BLUE ON BLUE
In one of the first images of the National Party’s new leader and deputy leader, they were photographed striding, confidently through the corridors at Parliament. They both have good, upright postures, bright, determined smiles and strong jaws. They seem as fresh as a couple who have just stepped out of a band box. If they were married, you might look at them and think: “Power couple.” He wore a blue suit; she wore a blue suit. Nice optics. Presenting as a true-blue united duo matters. If Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis can co-ordinate their outfits, perhaps they have a chance of coordinating their hitherto chaotic caucus.
“I just couldn’t understand what it was based on. I have never and don’t ever intend to wear Prada.”
A week or so later, Willis has come into her office on a Sunday. She is on a FaceTime call that sometimes freezes. Usually when FaceTime freezes, people’s faces are captured in unflattering images. It is difficult to imagine that Willis will ever be found in an unflattering image. Her face remains ever bright and determined. She is very good at smiling. She is frustratingly good at staying. She replied: “Ha, ha. I did wear my blue suit.” She likes clothes. She buys New Zealand designers, but also “cheap and cheerful stuff from Zara, which I realise is not very patriotic of me”.
