From black boots to pastel suits, Italian premier's wardrobe evolves with her politics

ROME -- As Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's politics have evolved — from combative outsider to pragmatic establishment leader — so, too, has her fashion sensibility.When Meloni became Italy's leader in October 2022, she arrived at the premier's office wearing a dark suit and clunky black boots, sartorial signifiers of her emergence from the fringes of the country’s right-wing politics.Now, as someone who governs less radically than feared and is on the cusp of becoming Italy’s longest-serving postwar leader, Meloni often wears pastel-colored suits with wide-legged trousers that cover her high heels. The effect, say experts in fashion and politics, is a softer look that conveys authority without confrontation.“She understands how important clothing is in nonverbal communication in politics,” said Antonio Mancinelli, who teaches at Rome’s Costume and Fashion Academy.Heading into the final year of her mandate as premier, Meloni faces a growing challenge from a right-wing politician. No matter what she’s wearing, the rivalry will highlight how she has become more moderate on some issues.Meloni is hardly the only world leader to project political identity through wardrobe choices...