Fun & Famous
the wardrobe of top women
Brexit, so David Cameron is exit. On the day he left his house at 10 Downing Street through the back door, the official residence of the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, the new Prime Minister, proudly stepped over the threshold of her new home. May had until then been the Home Secretary in the Cameron I and Cameron II cabinets, and she is now allowed to guide the country through the European withdrawal as Prime Minister.
Not an easy task. And although there was much speculation about May's performance in the near future and the task ahead, a good part of the news reports focused on – yes – the clothes of the incoming Prime Minister. Because how significant was it that Theresa May owns a shoe wardrobe similar to that of Imelda Marcos? And what do those queenie heels with natural and red leopard print plus flamboyant crystal decoration say about Prime Minister May? And her black leather over-the-knee boots that she once wore during a visit to the queen, paired with a beige coat with orange polka dots? Or the black patent leather lace-up shoes with crystal studs on the heel? Were they not all barometers of her knowledge and skills?
Eh no, of course they are not. Prime Minister May's shoes may be extravagant, but they say nothing about how she will perform – and that is what it’s all about. Why is it that the wardrobe of women at the top can never remain unspoken – while that of men can? How often have the stiff, uniform, sexless suits of German Angela Merkel been discussed? The untamed curls of former politician Femke Halsema? The neat trouser suits and little adventurous blouse-trouser combos of Hillary Clinton? Or the funky and fashion-forward dress behavior of first lady and woman behind the man at the top Michelle Obama?
”Maybe we think that clothes make the woman”
Too often, if you ask me. Clothes say nothing about how you will perform your duties as a leader – or any job for that matter. Why is a woman's wardrobe considered so important, while a man can get away with a nondescript suit from Gako? Maybe we think that clothes make the woman. We attribute certain characteristics to women based on how they look. We think that women who pay a lot of attention to their appearance are vain or insecure. And those who do not are unimaginative and uninterested. We judge women based on their appearance and men based on their performance. And maybe that is very unfair, because clothing is partly about taste and performance can actually be measured.
Just look, because what happens if we extend that line to men? Then I know a few as well. Men with silly wig-like hair speak populist language and exhibit clownish behavior – we mean you, Boris Johnson, Geert Wilders, and Donald Trump. The Jort Kelderesque dress behavior of Prime Minister Rutte reveals pedantry. The square and overly broad-shouldered suits of Emile Roemer show self-overestimation. And the blood-red tie of Diederik Samsom is a signal for his outbursts. No, judging by the dress behavior of the male leaders, it’s all rubbish – although you sometimes wonder if their performance can prove otherwise.
Written by Kalinka Hählen
