Tieless Obama

Originally Posted by Thin White Duke 

All politics aside I hate the way he dresses. Bland and boring, no doubt decided by focus groups to get the perfect balance between being businesslike, but not too overdressed, in case the plebs get angry that he's wasting time and money on frivolous clothes. (Paradoxically his missus seems to get a lot of credit and admiration for being well dressed). His dress sense is about as inspiring as his speeches, one note, bland and ineffective. God forbid he might wear a pocket square, or a patterned tie, or step out of the 'politician as everyman' look referenced above of tie off, sleeves rolled up, dress by numbers. I seriously doubt he will influence the death of the tie any more than has already been done by the epidemic of business casual.
Interesting about JFK - I recently read a book with loads of photos of him and while he looks effortlessly casual when dressed down on the yacht or beach in polo shirt, khakis and deck shoes, he is a real schlub in almost every other business dress photo, frequently with both buttons of a two button (not paddock) jacket fastened. Jacquie is given a lot of the credit for him sharpening up his look, but either way this hardly seems to merit Brooks Brothers naming a line of their suits after him!

Originally Posted by DerekS 

tl/dr.....but im pretty sure whatever you said was racist.

Originally Posted by Thin White Duke 

Eh? I'm confused!

Originally Posted by bobyoung7 

JFK killed the hat by appearing in public without one.
Is Obama trying to do the same thing to the necktie?

Originally Posted by Thin White Duke 

Bland and boring, no doubt decided by focus groups to get the perfect balance between being businesslike, but not too overdressed, in case the plebs get angry that he's wasting time and money on frivolous clothes. (Paradoxically his missus seems to get a lot of credit and admiration for being well dressed).

Originally Posted by MatthewJoe 

My sister is a Southern-Trad Preppie, and she takes it as a personal insult when Obama doesn't wear a tie in public.I'm ambivalent. JoeNobody is probably right about why he's doing it. I remember a skit (I think it aired on SNL) that parodied a presidential campaign ad with a president insisting he was common: rolling up his sleeves; drinking a beer atop bundles of hay--really funny. I'll keep looking for it so you guys don't have to take my word for it. 

 

Whatever his intention is, it sure doesn't seem to be winning him a lot of praise. He does it seldom enough, and pulls it off well enough, that I don't think it's a mistake, though.

 

I don't understand why anybody in such a prestigious position would be condemned for buying quality things. A good suit and an Alexander McQueen dress doesn't exactly place the Obamas in Kim Jong-Il territory. Until the president doesn't go anywhere without a cigar and a Segway, I won't worry.