This is quite obviously more of a yarn about inequality in dress standards and the scrutiny that women in the public eye have to face in terms of inexplicably being held to standards of beauty. But even still, owning and wearing the same garment for eight years? That’s impressive. I’ve got some old-ass t-shirts, but age and formal attire are not usually good matches.
Former (sob) First Lady Michelle Obama has revealed a reasonably surprising little titbit of information regarding Barack‘s much-missed time in the White House: He wore the same dang tuxedo to every formal occasion throughout his entire eight year tenure as President of the United States.
Michelle, speaking at the Apple developer’s conference in California a couple of days ago, was making a point about the fashion scrutiny that she – and all women – have to face on a constant basis. While all her state dinner gowns were individually selected, scrutinised by the press, and above all-else never once repeated, Barack flew under the radar by donning the same exact suit, same exact bow tie, and same exact shoes, every dang time.
“This is the unfair thing… You talk about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, no matter what we do, he puts on that same tux. Now, people take pictures of the shoes I wear, the bracelets, the necklace ? They didn’t comment that for eight years he wore that same tux…, same shoes.”
Not that anyone’s gonna run their eyes over a nondescript black suit and notice minute differences – that’s a bigger conversation about the static and unflinching nature of men’s formal fashion that isn’t to be had here and now – but even still, owing and maintaining the same tux for eight years is a fair effort.
‘Course now that he’s free of all Presidential duties Barack has taken it upon himself to carve out a fashion sense that is less “career politician” as it is more “Dad just bought a boat.” And Michelle’s point is as pointed as ever: Women (and in particular those in the public) face an ungodly amount of pressure and scrutiny based solely on whatever it is they choose to wear.
But hey, there you go. Eight years. Two Presidential terms. One crisp black tuxedo.
Yes he did.
Source: The Age.
Photo: Leigh Vogel/Getty.
