The Romney Family Album: Stylish Through the Decades -- PICTURES

By Elspeth Reeve, The Atlantic Wire

Updated: February 3, 2012 | 12:24 p.m.
February 3, 2012 | 12:21 p.m.

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Mitt Romney might seem a little old-fashioned, a little uptight, but the Romney family photo archive proves otherwise. Once upon a time, the Romneys were stylish...and maybe even cool. We've scoured through old photos of Mitt and Ann to bring you the best, pictures that show them embodying each decade without looking ridiculous. Among friends and colleagues, Romney is a notorious cheapskate, The New York Times reported in December, except when it comes to his wife. "Mitt is the cheapest guy in the world, except when it comes to Ann, because he loves his wife more than anything," Staples founder Tom Stemberg told the Times, recalling Romney's quick stop during a business trip to buy Ann "an extremely expensive coat." It shows. Behold, Romney family fashion through the years:

Here they are sometime in the late 1960s. Note the perfectly tailored dress, hair pouf, and plaid bowtie.

(Photo via Reuters.)

Here's a more casual look, from 1968:

(Romney family photo via Parade.)

This one was shot during the couple's engagement in 1969, just before Romney's dad (left) became secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Ann has an amazing soft 1960s pouf and fur collar:

(Photo via Associated Press.)

Romney let his hair grow out in 1979. His tie is fat but his waistline is slim:

(Romney family photo via Parade.)

And here's the family embodying the fresh-faced red-white-and-blue era of the 1980s. They all look like they played tennis and did aerobics.

(Romney family photo via Parade.)

Ann looked très 1994 while her husband campaigned for Senate in Massachusetts. Romney, who took important lessons from every campaign he won or lost, obviously had his sweat glands removed after this election.

(Photo via Reuters.)

Everyone had one of these tweedy Chanel jackets in the mid-2000s; at least, everyone who was anyone did. The couple was voting when this photo was taken in 2004.

(Photo via Associated Press.)

The couple is not so obviously trendy today. They're more subtle. At Romney's victory speech after the Florida primary this week, Ann was wearing a flattering jacket that just so happens to be tangerine, the Pantone "color of the year."