Jean-Christophe Lagarde, a conservative deputy, had this to say about Ségolène Royal's appearance on the nationally televised town-hall-style program called "I Have a Question for You."

"Le Parisien" newspaper: "What else struck you?"

Lagarde: "Her outfit. When she spoke before the Socialist Party rank-and-file- she wore red. For the country, she is in black and white. She changes depending on the audience. This is more about political marketing than persuasion. It's just like her participative debates: 'Tell me what you want and I will adapt.'"

The International Herald Tribune drifted into the same sort of analysis this morning, noting that when Royal's popularity reached astronomical levels last fall her centrist appeal was "symbolized by a trademark white blazer that set her apart from the red ties of her [old-school Socialist] party rivals." But - aha! - when Royal presented her detailed left-wing program on February 11, "she replaced her white blazer with a bright red one."

In the interest of balanced fashion-based punditry, Newsweek can reveal that rival frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy wore a blue suit, white shirt, and basic blue tie for his big speech to his own UMP party's faithful followers on January 14. In that address he assured them, "I've changed." By February 6, when Sarkozy appeared on "I Have a Question for You," he wore, well, a blue suit, white shirt, and blue tie - but this time with white dots. Clothes make the man, as they say.

But confidence seems to have undermined the interior minister's sartorial conservatism. As polls showed Sarkozy with a large and growing lead over Royal last week, his wardrobe changed dramatically. On a visit to the tropical French territory of La Reunion he allowed himself to be photographed wearing a sweat-soaked shirt that clung to his stomach. A sign of transparency perhaps? Or maybe an indication that Sarkozy hasn't gotten over those beach vacation pictures published side by side in the French press last summer of Royal looking good in a blue bikini and Sarkozy looking a little silly in swim shorts.

The polls this morning showed the two leading candidates, once again, neck and neck, with Royal back in the first-round lead. So it's likely that in the weeks to come we'll see a lot more of Sego's white jacket and a lot less of Sarko's sweat.