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 4 of 18)

deb Jan 22nd 2009 8:41PM

What a ludricrous commentary-who noticed his lapels? It's his personal sense of style-notched collar, pins, whatever. Perhaps he chose the white bow tie to coordinate with his wife, who, incidentally looked lovely. Just for the record, her dress was designed by a 20-something and if you think her butt looks big, get your eyes examined. She has had 2 lovely daughters and looks fab.

Kathy Jan 22nd 2009 8:42PM

Some people aren't happy until they start 'putting down' someone. Get a life!

Tommy Jan 22nd 2009 8:43PM

The man looked great...you Flusser, wish you were the Pres

Linda Jan 22nd 2009 8:45PM

BI-RACIAL! Our new president is half black - over 1/2 white HE IS BI - RACIAL!

UniqueMe Jan 22nd 2009 9:10PM

Really?
Well, it's mighty funny to me that so many others think otherwise.
BTW.....I'm sure you know the "one drop" rule.
Let's not play with it.....he's Black....in all other arenas.
ONLY because he is President, some people want to say he's bi-racial. Please, just stop it!
Really...does it matter! Does it make you feel better (if you voted for him) that he is (as you put it) half white and half black? Does that get you off the hook...you didn't vote for a Black man but you voted for a half white and half black man? Just stop it....it's okay that a our President is Black!

Babs Jan 22nd 2009 9:12PM

AMEN!
Why do they refer to him as the first Black President
He is the first Bi-racial president.

But alas if he were listed as the first "black" president he could get more votes from the racist that voted him in based on his "color" and not his views.

Half of those that voted did not even know who was his running mate.

Doubt it listen to Howard Stern interviewing those that voted asking what they thought of his pick as Sarah Palin as his running mate, and they thought it was great.
Howard Stern took all of McCains choices and views and inserted Obama's name and many of the people thinking it was Obama views (because they are ill informed and voted based on race) "agreed" with McCains choices, based only on race!

That my friends is racist!!

Babs Jan 22nd 2009 9:21PM

Yes Really
He IS bi-racial, why do you want him to be portrayed as Black?
Should he not be "proud" of being bi-racial?

Oh wait, again it is worth more votes by ignorant people if you are listed as being black!!!

You get Real Uniqueme!

ObamaS*cks Jan 22nd 2009 9:39PM

UniqueMe

YOU ARE A RACIST PIG!!!!!

Jackie Jan 22nd 2009 8:46PM

Mrs. Obama is coming along, slowly looking more like the first lady. Mrs. Biden is the one that needs some help. She looks more like a middle aged woman trying to compete with the young ones. Maybe it would be classier for her to look the part of a Vice President's wife, take some tips from Mrs. Laura Bush, class all the way.

Rickster Jan 22nd 2009 8:48PM

It's winter. One does not wear a white tie with a black tuxedo ever, especially not in winter. It should have been black. But Obama does not follow silly conventions like this. The first few photos of the new president in the Oval Office showed that he wasn't even wearing his suit jacket. That's great. Maybe he'll do a better job if he's relaxed and comfortable.

cam agosto Jan 22nd 2009 8:50PM

HELLO!!!! can someone say priorities!!!!??? i agree that it is important to put one's best foot forward for this gala event, but who cares about a notched collar not going with the tie? he looked fantastic and more importantly, he speaks English, not like the outgoing stuttering Texan we have had to endure for the past eight years.

Shirl Jan 22nd 2009 9:41PM

There you go--don't say anything bad about Obama, but it's okay to bash Bush.

CK Jan 22nd 2009 8:49PM

You know, I looked at looked at President Obama's attire and just couldn't quite put my finger on what didn't look right....but I knew something was amiss. Ah yes! The white bow tie with the notched lapels! He looked nice though in spite of this faux fas. Mrs. Obama looked quite stunning as well....but I would have liked to see her hair in an up-do....I mean the dress was so decidely evening attire that a hair-do with a bit more polish might have been nice. I would think that even though they had a tremendously busy day's schedule they would have had people who could have attended to them to truely get ready for the evening's events. Oh...and yes...there is much more to be concerned about in our Country than how the President and First Lady dress. Still....some of us like to check out their fashion sense -- if nothing than for a bit of fun :)

jj48isgreat Jan 22nd 2009 8:51PM

Oh, this story HAS to be wrong. The way they have been talking, I thought that Obama NEVER made mistakes! Please, tell me that this story is a bad joke--I don't think that I will be able to sleep for a week.

Who cares Jan 23rd 2009 5:37PM

Ohhhh please! This is what most folk fail to realize: It's a brand new day. President Obama doesn't need someone telling him how to dress! What worked for past Prezs DOESN'T work for this man. Flusser, no-one cares about your opinion. It's just that--YOURS! Who cares if you are the so-called authority on men's style! Evidently not being that Mr. President DIDN'T ask YOUR opinion for that evening! lol. I think you're just mad about that. :o(

Beverly Jan 23rd 2009 12:10AM

You gotta be kidding???!!! 3 points:

1. Obama would have looked good if he had worn jeans and a t-shirt.
2. He has plenty of time to fill the designers' coffers with plenty of loot!
3. Think he has more important things to worry about at this juncture.

Besides, he has time to correct this "faux pas". (Gosh another repeat of the oath of office???!!!)

AND, if the international scene cares, maybe he'll set a new fashion trend, which seems to be the American way anyway -- wear what you want wherever (although, this is not my thinking totally).

Babs Jan 22nd 2009 9:10PM

"While we're all rejoicing at the fact that Barack Obama is our new president"...

... Umm "we" are NOT all rejoicing at the fact that Barack Obama is our new president.

Who the hell cares what he is wearing?
He needs to keep us safe.

That is the bottom line !

The government was never formed to financially support those who do not work for a living.

More and more people will have their hands out waiting for money with the Dems happy to oblige.

That is the only way Dems win, offer money to non working people.

angie b Jan 22nd 2009 8:55PM

Laura, what do you mean a "large figure"? If she is considered large, then I don't know what large is! People with absolutely NOTHING else to do than to pick apart what other people are wearing really need to get a life/hobby/f@#$ed! And, I rather have her "big butt" than a flat pancake of an ass- do I detect a little "ass envy"? I thought she looked absolutely beautiful- and he was as dashing as ANY president has EVER been! I'm sure that whatever the first couple would have worn would have been picked apart by the wannabe fashion police. And in case you didn't know, her catalogue sense of fashion- as you so lamely put it, is refreshing and relatable. If she was a clothes horse, she be critcized for that as well. The Obamas hopefully realize they can't please everyone- especially uptight pseudo fashionista crackpots like you.

Urkiddinmee Jan 23rd 2009 11:28AM

Interesting what a wide margin for error the libs give the New Messiah! I can't help but wonder what these same apologists would be saying if Bush had worn such circus clown attire?!

JANE GRAY Jan 22nd 2009 8:55PM

QUITE FRANKLY, OBAMA CAN COME OUT IN CUFFS, AND COLLAR, AND NOTING BY SOME BLACK SATIN BOXERS AND HE WILL LOOK JUST FIIIIIIINE!!!

HE AND HIS WIFE DO EVERYTHING DIFFERENT IN CASE YOU DID NOT NOTICE, YOUR JUST CRITICAN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS "STANDARD" TO GO BY.
THE OBAMA'S ARE DOING JUST FINE ACCORDING TO THE MILLION'S WHO WENT TO CHEER THEM ON,, THEY SWING BABY!!!! SWEET!!