They may not be on the ramp, but they're scorching up the fashion scales on their own turf, alright! Aside from looking after their high-flying positions of power, the world's top women leaders use style as their currency for success. These lovely ladies stand high and tall, literally (read: in their stilettos) and have earned their own stripes without actually wearing a striped suit. A few years ago, glamazon-political diva and former candidate of the US vice presidency, Sarah Palin, got into the arena with her glamorous boxy jackets and tight skirts. And recently, Brit prime minister Theresa May got everyone talking not just about her political ambition, but her animal print heels and her outfits too. Is having a style for flair leadership's new tool? We deconstructed the wardrobes of the world's most well-known power figures to find out...

Woman on the go: Michelle Obama

She's got chutzpah and wears her outfits like she means business. It's not for nothing that the First Lady of the US enjoys the moniker of First Lady of Fashion. With her one-shoulder gowns, shift dresses, belts, florals and geometrics, Michelle Obama exudes style with a punch. She seems like the kind of woman who would look stylish in shirt sleeves and roll them up to pick up a mic and get into a campaign (she's kicked off everything from ones on childhood obesity to healthy eating and education for girls).

TrEs bien: Carla Bruni Sarkozy

This successful international supermodel took another fashion bow when she became the First Lady of France and switched to more modest suits and sheath dresses. Carla Bruni Sarkozy also caught the world's attention with her ladylike bags. Having cut an album in 2002, she returned to music after Sarkozy was out of office and is still much envied and talked about for her chic dress sense.

Well-heeled: Theresa May

She's the new prime minister of the United Kingdom, but the 59-year-old seems to be more in focus now for her ensemble than her core work abilities. May scorched things up with her low-cut dress at this year's budget event. She's also got fashion pundits raving over her trademark leopard kitten heels (she once also wore a pair of lip-printed pumps). And she's got great legs to match, so why not! Known to have a penchant for thigh-high boots and racy, low-cut dresses, she's a far cry from the more demure Samantha Cameron. Fashion misstep or a style success? It's the latter, judging by how the world's talking about it. All eyes on May, for now.

Journalist to Queen: Queen Letizia of Spain

The 43-year-old Queen of Spain, who loves her jewellery and often wears her diamond bracelet, carries off her fitted dresses, skirt suits, cropped pants, blazers and pumps with ease. Once a journalist (TV presenter), this wife of the reigning monarch, has something in common with Kate Middleton as she's also born a 'commoner'. She has also received as much acclaim as Kate for her elegant wardrobe.

Rule bender: Kate Middleton

We love that the Duchess of Cambridge has broken a few fashion rules, so to speak. From wearing an above-the-knee dress (earlier, the Queen reportedly ordered longer hemlines), last year, Kate also shunned rules, opting for brown instead of green at a St Patrick's Day Parade. She also went off the shoulder. We loved the knee-high hiking boots that she wore to Bhutan this April and her bright 'banana' dress that she wore to the Wimbledon.

Pantsuit chic: Hillary Clinton

She's moved away from the frumpy style she sported as the First Lady of the United States, and now, as the

presidential nominee, Hillary Rodham Clinton has put a more polished effort to her dress sense. Her new wardrobe is being described as everything from 'functional' to 'energetic' and chic. She's often seen in pantsuits, which have been talked about and have sparked off memes too. On a social networking site chat, she is quoted to have said, 'I never met a pantsuit I didn't love.'

The Queen shows the way: Queen Elizabeth II

Age no bar here, for sure. Take a cue from the 90-year-old reigning monarch of Britain, who's also being called the Queen of Colour. She has always worn a monochromatic coat and hat in colours like blues, tangerines and purples, and when she chose a bright lime green outfit for her official birthday celebration this year, women rushed to stores to buy an outfit in the hue. The choice went viral, with hashtags like #neonat90 and #highvishighness sweeping social media.

'Reigning' elegance: Queen Rania of Jordan

She's got a mix of elegance, poise and intelligence and gets as much written about for her fitted dresses as her

charity humanitarianism work. A poll once ranked Queen Rania — wife of King Abdullah II of Jordan — as the number two royal in history (Grace Kelly was at one). She opts for tailored knee-length dresses with a belt and subtle accessories, in colours that complement her olive complexion.Read more at:http://www.marieaustralia.com/bridesmaid-dresses | http://www.marieaustralia.com/evening-dresses