democracy and fashion

Such agitation for weeks if not months because of our esteemed guests: Obama and consorts have come to the Netherlands. Going to the Hague is rather impossible as mere citizen because half of Amsterdam was practically hermetically closed due to the presidential visit to the Rijksmuseum. Look, that nuclear top is great and all, but leave it up to me to discuss something superficial about this serious stuff. Well, it’s not that superficial because a wrong  jacket, trousers, tie, or whatever, can turn out quite controversial.

In 2008, for example, Angela Merkel went to the opening of the new opera in Oslo and wore something different from her horribly boring suits and dull hair. She chose for a seaweed green dress with enormous cleavage. But really, enormous. Her bosom is quite big and it quickly stopped being about the opera and only revolved around Merkel’s tits. Something like that doesn’t happen by accident, it happens on purpose. Merkel was always criticised about her dusty clothing so I think it’s been a very conscious decision to wear such a low-cut dress.

“That nuclear top isn’t that superficial because a WRONG JACKET, TROUSERS, TIE can turn out quite controversial”

Fidel Castro’s outfit is also a reason for a lot of controversy. The dictator is seen in sweatpants ever since 2006. Even in ones from the American brand Nike, which is quite remarkable since there’s been a trade embargo between the US and Cuba for the last 40 years. It looks like controversial politicians have a preference for a fixed routine when it comes to their clothing. Kim Jong Il, chieftain of North Korea, was always dressed in a sort of khaki like safari suit, with sunglasses. And Mao Zedong, also not particularly a sweetheart, always wore a grey or green suit with a closed, high collar — it became so iconic that people now speak of a ‘Mao suit’.

But not only dictators are stuck to a certain outfit choice because pretty much every western politician wears the same: a crispy white shirt, dark well-cut suit, red or blue tie. They wear this for a reason. Clothing like this make a good impression. It looks responsible, neat, civilised, and, above all, radiates authority. Our Rutte does the exact same thing as Obama, they try so hard not to look eccentric. Like Time Magazine once wrote: “You know who wears fancy duds? Divas and dictators.” 

I’d really like to accompany clothing advisers of Dutch politicians. Because I think there’s a lot to do about this. The clothing you wear say something about the message you want to communicate. And whether you’re Obama who walks around at the Rijksmuseum or you’re called Rutte and you’ve been featured in our Look of the Day, clothing make the man.