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 7 of 18)

Annie, Central MA Jan 22nd 2009 11:32PM

Does that mean they're going to prove their critics right? Are they going to dress ghetto and hope to set new fashion trends? If that's the case, God help us, once they start redecorating the White House !!!

Keith Jan 22nd 2009 9:32PM

Don't we all have more significant issues to address here---e.g. two wars and a devastating financial crisis? The U.S has not been so imperilled since the Great Depression and WWII, and you folks are obsessing about the President's sartorical skills. God!

Lisa Jan 22nd 2009 9:38PM

Who made you a fashion specialist? You must go with the trend instead of setting the tread.
How is it determined that your advice on fashion makes it right? Give me a break...Just because "YOU" or the fashion industry says it isn't correct....in a few years it probably will be the "in thing" Your mother must have voted you the best fashion authority.

greenbayladi Jan 22nd 2009 9:35PM

Who Cares? Michelle looked beautiful and Barack looked smashing. I loved the bowtie.

claus Jan 22nd 2009 9:35PM

I agree that this is a ridiculous thing to cover - complete small minded sniping at something truly great and important. ALSO I thought what he was wearing looking GREAT. When I saw it I thought it was completely elegant.

Marie Jan 22nd 2009 9:41PM

I say President Obama and 1st Lady looked absolutely stunning. Just maybe Flusser, his CHANGE includes ur way or style of dressing. Surely, Mr. Obama knew what he was wearing & how he would look. I have seen him in a tuxedo before and he looked quite a statesman, so he was dressed the way he wanted to be dressed for that occasion. Thank u.

elvira walker Jan 22nd 2009 9:38PM

Laura -- You are a true IDIOT. You sound like a FAT GIRL. Is that how you recognize what a person with a large butt should wear?

Jackie Jan 22nd 2009 9:40PM

It is my fervent wish that the only thing we have to complain and/or worry about during President Obama's administration is his sense of style. Ridiculous nit-picking. He looked fine!

Mariah Jan 22nd 2009 9:48PM

I am so tired of this fashion crap.

If the president can stop the war deaths....give the returning GI"S the
health care they need...end this depression (call it what you like) and reinstate american jobs....I personally don't care if he and the first lady show up in a gunny sack.

CCGREEN Jan 22nd 2009 9:41PM

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT BRAND OF SHIE HE WEARS? I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ITS BOXERS OR BRIEFS... I THOUGHT A DARKER TIE WOULD LOOK BETTER BUT HE COULD COME IN BLUE JEANS, DOES HE WEAR BLUE JEANS... AND HE WOULD BE OK WITH ME... I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE SECRET SERVICE BUYS SUITS IN BULK... AND IF THEY BUY SHOES IN BULK LIKE UNIFORMS ????

Jackie Jan 22nd 2009 9:45PM

It appears you all have nothing better to do except make idiotic comments. President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are conservative. Fashion isn't a priority to them ~ we all know they could've chosen any designer their hearts desired. Perhaps you all should educate yourselves on why the First Lady made her dress choice. Oh by the way, "President Obama" could've worn a t-shirt and looked just as fashionable. He's our PRESIDENT - rejoice on that!!!

nnn Jan 22nd 2009 9:46PM

Sad Day-- BLACK TUESDAY

hcedeee Jan 22nd 2009 9:46PM

You said; "You sound like a fat girl".
Do you really hear other posters talking??
Do the voices make you so angry? Of course the first lady has a big butt and she looks like James Brown in drag.

tina Jan 22nd 2009 9:50PM

...are you serious??? have you nothing better to report on....get a life...for real...

ben Jan 22nd 2009 9:51PM

If you think you know so much, how come you're still
striving to make? Are you working? And if so, are you in the six or above ? Because if you're not, you should be thinking about your own misery and stop wasting your time talking about other people who are trying to help you. Okay? Do you have Healthcare? are you a Deadbeat? When was the last time you went to see a dentist? Ummmm....Get a life all of you traitors you maybe one paycheck away from being homeless.

joe Jan 22nd 2009 9:52PM

only a queer would notice this crap. who cares! If he can fix this economy - he could crossdress for all I care!

Kathy Jan 22nd 2009 10:05PM

I think President Obama looked great and so did his wife Michelle. She has a great sense of style and is a very confident woman that will wear what she feels comfortable in and looks great. The media and people are too judgemental of what people wear.

hcedeee Jan 22nd 2009 9:55PM

Gloria said...
Just a note to reply to Sus this is a new day. There are going to be new trends set. He can wear anything he want to wear get over it. This is not a family who's plans are to let your kind tell them want to wear. Michelle has made that clear.
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You said; "Your Kind"? Thanks for exposing yourself as a RACIST.

fran Jan 22nd 2009 10:02PM

LIKE WE CARE ABOUT NOTCHED LABELS AND BOW TIES. SOME PEOPLE NEED A LIFE, BAD.... ALL THIS CRAP ABOUT TUXES AND DRESSES IS SO LOWER LIFE FORM. WHAT MATTERS IS WHETHER OBAMA IS GOING TO BE HONEST AND TRUSTWORTHY AND STOP THE CHICAGO POLITICS AND GET RID OF HIS SHADY CHICAGO FRIENDS.....

hcedeee Jan 22nd 2009 10:02PM

Karen said...
The tie was crazy, but the window covering that Michelle wore wrapped around her masquerading as a dress was just hideous. Probably just pulled it down from one of the windows in the White House.
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You are so right! I think she heard that Hillary was back in town and thought she was coming back for the drapes she didn't take and to protect them she wore them as a dress.