A year ago Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Barack Obama experimented in going without; now ties appear to be soldered to their necks. The switch from open-necked shirt to buttoned-up says, they hope, that they are serious-minded men who can be trusted. On this front, at least, they are in synch with their electorate.

The tie, derided only last year by Jeremy Paxman as the get-up of estate agents, is once more in demand; and not just from politicians. Philip Mountford, Moss Bros chief executive, said tie sales were growing at the fastest pace for more than five years as customers react to the looming threat of redundancy by smartening up their wardrobe. Jermyn Street's Hilditch & Key, Tie Rack and John Lewis have all reported increased sales.