Obama's First Fashion Faux Pas

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Jan 21st 2009 at 6:02PM

While we're all rejoicing at the fact that Barack Obama is our new president, we did have some reservations about the tuxedo he wore to the inauguration ball (above). Simply put, the combination of a notched-lapel dinner jacket (by Hart Schaffner Marx) and a big, shiny white bow tie was not quite the thing for a commander-in-chief. We asked our old friend Alan Flusser, the world's leading authority on men's style who's been interviewed several times about Obama's dress sense, for his thoughts on the matter. Flusser is a renowned designer and author of several seminal works on men's style including Dressing the Man: Mastering The Art of Permanent Fashion. You can check out his interview with Charlie Rose here.

In Dressing the Man, Flusser writes, "The whole idea of a formal suit [i.e. tuxedo] is to distinguish itself from the notch-lapel business suit, not replicate it." Flusser declares that a dinner jacket with notched lapels is nothing short of a "sartorial oxymoron, convoluting both the form's aesthetic logic and its promise of timeless elegance." A proper dinner jacket should have peaked lapels, or, for slightly less formal occasions, a shawl collar. As for the white bow tie, that should only ever be worn with tails - hence the classic "white tie and tails" - and should never be satin. (For the record, George W. Bush was also fond of the notched lapel look - though thankfully not the white bow tie - which showed to his disadvantage when he met with stylish French President Nicolas Sarkozy.)

"I've been doing interviews about how purposeful and reasonably stylish Obama dresses and how he might just begin to set a new fashion bar for the congressional set," Flusser tells Luxist, "and then he goes and shows up in that hodgepodge of formalwear contrivance. In fact, although we make clothes for people he knows, I have been reluctant to reach out to him because he obviously has more on his plate than any one human is entitled to. However, after last night's display of sartorial naivety, I am now determined to throw my hat into the ring of potential fashion advisors/designers for his evolving Presidential wardrobe. Frankly I care less as to whether we make his clothes than teaching him what dressing in a statesman-like manner actually constitutes. I think he's just the greatest and I want nothing more for him than to succeed at everything."

That said, Flusser notes, "Talk about dressing green - this is a [sartorial] advisor kind of meltdown. I don't care if he chooses to wear mediocre or inexpensive clothes but that is no excuse for sporting a notch lapel (always peaked or shawl lapel) dinner jacket with an oversized white bow tie, making him look gift wrapped and therefore costumed. Although Obama tends to look as if he's comfortable and wearing the clothes, last night's ensemble made him look as if the clothes were wearing him, like he was taking his best shot trying to wear something he had little feel for, which obviously (as you have so correctly observed) he does not. Okay, sermon over."

Note - for more on the ins and outs of men's formal attire, see last week's Classicist column, "Ralph Lauren, Whit Stillman and Black Tie," and this post from Michael Williams' brilliant style blog A Continuous Lean.

Tags: Alan Flusser, AlanFlusser, Barack Obama, BarackObama, Black tie, BlackTie, inauguration, Tuxedo

Filed under: Men's Style

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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 18)

thorny branch Jan 22nd 2009 11:45PM

uh oh...some whiny 25%ers have shown up to throw their unflailing misery around. will you people please go whine w/ your own kind. you're on the wrong page!

we don't care wht you think. you lost! goodbye. if you liked the last 8 years so much go sit in your way back machines. good luck w/ that...yeesh!

Kathy Jan 22nd 2009 8:18PM

1) He looked great.
2) If you say so, he made a faux pas.
3) Who cares? If you don't have anything but junk like this to fill up space on aol, you're being paid too much. Or maybe they're just filling up space with bloggers.

Shon Jan 22nd 2009 8:25PM

As for the Mrs she was a MESS

Rosie Jan 22nd 2009 8:26PM

Obama will do more than just a faux pas over the next four years. Now that the party is over, get ready America, you dems are in for a big disappointment! He does not have the experience to be a President in any way, shape or form.

Cat Jan 23rd 2009 9:09AM

Who cares! I would hope is focus isn't on his tuxedo and on our country. The fact that he is a gentleman whether or not his bow tie is the right size? People-get real.

E Jan 23rd 2009 11:10AM

What? You couldn't find any other negative comment about him so you created a faux pas.

Shirl Jan 22nd 2009 8:27PM

Wow, what is wrong with the people expressing themselves about the Obama's clothes ( that as far as I am concerned were both tacky). If someone had said ugly things about the Bush's wardrobe most of them would be cheering. Was there such an outcry when people made fun of Hilary ?
I did not vote for Obama, but I hope he is the best president we ever had.

Thais Jan 22nd 2009 8:28PM

he and she should have advisors to help them not commit fashion faux pas - obviously, they do not. Let's hope the serious stuff gets more attention

Deborah H. Jan 22nd 2009 8:29PM

Oh yes, the first thought that popped into my head when I saw the President in his formal wear was "is that a notched collar with a bow tie!!!" NOT, you guys are in wayyyy to deep.

Elena Jan 22nd 2009 8:33PM

I believe President Obama and the First Lady looked absolutely striking, beautiful, handsome, etc. etc. etc. They are so young and they looked so in love. I feel such an optimisan and hope.

As far as the clothing critique...get a life, you really had to look hard to criticize this charming young couple.

bob WONG Jan 22nd 2009 8:40PM

Obama signed three executive orders today and when questioned about them, incredibly. Oabama was not able to advise on the content. Obama was a mistake and those who voted for him sill rue the day they cast that vote. If a republican did likewise, the liberal media would have a field day. What bias! Who cares. Obama will self destruct soon!

Deborah Jan 22nd 2009 9:26PM

Do you believe that or is it wishful thinking?

Bill Jan 22nd 2009 8:39PM

Who really cares what he wears! he looked nice as did his wife. Maybe he is just one of us and don't really care what tie goes with what suit collar! He has MANY other important things to stress about. Should he be impeached for this faux pas! I think not1

Erika Jan 22nd 2009 8:40PM

She shows up in a hobnail bedspread, and he wears a
white tie with a suit jacket?

At least, so far, their political sense seems to be better than their sartorial sense.

EEDEER Jan 22nd 2009 8:42PM

BIG FAT DEAL OVER NOTHING!

Jenn Jan 22nd 2009 8:42PM

Are you serious?? If this is all you have to do with your time is complain about a white satin tie.. I feel sorry for you. Who died and made you the fashion police? Try to find something more constructive to waste your time on. I'm sure you have a mirror in your house some where! Get a life.

Sandy Jan 22nd 2009 8:42PM

As far as the critisicm on Barack and Michelle's "faux pas",that is the least anyone important thing to worry about. They both looked very nice and I bet he was thinking about which problem to tackle first.

Our country is in a mess and I believe he's the man to get things straightened out. I wish him the best of luck and hope everyone will give him a chance.

People are so quick to criticise. C'mon people lets give him our support.

hcedeee Jan 22nd 2009 9:37PM

We support our country and not the President just like liberals support the troops but hope we lose a war.

Terry Jan 22nd 2009 8:40PM

Maybe he wore that bow tie to show his allegiance to Farakhan. Afterall, he had to retake the oath do his blunder. And by the way, in the retaking of the oath, a bible was not used.

RERE Jan 22nd 2009 8:41PM

What does the dress have to do with what he has in store for him to do? I could care less of what they wore but then I am a blue jean type of person. I don't try to be something I am not. Maybe it shows that Obama and his wife are not worried about what they wear. They are human.

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