Politicians send messages through their clothes, and most of their mistakes come from not knowing protocol, designer Dr Albena Alexandrova told Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) in Burgas.

She gave foreign minister Velislava Petrova as an example, pointing to her bare shoulder in Turkey. Alexandrova says the minister is still the subject of constant comment over that appearance.

World leaders have also got it wrong, the designer says. She said it is unacceptable for a woman leader to meet the pope in trousers, as Angela Merkel did.

Alexandrova studied under Yves Saint Laurent in Paris and has worked with many leading designers. She has written books, including "Clothing as a Non-Verbal Factor in Building a Public Image", which has many examples.

The interview was prompted by the proverb "You are greeted by your clothes, but sent off by your mind". Alexandrova says clothing is the first thing we notice when we meet someone, and the thing we remember about them afterwards. She says first impressions matter most when a person is building a public image.

Fashion is widely discussed. Efforts to make fashion in politics more democratic have led to some quite crude mistakes in recent years, the designer said.

Protocol requires a woman politician's skirt to fall four fingers below the knee. Men often pick jackets at least one size bigger than their own. They also get trouser length wrong, and Alexandrova says trousers should not bunch at the bottom.

The current president, Iliana Yotova, has worn outfits made by Alexandrova. The designer says Yotova's height gives her a dignified look and makes it easier to choose clothes.