The political landscape is beginning to resemble Picasso’s famed artistic era where his subject matter was lost amidst the austere tones he used to symbolise depression and sadness during a volatile time in his life.

The fact that political rhetoric has been focused on the collection of blue ties seen on the front bench – and back bench thanks to Kevin Rudd – is a disheartening yet shrewd move according to colour and image experts.

University of New South Wales and College of Fine Arts colour theory lecturer Dr Zena O’Connor says colour psychology may be branded by some as “trivial” but Napoleon did it, Obama does it and now, it seems, every prominent politician in Australia is incorporating colour branding into their political arsenal – coincidentally or not.

“While the use of colour linked to political parties is not new, such as the use of orange by protestant groups in Ireland and the various coloured shirt protesters in Thailand, it seems to me that the linking of red with Labor and blue with Liberals also sets up, for the moment, a red for girls, blue for boys association, which may be considered by some as a little bit childish,” Dr O’Connor said.

“It seems to me that blue has become the Liberal's answer to the colour red, red being a colour often favoured by those with Socialist or Communist leanings. Blue, as displayed by the Opposition, may be linked to colour association such as ‘blue bloods’. Plus, it also sets up a strong colour contrast to Labor’s real or imagined penchant for red.”

Whether it’s Tony Abbott’s ice blue ties, Malcolm Turnbull in his leather jacket on Q&A or Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits, when it comes to power dressing, image experts agree that the powerful don’t wear labels, they wear costumes.

“In a lot of ways they are almost like a performer who’s got to go on stage and wear a costume. So often the campaign managers and people will guide them into what they should wear which is not always the right thing. If a celebrity can have a stylist, why can’t a politician have a stylist?” image expert and corporate trainer Lizzie Wagner said.

“Colour psychology is really, really, really important in the way people perceive us, so I say give them all a break because they’ve got to do their job and their job is not to style themselves. You’ll see over time though that they generally get pretty good at dressing themselves or they’ll change up their image to suit a new policy they’re projecting.

“To the people that say ‘I don’t judge them by what they look like, I listen to their policies’ that’s simply not true,” Ms Wagner, who released a book titled Business and Social Etiquette in 2011, said.

“We have exactly seven seconds to form a first impression and these poor politicians – not only do they have to deliver policies – but then people don’t like their hair, or they don’t like their glasses or they’re too fat or too thin. Each and every individual, whether they want to believe it or not, does judge them.”

She says the Australian public should expect to see more “costumes” and subliminal messages being projected through fashion in the lead up the September election.

“They might need to look like they're working really hard for the people, so that might mean an extra powder down before facing the cameras or sallow, dull colours and then you go ‘wow, he or she is looking really tired and must be working really hard’.

“So whether they’re well-groomed and looking really ‘Mickey Mouse’ or not it can generally be quite a manufactured appearance and then it’s up the person who’s doing the manufacturing to pay attention to the reaction from the public and the media, not the politician.”

Ms Wagner, who has worked with government departments and advised many politicians on their style, says in order for a man, especially in politics, to send the right sartorial message his tie should either be either maroon or blue but never be a block colour.

“Blue gives the impression that the wearer is cool, calm, collected and serene. It’s the perfect colour for television. However, when you meet a person in real life it’s good for them to wear a maroon tie because maroon says ‘I’m reliable, I’m solid, I’m going to be around for a long time’. You’ll find that a lot of established companies that have been around for ages will have some type of maroon in their logo because of that,” she said.

“It’s also important that the tie is not silk and that it is textured because a pattern gives the indication of being fairly solid and reliable.”

She adds that Australian men usually take their corporate style cues from Barack Obama and other world leaders so stay tuned for more slim fitting suits and a Kaleidoscope of blue neck ties.