WASHINGTON — What does it take to land on The Fashion Whip’s list of the best dressed people in American politics?

Simply put, it’s power dressing — the kind that moves crowds and makes voters and congressional colleagues take a second look. This is a list of politicians who cultivate their power through their public image — and this being politics, it’s always deliberate.

Power dressing in politics is not just about what (or who) you are wearing — it is also about how you communicate your message. Body language, charisma and the ability to carry oneself well factor heavily into the overall look. You have to own it. This list of politicians includes heavyweights with decades of experience in the public eye, as well as a healthy dose of newcomers — all of whom have the political clout to move (and sway) people.

In a place where many of the most powerful roles are occupied by men, freshman Rep. Frederica Wilson’s (D-Fla.) matching cowboy hat and suit ensembles (Wilson reportedly has a room where she keeps more than 80 hats!), and the sharp panache of Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) exemplify the unique way these women occupy their own political stage. Among the ‘gents, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney are high-budget veterans, and the standard they set influences relative newcomers like Reps. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) and Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), who have an impressive collection of designer suits between them.

Click through the slideshow for the trademarks and tactics that shaped and maintained Washington’s reputation for power dressing this year.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, the raven-haired Barbie of the political Right, ushered in this year wearing lots of yellow, with luminous waves and a smile that called to mind her political fairy godmother, Sarah Palin.

But as the months passed, a Beltway product gradually replaced the authentic Bachmann. This woman ordered photographers not to shoot her wearing causal clothes and seemed to aspire to the ultra-executive working woman look (save for her not-so-subtle use of false eyelashes).

Along the way she dropped the classic Republican red power suits in favor of cold neutrals — gray, black and white. The only remaining accessories from the days before her presidential aspirations are her slightly wonky shoes, which look out of place on the new, more expensive version of Bachmann.

On the presidential campaign trail, Bachmann took a risk by wearing white tops for numerous televised debates — a color that attracts light on screen, making nearly everyone who dons it look like they’re wearing a blanket. She also debuted a tight chignon bun, hiding her beautiful, glossy hair.

On occasion, however, she did sport a trendy blowout. (Blow-dry bars are sprouting up across the country, and for about $35 for a half-hour of pampering, we can all have big, fluffy, Hollywood hair — at least for a day.)

Bachmann closes out the year looking less like a normal person and more like a product of full-time stylists and make-up artists, with little left of the Minnesota mom who captivated the GOP’s conservative base in 2010. Instead she has become a politician for mass consumption, with too much makeup and tacky, French-manicured acrylic nails.

If for any reason Bachmann doesn’t win the presidency (gasp), she will be forced to transition back to semi-civilian life as a member of Congress next year, and she’ll have to get by in a world with a lot less lipstick and a lot more boring meetings. How ever will she manage?

Until then check out the slideshow for the best and worst of Bachmann’s presidential style evolution.

And follow @FashionWhip on Twitter for live coverage of style and politics at the Republican debate on Saturday, December 10.

Among modern presidential candidates, Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s jewelry is in a class by itself.

As he maneuvers through roiling Republican primary waters, the Texas governor is armed with two big chunks of gold that crowd his left ring finger, flashy cuff links on monogrammed cuffs, a bold chronograph watch and an ever present lapel pin that eschews Old Glory in favor of a more, shall we say, adolescent loyalty: the Boy Scouts.

But Perry wasn’t always like this. Prior to 2004, he wore even more jewelry than he does now, including, at times, a gold bracelet, a rubber sports bracelet and a “Wild West sheriff” pin.

So how much “bling” is too much for a would-be president? Check out the slideshow below to decide for yourself.

As a Washington-based professional stylist, and one half of the Fashion Whip, I often field questions from male clients in politics about how to express their personal style without distracting voters from their message. Most of my clients would hesitate, wisely, I believe, to wear a “good” watch to a town hall meeting.

But not Rick Perry. A proud alumnus of Texas A&M University, Perry is never without his huge gold “Aggie” ring. The one he wears today isn’t his original ring, however. He lost the first one, and replaced it this year with a “brand spanking new ring” that he shows off in this video.

Soon after Perry won a second gubernatorial term in 2006, he started wearing his Aggie ring on his left hand after decades of wearing it on his right. These days, the ring rests on top of his thick gold wedding band, and the combined baubles reach to his knuckle and overload his hand. It’s unclear what prompted the right-handed Perry to move all his rings to his left, but the shift coincided with his rise to national prominence. Perhaps he anticipated the need for a jewelry-free handshake in Iowa and New Hampshire?

Whatever the reason, Perry’s rings are only one part of a broader jewelry evolution that began around 2003, when the newly elected governor ditched his leather watch and gold “fishing-lure” bracelet in favor of a more serious, and expensive looking, steel chronograph. Around the same time, Perry discovered monogrammed, French cuffed shirts, and today he wears them religiously, paired with big gold and silver cuff-links that compete for attention with his rings. Custom-made ostrich-skin cowboy boots often complete the look.

For a self-proclaimed Texas country boy, Perry’s jewelry looks a lot like that of a powerful, wealthy big-timer.

As if on cue, the spouses of the Republican presidential candidates are stepping out on their own this month, a sure sign that the campaign has reached a new level. Ann Romney, wife of GOP frontrunner and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, held three separate events for her husband in Iowa last week, while Anita Perry, wife of Texas Governor Rick Perry, sat down with Parade magazine for her first extensive interview of the campaign.

So what do voters want to see in a candidate’s better half? One thing is certain: The era of the Stepford political wife is over. In today’s multi-cultural, multimedia world, authenticity and approachability are the new requirements for a successful campaign trail companion. Effective political spouses come in every shape and shade, and they’re not all women anymore.

In fact, two of the most notable political spouses in recent memory are men. Todd Palin embodied the ideal of a hard-working, outdoorsy American in 2008, and his unscripted interviews only buoyed his wife, Sarah Palin’s status as a political outsider. By contrast, another political spouse, Paul Pelosi, is the ultimate insider. A suave, millionaire investor who graciously supports Nancy Pelosi’s career, Paul goes so far as to choose his wife’s clothes for her when she is pressed for time.

But even without the cookie-cutter model, personal style and image still play huge roles in how voters perceive political spouses. This can mean intense pressure on the spouse, especially for those with little or no experience in the limelight.

At this stage in the campaign, body language and clothing speak volumes, especially for spouses who might not feel ready to take up the microphone quite yet. Style cues can help with this, offering them a way to express their unique identities and set them apart in a crowded field. Makeup and clothing that fit the occasion, plus hair that actually moves, are all part of a savvy political spouse’s arsenal. But they can’t make up for humor and self-assurance, which do far more to endear a person to voters than any hairdo can.

A few of the spouses of 2012 Republican presidential candidates make all this look easy, while others seem clueless. Click on the slideshow to learn who is truly connecting with voters, and for Livetweeting of all the style notes from the GOP debates, follow @FashionWhip.