“Fashion diplomacy”: Julie Bishop's style choice that charmed Barack Obama
Julie Bishop has revealed the style choice that charmed former US President Barack Obama and how she used fashion to impress other world leaders during her time as foreign minister.
"I've always understood that fashion and your personal style can be a powerful form of communication. It can send important yet subtle messages," Bishop told 9Honey.
"While I was Foreign Minister, I embraced what I called 'fashion diplomacy' and would often dress in a way that would complement the visit or the person that I was meeting,” she added.
In March 2016, Bishop stunned in a white Armani pantsuit when she visited the White House for the Nuclear Security Summit.
Bishop impressed then-President Barack Obama in the ensemble she chose as a nod to the official residence and workplace of the US President.
"I often wore the national colours of the country I was visiting as a form of compliment, a form of diplomacy," Bishop elaborated.
"For example, my Chinese counterpart often noticed that I was wearing red when visiting China or meeting with him,” she said.
In 2017 the Foreign Minister's office confirmed that all of Bishop’s fashion choices were her own, as she did not have a clothing allowance or stylist, and neither did she use taxpayer funds for her outfit.
Despite being known for her close relationship with various fashion labels, she also buys most of her clothes herself.
Although Fashion Diplomacy has helped the former politician get into the good books with other world leaders, she said that her intentions weren’t just to create better connections.
"The Australian fashion industry is a vital contributor to the Australian economy, and particularly to our exports," she added, promoting the Australian fashion industry.
Bishop hopes to change people’s attitudes towards the fashion and creative industries, both locally and internationally, so that they don’t view it as frivolous.
The former politician has spoken up about her passion for fashion and representing the older female demographic in a previous interview with Stellar Magazine on International Women’s day.
Image: Minister for Foreign Affairs/The White House