Many have long joked that Washington, D.C is Hollywood for ugly people. It hasn't exactly been at the forefront of style, either! But these days, a lot more is going on in political fashion. Around the world, some are trying out real glamour and couture. Others are showing off their personal quirks, in funny ways!
Tracy Brabin — United Kingdom
Parliament member Tracy Brabin caused quite a stir when she showed up to work in this little number. The off-shoulder dress had never been seen before in the chamber, and hasn't since!
A dress purchased online for £35 from ASOS, UK citizens debated if it met the dress code in The House of Commons. But what are the real rules? They say men are supposed to wear formal jackets and ties. But trendy and fancy for women is a fine line these days, isn't it?
Next: See the politicians pushing the boundaries of fashion — the good, the bad, and the ugly!
Miri Regev — Israel
Hailing from Israel, Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev wore an unusual dress at the Cannes Film Festival. Some called it tacky, while others called it creative. It was the dress viewed around the world, either way! What has become of the Jerusalem patterned gown, since then?
If it's ever seen again, it will still be one-of-a-kind. And it just might be, since the statement piece went to auction for charity. Anyone who wanted a full-length ball gown with a historic city skyline lined up to bid. In the end, it went for more than $100,000!
Justin Trudeau — Canada
Justin Trudeau is a part-time heartthrob, part-time Canadian Prime Minister with a secret interest in fashion. How does it manifest, in such a stuffy job? Why, the rebellion can be spotted in his choice of socks! Here, he wears a moose sample from the Trudeau private collection.
Often called the best-dressed politician on earth, Justin does have competition. But in the sock game, he is king. Photographers have documented his style choices from flashy red to polka dot. And on occasion, he wears Star Wars patterns: Chewbacca even once peeked below his cuff-free trousers!
Arnold Schwarzenegger — USA
Arnold Schwarzenegger was an actor and businessman long before he ran for Governor of California. But from 2003 to 2011, he ruled the Golden State! On the trail and during TV interviews, voters got to see a bit of the man's personal style. The 'Governator' paired suits with cowboy boots, and it seems he has quite the collection!
On social media, Arnold shared his private collection: ''It's been a year, so it's time for my annual boot cleaning. One thing you learn in sports is the importance of follow-through. Starting something isn't enough — you have to finish. I've collected these boots since I moved to America. The follow-through is conditioning them every year." Hasta la vista, sneakers!
Michelle Obama — USA
Michelle Obama was praised for her wardrobe throughout her eight years as First Lady. Sometimes she wore Ann Taylor and JCrew, and sometimes she wore glittery glamour at night. But unlike most in the job before, Michelle also broke out real casualwear, like the American mom she was!
With a fitness program to curb childhood obesity as First Lady, Michelle always made sure to choose comfort to show off her moves. What was her personal style philosophy? She explained: "I always say that women should wear whatever makes them feel good about themselves. That's what I always try to do." Goal achieved, fans confirmed!
Tulsi Gabbard — USA
Recent presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is often seen wearing pantsuits on the job. But the current congresswoman and Army National Guard officer has become known for one signature move, beyond her home state of Hawaii. Tulsi has been spotted wearing a real lei over her formalwear, frequently!
Whether she is campaigning on the island or hosting events on the mainland, Tulsi loves to show off her flowers. No cheap, plastic fakery is allowed of course. The traditional necklace is meant to symbolize friendship, love, honor, or celebration. Aloha, to Washinton D.C. friends and foes!
Nicolle Flint — Australia
Nicolle Flint is a member of parliament way out in Australia. Besides deadly snakes, sharks, and spiders, there are other problems going on: MP Nicolle felt that there was way too much critical chit chat about female outfits in her field, and took to social media. This garbage bag protest dress went viral!
Nicolle explained: “I’ve put up with a lot as a woman in politics. Police charged a creepy old man with stalking me. My campaign office was vandalized, calling me a skank and a prostitute who charges 60 dollars an hour...Then yesterday, Peter Goers criticized the way I look.” Symbolism success: It was total rubbish, she showed!
Kamala Harris — USA
Cali Senator Kamala Harris decided to run for VP in the 2o2o race. A serious job, no doubt. But does that means she left her beloved Chuck Taylors behind, for bigger things? No way, she said: "I just love them...it's either Chucks or heels... Always has been."
Kamala the candidate actually has several styles of the brand, and she has been spotted at everything from Steak Fry events to city parades in these kicks. Some think they increase her relatability and likability as a government official. But fashion and politics are always debatable!
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — USA
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is one of the youngest members of congress right now, and she definitely brings some millennial style to the game. For a magazine profile during her campaign, the under-30 candidate wore a well-tailored, all-green lady suit. It was a designer ensemble, and a bit pricey!
The $1,990 Gabriela Hearst blazer was paired with $890 matching pants. Then, she wore $625 Manolo Blahnik heels. Some did the math, and added it all up to $3,505! According to AOC: “Just being a woman is quite politicized here in Washington...There’s this really false idea that if you care about makeup or if your interests are in beauty and fashion, that that’s somehow frivolous." The debate will go on, undoubtedly!
David Cameron — United Kingdom
Overseas, tailoring is serious business. Italy and France are definitely known for their suit culture. But the UK is right up there, with them! Former Prime Minister David Cameron clearly loved tasteful navy ensembles. And they always cost a pretty pound, which the press loved to point out!
Another a fan of the bespoke tailoring of Savile Row, the PM was often seen wearing outfits that exceeded £3,000. During government cuts, David cut his pricetags. Suddenly, he wore Geoffrey Golding, which goes for around £2,000 a set. It was hard, but he got through the tough times!
Nigel Farage — United Kingdom
UK judges still wear white, powdery wigs. The United Kingdom does political uniforms differently, for sure! Former member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage pushed the limits for blazers, even there. His eccentric style often meant double-breasted suits in a variety of colors. And they weren't cheap, off-the-rack styles, either!
Nigel's expensive threads were rumored to be crafted on Savile Row, a street in London known for its tailoring. Things are just bespoke, in those shops! What's more, the MEP loved to add a little flair. Wearing handmade Union Flag shoes was a natural fit, for Mister Farage. But so far, that trend has stayed with him!
Melania Trump — USA
First Lady of the United States — FLOTUS, for short — has her headquarters in the East Wing of the White House. It's not a paid job, but she is supposed to make the United States looks good! Melania Trump is the only First Lady with high fashion model on her resume. How's she doing?
Born without fancy clothes in Slovenia, Melania found her style on Milan, Paris, and New York City runways in the 1990's. Now, she wears Dolce & Gabbana, Christian Dior, Calvin Klein, and more to presidential events. Fashionistas notice that Melania doesn't skimp on the couture day to day, though — she's dressed to impress, even on flights!
Queen Rania — J0rdan
Being royalty has changed considerably since the fairy tale era. In Jordan, it's actually pretty modern: Queen Rania is the wife of King Abdullah II, and she is more than just a figurehead. Advocacy work in health, micro-finance, and education is what she does most of the time. But this Queen is also a fashion icon throughout the Middle East!
In her country, many women still dress traditionally. She weighed in: ''I have nothing against the veil. And I think that, wrongly, many in the West look at the veil as a symbol of oppression." In her own life, though, Queen Rania is often spotted in trendy business causal, or Western-style couture, like Valentino, Givenchy, and Versace!
Donald Trump — USA
President Donald Trump was a famous businessman long before he entered politics. Before running, Forbes put his net worth at $3.7 billion. And he was pretty visible, spotted in tabloids on and on TV for decades. What does such a rich man in the public eye wear, suit-wise?
As it turns out, President Trump doesn't tailor suits. He confessed: “I wear Brioni suits, which I buy off the rack.” Rumor has it that he also buys from Martin Greenfield Clothiers, but none of his designer choices are more outrageous than mere millionaires in the biz. Ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, it sounds like the art of the deal!
Barack Obama — USA
President Obama really with dark formalwear, most days. But there was one fashion event that shocked the nation. The tan suit controversy, otherwise known as 'suitegate', was pretty dramatic! Commentary on the audacity of taupe filled news pages form the day. What was the big deal? Apparently, it was a broken promise.
In an interview, the prez declared: “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits…I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.” Fair enough. But one day, shockingly, he went totally tan!
Ivanka Trump — USA
Ivanka Trump was an NYC fashionista long before her father ran for office. But now, she has a formal role: As Advisor to the President, she spends her time on economic initiatives and diplomatic meetings, around the world. How has she been dressing for the part?
Perhaps s a bit more conservatively than she had been for business, Ivanka still wows in designer outfits. At recent events, she was spotted in a $12,888 Rodarte dress, a $3,700 Oscar de la Renta ensemble, and $950 Jimmy Choo heels encrusted with jewels. Her pantsuits don't disappoint, either: $3,000 for slacks and jacket deal is routine!
Giuseppe Conte — Italy
The Prime Minister of Italy has to dress well, right? It just seems like an unwritten part of the job description. Current leader Giuseppe Conte doesn't disappoint! He's all about Italian traditional tailoring, and it's easy to spot in a crowd of suits. What are his favorite colors, though?
It seems Giu truly loves a perfectly cut blue suit with a tie and pocket square. He is also partial to grey, and he matches both with cufflinks and a black crocodile watch. Italians think he is iconic, in terms of political style. Some have called him a 21st Century dandy!
Catherine Dorion — Canada
Work in government usually requires a dress code, sadly. It's not always the most exciting setting for fashion-forward folks, but serving the country is usually a good enough reason to play along. But does everyone comply? One politician in Canada, MP Catherine Dorion, has been rebelling a bit!
For Halloween, Cat posted this photo on her official Facebook page. It angered her colleagues, who called it way too casual. Previously, she had showed up to the chamber in an orange hoodie! According to the guidelines, “all Members desiring to be recognized to speak at any point during the proceedings of the House must be wearing contemporary business attire.” Does this leggy miniskirt qualify? Maybe, maybe not!
Jacinda Ardern — New Zealand
So, who is this friendly face? A work colleague, dressing cool and casual for the office? No, it's actually Jacinda Ardern, a New Zealand politician. She may look relatable and down to earth with this outfit, but she is actually the 40th elected prime minister!
Sure, she appeared on the cover of British Vogue wearing New Zealand designers. But the day to day is different. In a nation of under 5 million people, and more sheep than people — 30 million sheep, to be exact — dressing to impress looks a little different!
John F. Kennedy — USA
Flashback time: John F. Kennedy, looking cool as a cucumber. JFK may have had a shortlived presidency, but his fashion sense lives on! The truth is, no one could wear vintage suits or leisurewear like this guy, back in the day. And it's arguable no American politician has outdressed him since!
In terms of suits, John loved slim. The shoulders didn't have a lot of padding, and he usually wore a single breasted jacket with 2 buttons. He only wore dark blue or grey, intentionally going for the statesman look. In his free time, he loved Wayfarer shades and leather bomber jackets. And all the while, he sported gold, rectangular Omega watches. JFK did presidential style at its very best!
Hillary Clinton — USA
Hillary Clinton has been around for decades in American life. In the 90's, her style was decidedly different than the way she expresses herself today. Her makeover as Secretary of State featured one staple in particular: Once she got the job, it was pantsuits, all day and all the time!
Frankly, it became her uniform. Hillary was spotted sporting pantsuits in nearly every color. Blue, orange, bright pink — no color seemed to be off-limits. According to the Secretary, she “thought it would be good to do what male politicians do and wear more or less the same thing every day.” Fair enough, Hillary. But sometimes it did get a little matchy-matchy, jewelry included!
Narendra Modi — India
Leading a nation of a billion sounds like a busy job. Is there even time to think about dressing to impress? Narendra Modi is the current Prime Minister of India, and he seems to enjoy this aspect of the gig. Locals say that he loves to customize his outfits for the crowd of the day. And he's pretty experimental with colors!
Generally, PM Modi likes to combine traditional ethnic pieces with Western wear. But he does it the designer way: One suit he wore made it into the Guinness Book of World Records, as the most expensive in the world! Gifted by a pal, it featured his initials in gold with pinstripes. At auction, it went for $40. 5 million!
Emmanuel Macron — France
Emmanuel Macron is the Prime Minister of France. As a naturally fancy man, it is said he had to actually dress down for the office. It's painful, but he sacrificed! With restrictions in place, what does Mr. Macron manage to wear, on the day-to-day?
On the daily, the president usually goes for black or navy suits paired with a dark tie. His lapel is typically a casual notch design, and his pants are not cuffed. More than anything, the man loves a precise fit – slim, always. In summary: Simple, stylish, and oh-so-French!
Vladimir Putin — Russia
President Vladimir Putin chooses his suits carefully, all in an effort to cultivate a powerful image. So his observers say, anyway! The authority projected by his suits is not an accident, and he definitely has a pattern. What are his major choices, in the style game?
Vlad seems to love classic, single-breasted suits. He chooses notch lapels, and always in a dark color. Ranging from black, navy, or charcoal grey, all of them are a bit looser than some of his Western Euro counterparts. Additionally, he always removes branding on his clothes. Unidentifiable is the name of his game!
Kim Jong Un — North Korea
Hailing from an isolated place across the world, Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un is rarely seen outside of North Korea. But a look at his fashion choices might give outsiders some insight. He definitely has very different taste than his late father, Kim Jong Il. What are his favorite updates?
No one can say that North Korea has access to a lot of fashion, but the leader probably has the most. Though Kim does wear some of the classic Mao suits his grandfather pioneered, he mixes it up with 1950's era eyeglasses and leather trenchcoats. But jeans are totally off-limits. They symbolize the West, and that's a big no over there!
Xi Jinping — China
President Xi Jinping is the leader of a nation that manufactures a whole lot of fashion, worldwide. Made in China, as they say! But in terms of his own closet, he tends to choose a few key styles. Sometimes it's Western, and sometimes it's Eastern. Given his role interacting with both sides, no one should be surprised.
At a recent foreign dinner, the Chinese president was spotted wearing a dark grey tunic suit inspired by Mao. But he also shows up to plenty of events wearing a classic Western business suit. Everyone knows he means business, and big business!
Angela Merkel — Germany
Angela Merkel is a well-known face, for those who follow European affairs. As the Chancellor of Germany, she's a very visible woman. But despite all that camera time, Angela doesn't put a lot of effort into varied outfits. Style over substance, she is not!
Angela Merkel is all about the slacks and blazer look, and she mixes it up with different colors. Bright prink is not unheard of, but she is spotted in blue, black, and green all the time. Daily wear is never glamorous, but she does dress up for state events. Oddly, the German press has documented that she has worn the same silky tunic for 18 years in a row for evening galas. Crazy habit, but true!
Theresa May — United Kingdom
Britain's second female prime minister was Theresa May, and the press really took an interest in her fashion sense. At the time, it may not have seemed exciting from afar. But journalists loved to get ahold of the price tags, and it often caused quite a stir!
Theresa loves Vivienne Westwood and Burberry. In one magazine spread, it was identified that she was wearing brown pants with a price tag of £995. According to the former leader: "I like clothes and I like shoes. One of the challenges for women in the workplace is to be ourselves and I say you can be clever and like clothes. You can have a career and like clothes.” Evidently so, PM May!
Alma Adams — USA
Congresswoman Alma Adams hails from North Carolina. As a woman in a sea of dark suits, she already stands out. But there is a special reason she's hard to miss: Alma always sports a unique hat. Constituents know that they're never going to see one style over and over, because she owns more than 1,100 varieties!
According to the North Carolina native: ''I respect my hats and they respect me...Hats speak to the personality of the person. The confidence I have in myself, and the self-esteem that I have.” Alma's been doing it for over 40 years, and her collection is still growing!
Shinzo Abe — Japan
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is not usually mentioned as a style icon, outside of Japan. But as it turns out, he may not be considered one in Japan, either! Locals have a lot to say about his fashion choices, and it's not all positive reviews. What's the issue?
Although PM Abe’s suits are estimated at 500,000 yen, he receives criticism for not wearing them properly. His tie is too short, as well as his sleeves, according to current Western custom. His pockets bulge, too! His color choice is always black, which symbolizes formality in his country. Will citizen fashionistas forgive Shinzo? Only time will tell!