why do presidents wear blue suits

I do not want to have to choose what I like or seen because I have many other important decisions to make. I'm trying to lower my choices. First of all, allow me to congratulate you on this Great blog. As three-piece suits made a comeback during his Presidency, Mr. Ford wore them well with wide neckties. Managing decision fatigue calls for the high-value, low-effort systemization that entrepreneurs swear by. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Thanks for all the work tracking down the images. Dark blue makes us feel like the person wearing it is smart, together, and trustworthy. And Landry, I can see the objection to wearing a belt with white tie but oxford shoes are perfectly acceptable, surely. An inauguration would be perfectly acceptable occasion to wear a stroller or morning dress. He looks confident and, in my opinion, gives a look of readiness. Whats most illuminating is how decision memos get delivered to his desk with three checkboxes at the bottom: This is effective because, like always wearing the same suit, the checkboxes impose simplicity. Ultimately, Fresh said the tailoring on Biden's suits and details like pocket squares make him look more youthful, confident and ready. Most politicians don't wear pocket squares; by opting to wear one, Biden is gently and subtly adding some flair, without drawing so much attention to it that it makes the evening news. I'm trying to lower my choices. Ulysses S. Grant wore once again a black tailcoat with a black bow tie, and for his ball, people were not allowed to wear overcoats, hats or canes, which must have been the exception to the rule back then. Stay up to date on the latest science news by signing up for our Essentials newsletter. President Obama always wears the same thing. At the same time, there are few things as impressive as a well fitting suit. Great article! Sven, apropos your comment about Trumps necktie being too long its pointing out what it seems hes most proudest of and with which he appears to do most of his thinking. Pitiful trolls criticizing a giant. His wince-inducing appearances in both black and white tie is convincing evidence that he likewise shares his constituents fear of formality. Dark blue makes us feel like the person wearing it is smart, together, and trustworthy. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Simple plain navy 2 button suit with flap pockets, side vents and quite some shoulder padding. The wardrobe history of the Biden campaign reflects strategic thinking and discipline. Bidens break sits right at the top of his shoe, he said. The last President to wear a morning coat was Kennedy in 1961, who, sadly, used a modern foldover collar. Only then did he go full presidentialsolid dark suit, white shirt with French cuffs, cuff links with some kind of crest, solid Democrat-blue tie, fiercely polished black shoes. ". The ties to red and blue go way back. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Obviously, his clothing advisors dont know what they are talking about or maybe he does not listen to them. One of the few that I truly enjoy reading. One of the most successful rappers and businessmen of the last 20 years, Jay-Z is a giant of the fashion and music worlds. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. With the dark blue or gray suits, he wears sky blue and navy blue tie (again, it is a summer suit in light gray, the shirt may be navy blue). Putin, who the Western media have nicknamed as Man in Black for his fondness for black, has risked widening his palette of colors. I do not want to have to choose what I like or seen because I have many other important decisions to make. Its divided into three distinct and clearly deliberate phases. His stepping things up to a Stresemann (or stroller if you must) played to both his stardust image and his cultural pose. Powered and implemented by Interactive Data Managed Solutions. What was a reason Jimmy Carter was elected President in 1976? You dont need to be an expert to see some of those contrasts, but you do need to be one to explain how they impact each mans look. That question causes you great curiosity, because although you know that the presidents of the list below have a group of image advisors behind them, some do not look as good as they should, considering the media exposure to which their posts compels them. April 30, 2023, 2:31 p.m. Truman didnt wear expensive suits, he wore his suits with elegance to fit his frame, and they looked extremely good on him. He also wore stainless band sports watch in on January 20, 2013. Neckties are said to be descended from the cravat and used throughout most of history, at least the portion during which humans have been fully clothed. A slimmer, more detail-oriented fit reads more youthful and modern, while a larger and more relaxed suit, Fresh said, may speak to a different audience, but could also show a lack of confidence. They can be aloof now. Reagan knew perfectly how smart dressing can change ones image. Or at some point youll just break down.. While the decisions are obviously complexhow else do they end up at the desk of the presidentcreating three choices speeds up the feedback loop. As for Obamas outfit at the ball, Ive just looked that up. "Obama represents something different in politics, but he dresses the same as everyone else," said Esquire senior fashion editor Wendell Brown. Sven is why your Magazine is so needed today! An award-winning team of journalists, designers, and videographers who tell brand stories through Fast Company's distinctive lens, The future of innovation and technology in government for the greater good, Fast Company's annual ranking of businesses that are making an outsize impact, Leaders who are shaping the future of business in creative ways, New workplaces, new food sources, new medicine--even an entirely new economic system. Clinton was an early adopter of the brand, gravitating toward the very boldest suits in the collection, including shiny pink and blue checkers, neon pinks, bright blue plaids, and green . It is a great collection. Of course a poliitician should not dress like a king, nevertheless I dont think that a morning coat would be out of touch, especially since this is a single festive event in a term. As you point out, conventions were different back then and people wore different things, nevertheless a morning coat or stroller are dressier than a regular suit. But it wasn't always that way. I dont want to make decisions about what Im eating or wearing. I told my wife that if I were president, I would make it mandatory that the dress for evening balls would be white tie. New York, Still, Obama is cool on the networking: there are some structural institutional realities to our political system that dont have much to do with schmoozing, he says. By selecting an American fashion house that has long . Penetrating psychological insight there Kathy! Being the president of Russia is no easy task. The answer: Most Commander-in-Chiefs wear pretty much the same thing. Does anyone know why that is? In fact, it was a dark blue suit that helped him pop during a. So did Dwight D. Eisenhower, George H.W. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. I hope Trumps term restores dignity, elegance and marquise the amazing charm of the American experience. Youll see I wear only gray or blue suits, [Obama] said. The United States solicitor general and other lawyers from the U.S. Attorney General all appear before the Supreme Court in morning coats, minus the top hat. He had dared to get rid of the outdated uniform of power (three-button sack, waistcoat, and tweed pants), incorporating into politics something that the others had not dared before. Zuckerberg said he drew the always-wear-the-same thing philosophy from Obama and a certain other tech executive, Steve Jobs. Too subtle for 99.98% of the population? The ties to red and blue go way back. Just because he does it on purpose doesnt make it any better ;). 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. As Mr. Jollans observed, Presidential wardrobes have generally been long on convention and short on novelty. Few world leaders or CEOs want to be seen as aloof. Kennedy was a man who would not suffer comparison with his predecessors. He is a former editor-in-chief of Live Science with over 20 years of experience as a reporter and editor. A nice white crown fold pocket square finished off the look together with an American flag pin on the lapel. . In fact, it was a fictional presidential candidate that started the tradition off in the first place. Suits are a given for all presidents, so what better way to analyse how style and power go hand in hand? Jimmy Carter ran as a reformer who was untainted by Washington political scandals, which many voters found attractive in the wake of the Watergate scandal that had led to President Richard Nixons resignation. When one staffer accidentally switched the channel to cable news on Air Force One, Obama watched as the hosts and pundits described Obamas thinking process, but quickly walked out, annoyed. In the first presidential debate of 2016, then-nominee Donald Trump donned a blue tie, while the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, wore a red suit. There are times when Ive got to capture what the essence of the thing is.. An English gentleman, lover of business and an avid blogger, The Best Presidential Suits Ever Worn | President suit, Barack Obama has declared that he is not a fan of fashion. Famous for his steel-gray hair, hazel eyes and thick rimless glasses, Harry S. Truman was one of the most stylish Presidents in the U.S history. Thankfully hes tall and in good physical shape so, even though his clothes are not custom made or even made-to-measure, as least Ive never read anything that says he buys anything other than off-the-rack, he does wear his clothes rather well. A stylist would pick up on things like that. They dont want to appear to be stuffy or remote from ordinary people. Biden's laidback, classic styleoften involving bomber jackets, Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses and immaculately tailored suitsrepresents a stark contrast to Trump's '80s school of power dressing.. Fashion mistake. His dark tie of a single color or striped, Oxford cotton shirt, Italian collar (without buttoning) and all supplemented with a pair of Ray-Ban gave him glamor and enshrined the emblematic of his unique style. Agree wholeheartedly Sven. He skipped the pocket square in the overcoat and went with an American flag pin instead. " Who made Obama's suits? It was delicate situation. Whereas a more conservative, looser fit looks like he might be ready to go do something else.. Lovely article. I would love to dress him in proper white tie sometimes. Charles, thank you for your insightful comment. The president has worn Ralph Lauren frequently over the years, unlike former President Donald Trump, who favored Italian Brioni suits. The president does pick out his own clothes. Im trying to lower my choices. We had an article like this 4 years ago. Woven together, the memos paint a picture of what the presidential workflow looks likeespecially since this president prefers written advice to spoken. Wilson was the snobbish son of a churchman steeped in the myths of Southern gentility, president of Princeton University and an Anglophile of the first order. One of the things you realize fairly quickly in this job is that there is a character people see out there called Barack Obama. Hal, I have an historic pattern for a 1904 sack suit. Their wives wore the reverse, with Michelle Obama in a red dress and Melania Trump wearing a powder blue ensemble. By the way great article! His favorite colors are the dark ones and he mostly wears white shirts combined with ties in red or blue tones. Kennedy/Nixon Debates showcase this contrast. Driving the country is half the work, but it seems that you do it as if it does not cost you the least effort is not so simple. Have you taken. First, he copied the staff-written speech by hand to organize his thoughts and then he used the exercise to write his own speech, an approach would have been impossible during his traditional day. Which is part of his secret to getting so much done. Glad you posted something about this subject. Pity Biden didnt wear the Brooks Brothers like his predecessors. In all fairness, Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama and Donald Trump also wore Rolex watches. The president laments the. Blue Suits Shirts And Ties: Blue is probably the most popular color on the campaign trail. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. But Michelle sure looked great! Reagan always dressed smartly in a clean cut suit that accentuated his shoulders. In fact, he made it clear that elegance did not need to be named. This was exactly what I was thinking about today. He seemed to be following a long-standing practice in the management consulting game: Dress like the clients, but a little better. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The message was serious, important, but not stuffy, and he stayed on message. Seated behind Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Paul Ryan, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, both wore blue ties. and I thought I was pushing it with 55 Pair (which cause my closet bar to collapse) Expert tailor Fresh compares the president's suit style on the campaign trail with that of the Democratic nominee. Peter Marshall is a legend amongst the men of OTAA. I was flipping through inaugural ball coverage last week and noticed Trump in black tie at an event. On it there are four examples of styles. Unfortunately, I believe the days of the top hat are dead, (at least here in the U.S.) though it is a perfectly acceptable component of morning dress, I believe it is seen as too costumey in todays increasingly informal culture. Rather than going for a gold round simple watch with a white dial, he wore a Rolex Datejust, with a smooth bezel, applied markers, and Arabic numerals around the dial. I attended one of the inauguration balls in 2009 and remember thinking when he walked out on the stage, what is he thinking?!?!. Since its founding in 1818, the company has dressed 40 of the 44 chief executives that preceded Trump. Ironically, most people focus on where the clothes are made, but I would guess they cost less than his watch. When you have more clothes than body in the clothes, youre showing the viewer youre trying to hide something, Fresh said. Also, when Ford gave his inaugural speech, he wore a suit but 8 years later, Reagan wore a stroller and it looked decent. There are certain speeches that I have to write myself, the president tells Lewis. Which presidents did not wear Brooks Brothers? JFK set the attire standard with his morning coat and top hat. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. No, its George W. Bush. In the UK we have an old Etonian Prime Minister who often doesnt wear a tie and wont wear morning dress to weddings for fear it will make him look like the privileged individual undoubtedly he is: such is the strange dance of controlling public image. In any case there is quite a bit room for improvement. He took clothes seriously and approached fashion and style soberly. Some believed it to be too casual for the president of a country and not formal enough for a meeting with the US President. Eisenhower in 1953 wearing a roomy, double breasted overcoat. Regardless of party affiliation, the POTUS uniform consists of a navy, gray or black suit, an American flag pin and a tie (often red or blue). Eisenhower in morning dress, reacting to the cheering of the spectators. Debonair looks too good on you to second guess. What Kind of Suit Did Abraham Lincoln Wear? Virtually unnoticedperhaps entirely unnoticedwas Bidens clothing. The following list spotlights the powerful men and women in the world who accessorize political acumen with perfect tailoring and their idiosyncratic touches. Judges of hatred and bitterness I despise you all. The former President explained the logic behind this routine: "You will see that I wear only gray or blue suits. Ive seen former President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, once in Germany wearing a belt and oxfords with a white tie. I do not want to have to choose what I like or seen because I have many other important decisions to make. Carter, a Democrat from Georgia, took office after defeating incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford in the 1976 presidential election. Even the presidents and high official of a country cannot escape from the sharp eyes of fashion police. ", "Through associations with the sky, the ocean and water, most people associate blue with openness, peace and tranquility," says Zhu, who conducted the research with UBC doctoral candidate Ravi Mehta. His favorite colors are the dark ones and he mostly wears white shirts combined with ties in red or blue tones. Barack Obama has declared that he is not a fan of fashion. We asked Mr Davide Taub, head cutter at Gieves & Hawkes, to help us understand how men of power use their tailoring to do (at least some of) the talking for them. With the possible exception of JFKs formal morning wear, it looks to me as if presidents have generally stuck to the dress code prevalent in politics/business at the time. Which alternate universe are you guys corresponding from? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Overall, Biden plays it very safe and unexciting like most politicians these days. What they dont tell you up front is that two are bad examples. Sadly, ever since Reagans second inauguration, U.S. President have only worn plain solid suits with uninteresting neckties and I would love to see a stroller or even a morning coat at such a celebratory event in the future. However, Obama knows how to wear a suit and he wears it well. Im actually disappointed by President Obama dress at the inaugural Balls more than I am for the inauguration ceremony itself. His presidency ended following his defeat in the 1980 presidential election by Republican Ronald Reagan. You have to own that and feel comfortable with the way you made the decision. A self-professed nightowl, the wee hours provide what does come readily to a president: uninterrupted time to work. How long should you meditate as a Buddhist? Especially when the United States still retains morning dress for official government functions. As determined by the Area Presidency and mission president, elders in select teaching areas may wear a blue, collared, button-up dress shirt, with or without a . Fortunately, since then, the production of cutaways in the US has increased, but, sorry to say, inaugural attire has seemingly settled on the black business (also called sack) suit without a hat. There is no excuse for any American male to dress poorly. The world needs to embrace the beautiful, the dignified and charmed if to but contrast that which lacks it. Joe Biden came in a navy single breasted 3 button overcoat with notched lapels, which was made by Ralph Lauren at a Hickey Freeman factory in the US. I wish Trump would shorten the tie and button his coat more. The article traces the complicated path Obama toward in deciding to intervene in Libya last year. I learned that on the campaign.. I am not sure whether Obama chooses his own clothes or if he has someone who does it for him. I believe it is safe to suggest they were dressing in a more formal fashion by choice rather than the seeming habits of the others, by convention, given there are many photos of both of these men in formal dress at various occasions, e.g., Wilson at Versailles Treaty signing, Kennedy at his wedding. The prime minister is an old Etonian. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information| Ad Choices One of the things he talked about was a study that showed that even mundane choices in our daily lives, e.g., choosing the clothes to wear on any given day, requires a significant amount of brain activity. One expects his first inauguration was performed quickly and privately. Harry S. Truman swearing the oath. One thing that hasnt changed? Oh, one more difference, the money spent on these dresses wanders to some overly rich designers in France, Italy, or some place else; it does not support some earnest, middle-class craftsman/woman in your neighborhood (like seen in Astairs classical Swing Time). Should You Wear Flashy Dress Shoes & Spectators? But, still, a white bow tie with a tuxedo? In the article Obamas Way, Vanity Fair writer Michael Lewis provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the conviction and decisions of the most powerful man in the world, at one moment an aggressive basketball player and the next debating whether to send young Coloradans into battles thousands of miles from U.S. soil. President Biden declared himself President, sartorially, on Inauguration Day. At his inauguration, we can see him wearing a fitted fur-lined overcoat with fur collar and cuffs as well as a top hat but without gloves. My wife makes fun of how routinized Ive become, he says. 4. There was a recent article, I believe in Vanity Fair, that interviewed President Obama. As he told Vanity Fair: "You'll see I wear only gray or blue suits," [Obama] said. Alas how times have changed! The president offered Lewis unusual access, letting him join the presidents unpublicized basketball games and see parts of Air Force One that most reporters are not allowed to see. Of course, during the speech he took off his top hat. Thank you, Charles Stanforth, for the answer to my question about Coolidges hatband. Until a makeover prior to the 1980 election, Mr. Carter always looked to me like he was wearing a big brothers clothes. President Biden mostly chooses his suits from his local tailor shop in Wilmington, Delaware for a moderate price, and the tailoring is impeccable; former President Trump on the other hand has his suits custom made by the Italian luxury brand Brioni for a whopping $3,000. Washingtons women will surely continue to get the most attention for their attire, but keep an eye on the Presidents clothing. The Top 10 Most Fashionable Presidents In U.S. History. However, although Hart Marx is headquartered in Chicago, the suits are made in Des Plaines, IL.. On the other hand , Oxxford tailors all their suits are right in Chicago. Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2009 and updated in 2017. When Kamala Harris, Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton all show up wearing purple, it must mean something. 4.1K views, 50 likes, 28 loves, 154 comments, 48 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from 7th District AME Church: Thursday Morning Opening Session It was well-publicized at the time that Mrs. Reagan was the person who made the decision to request formal wear for the gentlemen. Id love to see someone wear proper morning attire for an inauguration. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). At a yearly salary of $400,000 the president could certainly buy decent clothes, however I am not even sure he has to pay for his own clothes. Yes, suggest several studies, including one published in the journal Science on Feb. 6, 2009. Which presidents did not wear Brooks Brothers? Among his favorite designers are, His dark tie of a single color or striped, Oxford cotton shirt, Italian collar (without buttoning) and all supplemented with a pair of Ray-Ban gave him glamor and enshrined the emblematic of his unique style. President Obama always wears the same thing. This one was updated and modified. There varied colors of shoes that a woman can wear with a navy blue suit. Womens attire attracted heavy attention at President Bidens inauguration, and rightly so. Now, what do you think would be appropriate attire for such an event? Even though hes moving and walking, you can still see it hits right at the top. But the president tells Lewis he sticks to wearing blue, gray and black suits not out of a lack of style or adventure, but to save his mind for other decisions. Since they are practically always the same. Dear Thomas, thanks for sharing your opinion. He occasionally wore a pin-striped suit. 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The former President explained the logic behind this routine: "You will see that I wear only gray or blue suits. ET. You cant be going through the day distracted by trivia.. Drake Baer was a contributing writer at Fast Company, where he covered work culture. He has worked on websites such as Space.com and Tom's Guide, and is a contributor on Medium (opens in new tab), covering how we age and how to optimize the mind and body through time. Red is associated with love, power, nobility and now, scientists say, attention to detail. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Ultimately, Fresh said the tailoring on Bidens suits and details like pocket squares make him look more youthful, confident and ready. Which is part of his secret to getting so much done. But in fact Bidens dress has been sending messages since he declared his candidacy 21 months ago. It would be appreciated by readers such as myself if you would direct your umbrage and vituperation concerning your political disappointment to another forum more appropriate for politically oriented insults. For more information about his wardrobe take a look at this post. If the suit is black, he combines the white shirt with a black or burgundy tie. Or a top hat with a sack suit. Red has long been associated with love. Four years ago, I thought to myself, okay he wore a white tie with a notch lapel suit, lets forgive him especially in these times when not many men wear formal dress in the first place. Bush, not George W. Bush. Andrew Jackson wore a very different outfit with a black tailcoat, trousers, and vest, combined with a white starched shirt and big black bow tie. That makes sense; it was 100% standard-issue presidential attire. However, Obama knows how to wear a suit and he wears it well. I understand many of these comments but I agree with your summation completely. Finely written article, as are all that I have read on this blog. "Previous research linked blue and red to enhanced cognitive performance, but disagreed on which provides the greatest boost," said study leader Juliet Zhu of the University of British Columbia. So unconcerned was FDR with his clothing, that Eleanor wrote of her surprise that the President asked to have his shirt cuffs turned in an effort to extend their usefulness. In recent times, only Ronald Reagan, who had a personal tailor in Los Angeles, and Jimmy Carter, did not have pieces of the brand in their wardrobe.

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why do presidents wear blue suits