Former gov George Pataki may not have all that much in common with his replacement, Eliot Spitzer, or new A.G. Andrew Cuomo (whose dad he replaced), but at different points throughout last week’s inauguration festivities, the three shared one thing in common: light-blue ties. If power red was the bloodthirsty look in the Reagan days, the power powder blue seems the in-vogue politico neckwear. “There is no such thing as the power red tie anymore,” declares Dem consultant Norman Adler. “It no longer represents anything.” Fellow consultant Hank Sheinkopf concurs, saying blue’s “calm” and “looks good on TV.” “The perception is it softens them, it removes the irascibleness, the stodginess,” says Project Runway’s Tim Gunn, adding that Spitzer needs to loosen up his “uptight, overwrought” tie knots. Spitzer spokesman Darren Dopp says First Lady Silda vets the ties.

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• Archive: “Intelligencer”
• Articles by Geoffrey Gray
• Table of Contents: January 15, 2007 issue of New York | Subscribe!