Finance Minister Bill English chose a lavender polka dot tie to deliver today's Budget in Parliament. Sharp and fashion forward, or too jolly?

Dominion Post fashion editor Carolyn Enting talked to tailoring expert Rex Massey-Molloy, of Earl & English, about English's choice.

Number crunching, rather than wardrobe worried, was the clear message English sent Stuff when we asked him who designed his ensemble for the delivery of today's Budget. "Bill is not really interested in passing on those details. His mind is focused on the Budget today," was press secretary Grant Fleming's reply.

The Dominion Post SAD TIME: Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, pictured here earlier this year, said the House extended its sympathy and support to all those swept up in the tragedy.

Even so, we believe English put some considered thought into this threads, or possibly wife Mary, a stylish dresser herself.

"The tie is a surprise, not only because of the colour, but the pattern," Massey-Molloy said.

"Polka dots are normally considered less serious and informal. Lavender is also not regarded as a particularly masculine colour but, paired with a safe white shirt and dark woven self-stripe midnight blue suit, it worked really well. For me it was a pleasant surprise."

Reuters Wayne Swan

Despite the interesting tie selection, Massey-Molloy said English's outfit befitted his role as Finance Minister because his single-breasted suit was "conservative" and "elegant".

"It looked new or near new. It was sharp and well fitted, and shows he takes his appearance and his job seriously. A dark suit lends an air of authority," Massey-Molloy said.

So how does his outfit stack up against the budget reading wardrobes of Britain's previous Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, and Australian treasurer, Wayne Swan?

Both wore a dark suit, white shirt combination with a patterned tie. Darling also went for shades of purple, with a teal, lilac and navy stippled circular pattern; not as uniform as polka dots, much more free form and organic. Swan opted for diagonal burgundy and white stripes.

The verdict:

Bill English 7/10 (safe but with flair)

Alistair Darling 5/10 (tie looks like a cross between an Air New Zealand and Qantas uniform)

Wayne Swan 6/10 (sharp but conservative and boring)