On President Obama’s Tan Suit

We’re missing the BIG picture, guys.

Let me just say that I’m less concerned with the color of President Obama’s suit with regard to what message it sends to our allies/enemies and whether it’s “presidential” enough.

I’m far more concerned with the tailoring—too much space behind the neck, there’s too much room around the torso, it seems to hang off the shoulders, the pants are saggy around certain regions. That particular shade of tan is troubling as well— it was a pretty grayish tan, and he could have a.) gone with a stronger tan, though not camel because it was still summer, and anyways the President strikes me as a Marlboro kind of guy (look, this writer has jokes!), or, as I prefer b.) gone with a lighter tone, seeing as he should have been leading by example in milking “wearing white” before Labor Day and so on. The lapels raise eyebrows as well. I totally get that he has a slimmer profile, but in 20Frigging14 I need to see either slim lapels or someone going all the way with a double-breasted jacket— a good way to send that message to Congress: “yeah, I’m pulling this off, I don’t need you, I’m the President”.

For example:

I suppose I am asking too much, but he could join the international community and, er, civilization in wearing normal sized collars— be bold, wear a full spread collar or go with a slim semi spread. A full spread collar does wonders for more oblong facial features, framing the head and lending an appearance of fullness. This exudes confidence, the kind of thing that will make ISIS run for the hills.

I am pretty sure that the president thinks that the fashion statement he is sending runs something like: “Uhhhhh, look. I’m a strong, independent-minded President who doesn’t need, have, or want a real foreign policy strategy.” Please, Mr. President. I need to see at least an inch of that shirt sleeve before you can convince me you can, I don’t know…declare war, or even back up your “red lines”:

Our Founding Fathers are rolling in their graves right now. I mean, come on. Just as red lines in foreign policy are only half meaningful until they are backed up with effective force, a suit is only half complete without a pocket square. I will say, that, though I would never in my life wear it, I like how the silver hue in the tie plays off his grey hair, and that he matched the tie width with the lapels. Nothing says “ready for leadership” like a tie that reflects just how much this job has aged you.

Here’s another sample by samuelpyo for clarity:

Look, I know what you’re thinking right now, reader: President Obama can beat around the bush (pun intended) for 4 years while allowing the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century— the situation in Syria— to go on, and we’re sitting here arguing about his taste in fashion? Well I have a few words for you: check your privilege or take a chill pill, or something. Our allies— from Brazil and Germany to Saudi Arabia and Japan— doubt our capacity to lead more than they ever have. Our adversaries— from Russia and China to Iran, Syria, ISIS, and Hezbollah— are keeping tabs on President Obama’s every move, scanning for any moment of basicness. In all fairness to the president, it’s not like he’s up against much on the global stage. A quick browse through the internet gives us a good sense of the sartorial tastes of America’s adversaries:

Oh, you still think this is a frigging joke?

If our president refuses to have a concrete foreign policy, stand up for human rights, and prevent blatant massacres to go by undisturbed, we should, at the very least, demand that our president gets his fashion strategy in order to compensate. More fashion blunders like this will make us look more vulnerable than ever. And that’s just another reason why I’m Ready for Hillary in 2016— no one rocks the pansuit better than Hillz. No one.

Flawless.

Final Grade: C, because the leader of the free world can always do better. And he should not be dressing like the 10th grade version of me (the blonde guy in the middle):