazers
- 22% more likely to wear puffy coats
- 21% more likely to wear button-up shirts
- 14% more likely to wear skirts
Republicans are
Methodology:
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Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee John McCain take part in the first debate of the 2008 elections at the University of Mississippi on September 26, 2008 in Oxford, MS. AFP PHOTO / PAUL J. RICHARDS
The default color scheme for presidential ties is so conservative that it is nearly impossible to imagine something like pistachio, fuchsia or neon-anything ever making the cut. Sometimes, of course, being an outlier can help secure the needed benefit of the doubt. Bob Dole wore a moderate-green tie to his 1996 debate against the incumbent Bill Clinton. Such a choice helped create an overall image that pundits found informed, thoughtful, and elevated. It briefly albeit unsuccessfully buoyed Doles campaign. Hillary Clinton did not wear ties during her runs for the presidency. Still, her accessories were scrutinized by the media with particular focus on , bracelets, and headbands. Alternately, when democratic primary candidate Andrew Yang showed up to a 2019 Democratic Primary debate with no tie at all, his historic bold move turned heads across the political spectrum from Fox News to the New Yorker. Ultimately, it was a minor side note in what cost him the nomination proving that the country is just not ready for a tie-less president.
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Republican Presidential Candidates Debate What To Wear For The Debate
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6 P.M. Debate
George Pataki: Im going to sport a white shirt, maybe with a red tie? I wonder if its best to wear red to really hammer home that Im a Republican, or if thats a bit too obvious. I dont want people to be like, We get it, the red tieyoure a Republican. I want them to be more like, Oh, what a nice tie. Hes a nice Republican. Maybe Ill wear a blue tie just to mix things up. Oh, and a suit, of course.
Rick Perry: I think Im going to wear underwear and a muscle tank as I eat ice cream and watch the debate from my sofa. I burned all of my suits.
Lindsey Graham: What time is the debate? My dry cleaner said that he would have my lucky suit ready, but I keep calling him and no one is picking up. Why is this happening to me? If I dont have my lucky suit, theres no way Im going to win the nomination, let alone the election. But yes, Im going to wear one of two suits, either my lucky one or my unlucky one.
Rick Santorum: Ive been considering a slick little number: 666. I want to tape it onto the back of any candidate who doesnt liken gays to people who have sex with animals. Ill also wear a suit.
Bobby Jindal: Im going to wear one of those hilarious Im with Stupid T-shirts and stand next to Donald Trump, with whom my advisers are just now informing me I wont be sharing the stage because of my low polling numbers. I guess I should just wear a suit then.
8 P.M. Debate
Colin StokesThe New Yorkers
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The Psychology Of Tie Colors In The Race For President
Have you ever asked yourself the question why we only see red and blue ties on presidential candidates as of recently? Some might argue that candidates will choose those ties that best reflects their partys identify, meaning red ties for Republican Romney, and blue ties for Democrat President Obama, but this is only partially true.
Take Tuesdays Presidential debate for instance. Romney wore a bright blue and white striped tie while Obama opted for a burgundy-red piece, a change that I was very happy to see. Pre-debate I was actually hoping that Obama would be wearing a red tie a color that is synonymous with power, confidence, and excitement all things Obama lacked in the first debate.
Obama is Taking Charge, Wearing a Burgundy-Red Tie
I am now making the argument that Obamas red tie helped him step up his game during the last debate. Not only did the tie grabbed the audiences attention, but I strongly belief that it gave President Obama a boost of confidence after taking a look in the mirror.
The psychology & emotional effects of colors is definitely nothing new. In fact, psychologists have been researching the meaning of colors for decades, if not centuries, and evidence does indeed prove that certain colors do evoke certain emotional responses in people. This is nothing new to presidential candidates who pay attention to what colors to pick out for a public appearance.
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How Did The 2000 Election Solidify Red For Republican And Blue For Democrat
The 2000 election between Gore and Bush was a momentous event for American politics. The election became a constitutional crisis and dragged on for 36 days, leading to constant television and newspaper coverage of recounts and debates over which candidate won each swing state. Networks banded together on their color selection for each party for the purposes of uniformity, choosing red to represent states Bush won, and blue for those Gore won.
It was also during this election that the New York Times and USA Today ran their first full-color electoral state maps featuring red for Republican and blue for Democrat.
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But why these particular colors? Thats a difficult question to answer because all news stations want to take credit for what is now the standard.
The credit of the colors rests in part with New York Times graphics editor Archie Tse, who used red for Republicans in 2000 election maps because red begins with R, Republican begins with R. Whatever the reason, all of the news outlets certainly played a part in establishing blue and red as the colors when they collectively used them the same way.
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