The mid terms elections will have more women running–seventy-eight– than anytime in history! In a New York Times article a number of women running during the mid terms were quoted and shared that they are not shying away from their personal stories, something women would not have done as freely in past elections. And they are dressing differently, too. Gone are the John Molloy “Dress for Success” grey suit dictate. Instead, women are showing their tattoos, and campaigning in jeans.
This is totally refreshing!
It reminded me of Washington senator Patty Murray who was once told that she could not get elected because she was “just a mom in tennis shoes.” That was 1992 and she is still in office.
However, I would advise women candidates not to let their guard down and to remember that we are a country that has yet to elect a woman president. While it is progress, absolutely, to see women feeling more comfortable about sharing their own stories, and dressing more casually, many voters still have an image of what an elected official looks like to them, and that image is still likely a male candidate in a suit and tie (blue or red).
Showing your children, talking about your own lived experiences is all great, but remember, post primary, voters will be looking at the overall set of qualifications which, in many minds is a more traditional set of qualifications.
What about Ronald Reagan in his jeans and Barack Obama splashing in Hawaii’s surf?
See above paragraph and 
polish up those sensible pumps, and dry clean that navy suit.
TalkDoc 