Politics of Fashion: Behind the Sudden Disappearance of Paul Ryan's Colorful Neckwear

Gold Standard

At the 2004 GOP convention in Madison Square Garden, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan wore a shiny, gold striped necktie while he sang the praises of President George W. Bush's tax relief policies and slammed Sen. John Kerry's voting record on tax cuts. Gold, being the color of wealth and prosperity for the wearer, was an appropriate hue for his message.

True Blue

In March 2010, Congressman Ryan wore a solid, bright cobalt blue tie (with strange, scattered, small yellow dots) as he pushed away piles of health care overhaul legislation after making his opening remarks to the House Budget Committee. 

Orange Juiced

There's nothing like a bright orange and red striped necktie to signify forward thinking as House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan talks with a member of Federal Reserve Board in February 2011. Still, it could be seen as a bit too under-the-big-top for such a serious event.  

Blue Note

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan wears a pale and ineffectual blue striped tie as he holds up the 2012 Republican budget proposal in April 2011. This was when Republicans unveiled their budget proposal for fiscal year 2012, which Ryan touted as cutting government spending by $6.2 trillion over 10 years from President Barack Obama’s budget. It didn't pass. Blame it on the tie.

Red Alert

Again with the bold color choices. Pictured in April 2011, Ryan wears an energetic but cartoonish orange and red striped tie with a blue shirt during a hearing.

The Rich Are Different From You and Me

Ryan outlines his budget at a town hall meeting in Franklin, Wis. in April 2011. Despite his unconventional orange, red and gray striped tie, angry voters booed as he tried to explain why raising taxes on the rich wouldn't help fix the deficit. We're not as dumb as we look, young fella! 

Who Medicares?

Ryan speaks to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation at their 2011 Fiscal Summit in May 2011. His budget proposal included reforms to Medicare and Medicaid that Democrats staunchly criticized. And the audience wasn't too impressed by his traditional, yellow and blue tie either.

The Common Touch

It has not gone unnoticed by the media that Ryan has been tieless ever since presidential hopeful Mitt Romney introduced him as his running mate last week. He hasn't donned a necktie once during their four day bus trip that took the White House hopefuls to four key swing states, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and Ohio. Why? Because he's trying to look like a regular guy, a sharp contrast to buttoned-up Romney. That's why.