Leigh Sales shuts down conspiracy theorists about her election outfit

Leigh Sales has shut down conspiracy theories suggesting she was supporting Teal independents based on her outfit while covering the election.

The 7.30 host donned a white suit, paired with an aquamarine ring and teal earrings, while co-hosting Saturday’s election coverage on the ABC.

Her sartorial choices prompted many on social media to question if there was a hidden meaning behind her choice of jewellery.

Sales took to Instagram on Wednesday morning to ‘debunk the myths’. 

‘I’ve seen a few conspiracy theories flying around about my election night wardrobe being chosen to send hidden messages,’ she wrote.

She said her make up artist and her had chosen the white suit, the same colour she has worn for the past three elections, because it ‘still looks fresh six hours on and when I’m exhausted it bounces a bit of extra light into my face to help mask it’.

‘The aquamarine ring belongs to one of my dearest friends, legendary AFR journalist Pamela Williams, who had it made years ago,’ she continued.

‘I have envied it forever and Pam lent it to me for the night because she knows how much I love it and for luck! The earrings were chosen to match the ring, not to send a message of teal support.

‘So I’m sorry to debunk the wild theories, but even sorrier that this ring is going home to Pam this week!!’.

Twitter users had questioned if there was a ‘story’ behind some of the outfits reporters were wearing to cover the election.

‘But what’s the story on Election night outfits on ABC: Laura Tingle in Liberal blue, Annabelle Crabb in Labor red with teal spectacles, Leigh Sales in neutral white with teal earrings! Hmmm the women were having fun,’ one tweeted.

‘Is Leigh Sales wearing teal coloured earrings, and Annabel Crabb with teal tinged frames on her glasses, or am I just tired?’ said another.

‘Leigh Sales wearing teal earrings … a clever nod to what may unfold tonight!’ one tweet read.

ABC chief political online reporter Annabel Crabb also addressed comments questioning why she was wearing a red suit and ‘teal’ glasses.

She said her glasses were green and not teal, and she had worn them many times before.

‘I have had them for yonks and have worn them on television many times. I chose them for the election broadcast because they do not obscure my sight line on camera the way my other glasses do,’ she wrote on Instagram. 

She joked that she needed to address the ‘serious allegations’ made against her ‘that I am a dirty Commie who not only wore a red suit on the election broadcast but compounded this offence by teaming the ensemble with TEAL glasses’.

Crabb said she wore the red suit because it was ‘comfy’ for the grueling six-hour coverage she was doing ‘with no toilet breaks’. 

The reporter added that no matter what colour she chose she would likely have been criticised in one way or another. 

Jenny Morrison also caused speculation with her outfit choice, a powder blue coloured dress similar to the campaign colours used by the ‘teal independents’ who tore key seats from her husband’s party.

Social media highlighted the irony of the colour choice as Jenny and the children appeared on stage at the Liberal party function while the outgoing Prime Minister addressed his supporters.

The long-sleeved ‘celebration’ dress which retails for $929 was designed by Carla Zampatti, the eponymous fashion house of independent Allegra Spender’s late mother.