IT says a lot about politics today that it was possible, during a speech by Michelle Obama that was described as “genius” for its subtlety by both David Brooks and Mark Shields, that a parallel conversation was happening online, and in real time, about her shimmering brocade dress and matching fingernails. If you were following along on Twitter, where comments reportedly reached a peak of 28,000 a minute by the end of her speech, you might wonder how many people were really listening to what she was saying.

Like it or not, this election season has shown that clothes are probably more important than words, or at least a more effective means of communication.

We have discussed the significance of Ann Romney’s Oscar de la Renta shirtdress at the Republican convention, so fairness demands an examination of Mrs. Obama’s dress, by Tracy Reese. By most accounts, Mrs. Obama came up the winner, in a beautifully fitted dress that was a savvy choice in the era of high-definition television.