John and Cindy McCain, and Barack and Michelle Obama are doing their best to put their best foot forward every day on the campaign trail. But are they doing it in the right shoes? By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL, AP Fashion Writer

NEW YORK (AP) – John and Cindy McCain, and Barack and Michelle Obamaare doing their best to put their best foot forward every day on the campaign trail. But are they doing it in the right shoes?

The shoe may not make the man, but it is an important part of his appearance, which is an important part of his image, which can influence voters. So we asked shoe expert (and shoe fanatic) Meghan Cleary as well as Details magazine fashion director Michael Macko to evaluate the footwear styles of the Obamas and McCains.

_Barack Obama has been seen out and about in four basic styles: polished black wing-tips, broken-in brown lace-ups, sneakers and flip-flops, Cleary says. He makes an effort to choose the right footwear for the right occasion.

“He knows when he needs to respect the pomp and circumstance _ and for that he has the wing-tips _ but a vacation is appropriate for flip-flops.”

John McCain wears $520 Salvatore Ferragamo loafers that are brown with a metal buckle, Cleary, of MissMeghan.com, is bothered by the slip-on silhouette, which says to her that “he wants to get up and go.”

_Michelle Obama has a hint of Midwestern sensibility, coordinating her accessories and her clothes, Cleary says, noting one recent outfit that paired a melon-colored cardigan with color-blocked ballet flats that featured maroon, melon and brown.

She’ll alternate between flats and stilettos. “She’s also cognizant of the occasion. And, she likes shiny and metallic.”

She also has a very personal style, Macko says. “It doesn’t look like someone is putting her look together for her.”

Michelle Obama knows fashion but she wears it in a practical way _ just look at the hidden wedge on her ballet flats or the patent leather riding boots she wore to an event in Iowa early this year, Cleary says. “Patent leather is repellent to rain and snow. This was Des Moines in January. She could just wipe them off and look great, no polish.”

_Cindy McCain’s nude-colored pumps that have been a staple on seemingly every stop says she’s a smart and savvy shopper (and packer) since she can wear them with outfits in almost any color. But the heels aren’t completely basic, says Cleary, noting their usually quite high. “The heel is solid, not a stiletto. The choice tells me she wants to be on stable ground. … She’s always in heels. It must be the former beauty queen in her.” ”She’s very classic _ dare I say conservative? _ with a hint of a stiletto girl,” Cleary says.

Read the full article here.

You might also like

• AN OBAMA BOOT?
• SEX AND THE CITY: INSIDE THE STILETTO