Vanity fair best dressed hall of fame

jpeirpont · Mar 19, 2004

I was reading Vanity Fair's International best dressed Hall of fame and a lot of the names were the usual suspects (Giovanni Agnelli, Fred Astire, Cary Grant). But then I saw Ronald Reagan, was he considered a great dresser in his time? He always seem to dress like a working class fella off to a wedding in my opinion, or was that just to satisfy his constitutes? Since he needed to appeal to the people in the Bible belt?
I was very young when he took office so I could be completely off.

I was just curious about how valid Vanity Fair's list is.

jcusey · Mar 19, 2004

But then I saw Ronald Reagan, was he considered a great dresser in his time? He always seem to dress like a working class fella off to a wedding in my opinion, or was that just to satisfy his constitutes?

Reagan was a superlative dresser. Remember that he came of age in Hollywood at a time when leading men were expected to know how to dress.

His personal style was in keeping with the broad-shouldered, Windsor-knot, Oxxford look, but it was very well-done. Frankly, I can't remember seeing the leader of a democratic nation who understood about showing cuff since Reagan. And he made the brown suit acceptable again.

He was certainly the best-dressed American president since Kennedy, and you could make a very good argument that he left Kennedy in the dust, sartorially speaking.

AlanC · Mar 19, 2004

Since he needed to appeal to the people in the Bible belt?

Yeah, you've got to be careful of those Bible belt types...

(does your Bible belt have to match your shoes?)

ejw · Oct 30, 2007

Originally Posted by jcusey

Reagan was a superlative dresser. Remember that he came of age in Hollywood at a time when leading men were expected to know how to dress.

His personal style was in keeping with the broad-shouldered, Windsor-knot, Oxxford look, but it was very well-done. Frankly, I can't remember seeing the leader of a democratic nation who understood about showing cuff since Reagan. And he made the brown suit acceptable again.

He was certainly the best-dressed American president since Kennedy, and you could make a very good argument that he left Kennedy in the dust, sartorially speaking.

Reagan, though I am not a Republican (I am a registered Libertarian and only vote such) was indeed a very sharp dresser. His suits were well tailored, and he also wore, besides brown, navy pinstriped suits - always had an elegant shirt, well made and knotted tie, beautiful cufflinks which he knew how to show properly, and he always had a tasteful pocket square - always. He was elegant in his manner and how he carried himself and personified proper dress.

NorCal_1 · Oct 30, 2007

there are some great photo's of Reagan on Getty Images

Cantabrigian · Oct 30, 2007

Originally Posted by jcusey

Reagan was a superlative dresser. Remember that he came of age in Hollywood at a time when leading men were expected to know how to dress.

His personal style was in keeping with the broad-shouldered, Windsor-knot, Oxxford look, but it was very well-done. Frankly, I can't remember seeing the leader of a democratic nation who understood about showing cuff since Reagan. And he made the brown suit acceptable again.

He was certainly the best-dressed American president since Kennedy, and you could make a very good argument that he left Kennedy in the dust, sartorially speaking.
I think that largely overstates the case but Reagan's dress is emblematic of a version of the 80s power look.

It's a look that has - happily IMO - fallen out of favor but an influential one nonetheless.

I might place GHWB above Reagan but I'd place either one well behind Kennedy.

lasbar · Oct 30, 2007

It's quite difficult to see Ronald Reagan nowadays....The 80's style has to be put into perspective...

Ronald Reagan was quite elegant...

ejw · Oct 30, 2007

Originally Posted by Cantabrigian

I think that largely overstates the case but Reagan's dress is emblematic of a version of the 80s power look.

It's a look that has - happily IMO - fallen out of favor but an influential one nonetheless.

I might place GHWB above Reagan but I'd place either one well behind Kennedy.

Since when is a pocket square, folded in any style, considered only 80's? Suit jackets still have the handkerchief pocket, do they not? How careless and slovenly to see men without the proper acrutrument in that pocket. GHWB dressed well, overall, but he didn't come close to Reagan's taste or style. Now, granted, I like the 3 botton suit better than the two - although I have to admit, I really like the double-breasted suit, and hopefully it comes back into vogue again.

Will · Oct 30, 2007

Originally Posted by ejw

although I have to admit, I really like the double-breasted suit, and hopefully it comes back into vogue again.

It went out?

Cantabrigian · Oct 30, 2007

Originally Posted by ejw

Since when is a pocket square, folded in any style, considered only 80's? Suit jackets still have the handkerchief pocket, do they not? How careless and slovenly to see men without the proper acrutrument in that pocket. GHWB dressed well, overall, but he didn't come close to Reagan's taste or style. Now, granted, I like the 3 botton suit better than the two - although I have to admit, I really like the double-breasted suit, and hopefully it comes back into vogue again.
Don't know what made you think that I think that pocket squares are 80s.

I'm talking more about heavily padded, extended shoulders and unsettlingly symetrical windsor knots.

Though it would be cool if the DB became wearable again.

jpeirpont · Oct 30, 2007

You know a thread is old when you had no idea you created it.

LabelKing · Oct 30, 2007

Reagan came from Hollywood so he knew looking good was an essential component of respectable presentation.

ejw · Oct 30, 2007

Originally Posted by Cantabrigian

Don't know what made you think that I think that pocket squares are 80s.

I'm talking more about heavily padded, extended shoulders and unsettlingly symetrical windsor knots.

Though it would be cool if the DB became wearable again.

gotcha! Actually the pocket square has never been just for one decade, I agree. What I admired about the Gipper was also that he knew exactly how to show so easily and naturally, his cuffs - replete with elegant and tastefull cuff links. The current President could learn a thing or two about dress from Reagan. Neither he, nor did Clinton, have the vaguest of notions of how to properly present themselves. They looked, or look, anything other than presidential. Also, to the previous poster, it is no secret that a double breasted suit is not in vogue at the moment, although it is always a classic, to be sure. I have one made by Baroni that I'll wear on occasion.

Joel_Cairo · Oct 30, 2007

Originally Posted by lasbar

It's quite difficult to see Ronald Reagan nowadays....

must...resist...easy...joke....

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