With a penchant¹ for leopard² print heels, latex thigh-high boots and £1,000-plus designer dresses, Theresa May is no stranger to political power dressing³. But the Prime Minister's hairstyle, it turns out, is also the must-have 'power cut' for females in charge. 

 

喜欢踏着豹纹高跟鞋、乳胶长筒靴，身着一身1000多英镑的名牌服装，特蕾莎•梅对政坛着装的搭配已是得心应手。不仅如此，这位新任首相的发型也是权势女性最青睐的必备发型。

 

 

Known as the political bob - or pob - the feathery, usually blonde, swept back look is now the favoured style of powerful women across the globe. 

 

White House hopeful Hilary Clinton has a perfectly⁴ coiffured, highlighted version of the pob, while SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon and German Chancellor⁵ Angela Merkel prefer a shorter cropped, schoolboy style.

 

Hairdressers say the 'pob' is being used by female politicians to demonstrate they are in charge and mean business. 

 

Julia Carta, international celebrity⁶ hair and make-up artist, said: 'People are judged by their looks and the first thing people notice is hair.

 

'Shorter, more precise styles give the impression that women can hack⁷ it in the man's world of politics. It gives the sign that they have a strong head on their shoulders, they are more intelligent, articulate and should be taken seriously. 

 

'Longer, flouncy locks, by contrast, give the impression that women are perhaps fresh out of school, less intimidating⁸ and, in turn, less in control. They draw the eye down to a woman's bosoms⁹, so a shorter bob above the collar bone keeps attentions at eye level, up towards the brain. 

 

'These women are ruling the world, they don't want people to be distracted by their hair, so shorter, sharper power cuts all help them to be taken seriously.'

点击收听单词发音