Bush wears a rented tux to Buckingham Palace

[linux_pro]

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/perks....leId=69 It scares me to think this man represents our entire nation at these functions. Doesn't he have handlers that are supposed to take care of details like that? As a taxpayer, I can honestly say I wouldn't mind at all if my tax money was spent on buying our President a decent tuxedo, and even hiring someone to choose it for him.

 

[hopkins_student]

I'm sure he has a dinner suit, in fact he may have had one made for him by Oxxford when he had his suit and topcoat made for his first inauguration, but I can't say for sure. In the article, they're talking about white tie, and I can't really blame him for not owning tails.

Also, we would have to change laws in order for the President to use taxpayer money to purchase clothing.

 

[RJman]

Frankly the fact the POTUS had to rent tails is more likely to endear him to the populace than his tripping gaily up the steps of Buck House resplendent in Brummel-like bespoke finery.

I do recall seeing a clip of GWB in white tie in Fahrenheit 9/11, but perhaps he borrowed or rented those too. In any case, how on earth would information the most powerful man in the world rented an outfit leak out unless it was meant to?

 

[Alexander Kabbaz]

how on earth would information the most powerful man in the world rented an outfit leak out unless it was meant to?

At least someone's making sense here.

 

[linux_pro]

I'm sure the merchant he rented it from is quite proud of the business. Maybe it was leaked from one of its employees. Who knows.

What is a POTUS?

 

[hopkins_student]

POTUS = President of the United States

I'd be surprised if it was rented in his name or even if anyone from the store where it was rented was present for the fitting.

 

[Manton]

http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_3_tailcoats.html

 

[Alexander Kabbaz]

Manton - Thank your for that link. Extremely interesting point-of-view. In light of the premise, I wonder if I might begin to clean and polish my BatWing Collar Patterns in preparation for bronzing?

 

[linux_pro]

That was a fascinating article Manton. Thanks for the post.

Maybe Bush is setting a new trend? Or following a new trend?

 

[gregory]

I heard the POTUS rent his brain as well (from Karl Rove)

 

[Manton]

BTW, I wrote it.

 

[linux_pro]

Excellent piece. I loved the historical content.

I've often wondered whether the simplifying of fashion, and the loosening of social customs, could be considered a symbol of the decline of progress in the Industrial Age, much like the loosening of social custom could be used to illustrate the decline of the Roman Empire.

Do you think Bush was attempting to start (or follow) a new fashion trend?

 

[Concordia]

Quote:

how on earth would information the most powerful man in the world rented an outfit leak out unless it was meant to?
At least someone's making sense here.
Which leaves open the possibility that he actually owns tails for the other functions he attends, but needed to burnish his "regular guy" credentials by letting this story out.

 

[AlanC]

Nice article, Manton. As my old history professor always said (a fellow whose politics would scare the bejeebies out of a lot of folks around here--he and I got along famously.

), symbolic acts ultimately are the most important. They speak to the true character of an individual as there is no immediate benefit to them, no lobbyists to be satisfied. Saying goodbye to white tie probably speaks more to the age than the man, however. Sadly, as RJMan points out, we live in a time when ceremony is not valued. That's one reason why I appreciated the state ceremony surrounding Ronald Reagan's passing. They were ceremonial muscles that needed to be exercised lest they be lost.

 

[Alias]

I really liked that article. Best line ever: "Bush. Texas. Tuxedo."

I'm all for the evolution of style. Who knows, maybe in a hundred years we'll see butlers wearing two-piece suits and sportjackets + odd trousers becoming the new rule.