The fact that Caroline Kennedy (pictured) has withdrawn from the running for New York State senator will come as a relief to many people, not least the world’s style pundits, because throughout the media discourse over the past few months, rather than Kennedy’s political suitability, the more passionately debated subject has been her appearance.

“Is she or isn’t she?” queried one New York Times City Room blogger, and he wasn’t referring to her, you know, dithering over the State Senate seat, but to whether her hair is dyed or not. The answer is, “Of course”’ – she’s 51 – but it looks as if she’s doing it herself, and in this grooming-obsessed era, the consensus seems to be that Caroline Kennedy’s hair, at least, simply wasn’t up to the job.