Suffer for Fashion: The many styles of leadership

Does the suit make the man, or does the man make the suit? When it comes to our world leaders, I’d like to think that they’re the ones making their clothes look good, but too often a statesman in the wrong ensemble leaves constituents holding their noses on both sides of the isle.

Take President Barack Obama. Despite his inclusion on Vanity Fair’s International Best Dressed List, I fail to believe that the Commander in Chief has a commanding wardrobe. Exhibit one: clunky white sneakers and ragged tucked-in Polos on bike rides with his daughters. Exhibit two: mandals and a loose-fitted linen shirt for every casual occasion. And the final nail in the coffin: those dad jeans he put on when he threw out the first pitch of the 2009 MLB All-Star Game.

In our president’s defense, Obama’s off-the-rack Burberry suits style him a man of the people, and his clean-cut Hartmarx suits are a welcome change to the Bush administration’s pricey, blah suits from Chicago suit manufacturer Oxxford Clothes. Unfortunately for our Leader of the Free World, the world of fashion is anything but egalitarian. John F. Kennedy was the last president to push this nation’s fashion sense forward when he brought two-buttoned suits to the Oval Office, influencing workers in lesser offices everywhere. I don’t think Obama is destined for such a breakthrough, particularly if his style-sense is so lax out of the office.

If Obama wants to save himself from the international leaders’ version of “What Were They Thinking?” he should take the example of a more dapper European statesman, such as Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Say what you will about his criminal dealings, the man’s wardrobe looks straight from the pages of Italian Vogue. If I had to guess, I’d wager that Berlusconi picks out his suits from the ultra-luxury men’s clothing line Ermenegildo Zegna, headquartered in his hometown of Milan. With his suits’ crisp corners, pristine hems, and colorful shirts, ties, and silk pocket squares (always coordinating and never clashing) Berlusconi doesn’t just exhibit his full-on love affair with fine clothing, he flaunts it. So if his illegal political tactics wind up getting him into trouble, you can bet he’ll accessorize the hell out of his prison uniform.

Unfortunately, not all of the world’s less-than-stellar statesmen have the saving grace of an excellent fashion sense. Dear Leader Kim Jong Il would make any first-year at Parsons cringe with his beige jumpsuits and platform shoes. I suspect this may be calculated, however. That pushed-up hair coupled with a pair of thick, plastic-framed glasses may be a vital component completing the I’m-a-crazy-dictator-so-don’t-mess-with-me look he’s going for.

Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadenejad’s tan leisure suit look don’t fare any better on the world stage than it would on the catwalk.  They’re too informal for diplomatic settings, and the tailoring is baggy and awkward. But while the suit may not grab your attention, it’s hard to overlook the fact that the Iranian President never wears a tie. Though it may seem like a striking decision in this neck of the woods, in Iran it is actually the norm. Just as certain rebellious haircuts are prohibited, tie wearing is also banned by Tehran, which cites neckties as a symbol of the oppressive West. While it may come off as casual to the uninitiated, Ahmadenejad’s bare neck doubles as a political statement, which is more than I can say about most diplomats’ fashion choices.

At the end of the day, politicians face more pressing issues than picking out the right pressed shirts. But having the representative of your country put his or her best foot forward goes a long way to send a message about the respect he or she has for fellow leaders. It’s especially nice if that foot isn’t wearing a Croc.

Embrace democracy! Vote for what Keenan should wear at ktimko@georgetownvoice.com