It's cute how somebody at Slate thinks the most powerful man in the free world gives a damn.
The powerful set trends, they don't grovel beneath them. Queen Victoria broke with the traditions of her time and wore a white wedding gown. And look what happened!
But I honestly didn't notice the break from tradition 'cause I was too busy noticing how a white tie was the perfect choice for his skin tone and went with Michelle's white dress, and more importantly, how lovingly he looked at his wife.
Finally...intentionally or unintentionally, mixing black and white to great effect is a powerful METAPHOR. For the love of God.
I think its fitting that a candidate famous for wearing the same shoes everyday (with worn out soles) and owning just a few suits should make a few faux pas. (Unless he's being dressed/advised by a fashion consultant, whereby the consultant shouldn't be making these errors on a Government dime).
I find this really fascinating. As a girl, and a slobby one at that, I'm not terribly acquainted with men's high-fashion rules-but think they're really interesting. There's so much history woven into the rules of how we dress, it's cool to learn about.
And for the record I think he looks great but would have looked awesome in tails as well.
There are few things in the world more boring than men's clothing (Chuck Bass excepted, of course). Critiquing the correctness, or lack thereof, of men's fashion so boring I can't even fathom the concept without falling asleep on my keyboard.
Since I don't get invited to enough balls, I'm not up on my menswear dress code, but I'm thinking that day one gets inaugurated as President is important enough to warrant a white tie.
Anyone who takes this sort of thing too seriously just WANTS to be miserable. Seriously? Mr. LaComtesse was determined to wear tails to our wedding, which was outside and in the afternoon, so, technically, this was a faux-pas. Over a year later, our marriage has not ended due to his COMPLETE and EGREGIOUS lack of propriety.
No one's saying anything about Michelle's gown, considering that she's wearing white AFTER LABOR DAY (only brides, debutantes and babies being christened/baptized can wear white between Labor Day and Memorial Day)
@PetiteGal: I was always taught not to wear white SHOES, not white clothing. Though the unspoken rule was to wear "winter white" and of course, appropriate fabrics.
@labeled: Also, I was probably not brought up to yell at people in caps-shouting about what is, or is not, acceptable in polite society or sartorial discussions.
Grandmother would not be pleased. In my defense, I'm typing kind of funny because my left forefinger and thumb are covered in salt and oil from my classy lunch of homemade tortilla chips.
I am brought to huge sections of American Psycho wherein Patrick Bateman goes on like this about propriety of dress. Really Sheidlower, do you want to be mistaken for Patrick Bateman?
Gaaah. What other perfectly executed situations/choices can we critique of his? Have you guys seen his Blackberry cover? Everyone knows gunmetal grey, not steel silver, is the appropriate covering for executive electronics - notched click wheel optional.
I don't really care about rules for either gender's fashions. However I am surprised that there wasn't an etiquette/stylist type person who knows the rules and picked out his clothing. I just didn't think he'd be entirely in charge of picking out what he wore for an event like this.
@Elaken: Yeah, I am too. Because (uh, have I ever mentioned that I'm from Texas, but my grandmother was Old South Southern? it's about to show...) formal dress attire for men IS etiquette. It sets the tone for the event, presumably allowing everyone to feel comfortably dolled-up and appropriately attired.
@Elaken: Perhaps this is his own tux and he just chose the white tie?
@labeled: And yes, in my family this is what we call one's "GP" (Grosse Pointe) showing. It happens rarely as I generally have better things to do, but big floofy wedding gowns that are really meant for evening to an afternoon wedding just bothers me. And don't get me started for a morning wedding... Please forgive me, we all have our tics.
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The powerful set trends, they don't grovel beneath them. Queen Victoria broke with the traditions of her time and wore a white wedding gown. And look what happened!
But I honestly didn't notice the break from tradition 'cause I was too busy noticing how a white tie was the perfect choice for his skin tone and went with Michelle's white dress, and more importantly, how lovingly he looked at his wife.
Finally...intentionally or unintentionally, mixing black and white to great effect is a powerful METAPHOR. For the love of God.
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Marge: Homer! You had only one job to do, and that was to put some pants on. And you didn't do it!
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I will refrain from making jokes about crooked things and earlier Administrations. I will be elliptical. You fill in the blanks.
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And for the record I think he looks great but would have looked awesome in tails as well.
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Go put on some white pants Jesse Sheidlower. My president's brain is of more interest to me than his damn tie.
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Har har har, I kill me!
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Grandmother would not be pleased. In my defense, I'm typing kind of funny because my left forefinger and thumb are covered in salt and oil from my classy lunch of homemade tortilla chips.
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@labeled: And yes, in my family this is what we call one's "GP" (Grosse Pointe) showing. It happens rarely as I generally have better things to do, but big floofy wedding gowns that are really meant for evening to an afternoon wedding just bothers me. And don't get me started for a morning wedding... Please forgive me, we all have our tics.