Hemlines, necklines and custom couture are usually the fields that fashion followers focus on.
Following the recent Oval Office meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump, there appears to have been a shift in dynamics, if only temporarily.
Suddenly, it’s all about the wardrobe choices of the men in Trump World 2.0.
The encounter took place on February 28, with Zelenskyy facing scrutiny not just regarding the US funding Ukraine’s defense, but also his choice of attire at the White House, which was compared to a tracksuit rather than a formal suit.
During the meeting, Brian Glenn, a White House correspondent for Real America’s Voice and at times associated with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green, questioned Zelenskyy about his attire, asking why he opted not to wear a suit despite holding such a high office in the country. This raised concerns among some Americans about his perceived lack of respect for the position.
Little wonder that the topic is of such compelling interest: Trump is an American President who, except when wearing golf gear, is never seen in anything other than a suit.
‘The way we dress says a lot about us before we ever say a word,’ Trump wrote in his book ‘How To Get Rich,’ published in 2004. ‘To me, dressing successfully means understanding your environment: knowing the culture and making an effort to reflect and respect it.’
Known for his love of custom Brioni suits that feature thigh-length jackets and a voluminous cut – and which are invariably finished off by shimmering satin extra-long ties (some style pundits have suggested these are some sort of Freudian metaphor), Trump adheres to an old-school belief that to radiate authority you must throw on your power look.
On February 28, Zelenskyy found himself explaining not only why America should continue funding the defense of Ukraine, but why he had rocked up to the White House wearing something like a tracksuit not a formal suit.
Known for his love of custom Brioni suits that feature thigh-length jackets and a voluminous cut – and which are invariably finished off by shimmering satin extra-long ties, Trump adheres to an old-school belief that to radiate authority you must throw on your power look.
Just look at Melania, his couture-clad – and unquestionably stylish – First Lady. A fastidious view of fashion has become a hallmark of the Trump dynasty and integral to the theatricality of its success. It is hardly surprising, then, that Zelenskyy’s military-style uniform which though acceptable for his joint speech to Congress in December 2022, and for every other world leader he has met since the start of the conflict, was anathema to the president.
‘You’re all dressed up,’ Trump said a touch sarcastically as he greeted Zelenskyy outside the West Wing that day.
Vance might have grinned as Glenn goaded Zelenskyy in the Oval Office about his failure to wear a suit, suggesting that ‘a lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the office’.
But even the Vice President has found himself in hot water over his choice of clothes.
A decade ago, Vance – then a venture capitalist – dressed to impress his tech-giant backer, Peter Thiel, the man funding his own success. Jeans and sneakers (albeit ones that might be well over a thousand dollars) and an occasional jacket (if absolutely necessary) were his stock in trade.
Now Vance has completely reimagined his wardrobe.
Not content with morphing into the archetypal country club conservative, he has mini-me’d to the extreme in imitating the style selections of his current boss. Wide lapels, boxy cuts and shiny red ties are the hallmarks of MAGA world – and now of JD, too.
While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, it has, at least in Vance’s case fallen rather flat, however.
He caught Trump’s attention with the Irish-themed shamrock-decorated socks he wore to meet the Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin in the Oval Office last week.
The absurdity of the moment proved perfect fodder for a president who humorously claimed to be ‘distracted’ but who seems, in reality, as determined to command in the style stakes as forcefully as he does in the political ones.
The one exception to this sartorial censorship has been – at least until now – the standard bearer for Trump 2.0 – Elon Musk.
Like Zelenskyy, Musk has pioneered a new kind of political uniform, one which is a far cry from the habitual grey suit, white shirt and coordinating tie which were his hallmark a mere few years ago.
While others are forced by convention to dress up for the White House – as we have seen – Musk has shown that he has the right to rip up the established order and dress down. Way down.
Waging a war against institutional norms, Musk is now showing his centrality in the second Trump administration through a radical change of wardrobe.
Musk may well have looked rather scruffy for his own recent Oval Office show, seated next to a suited Trump but the ad hoc ensemble was I believe a result of careful coordination.
Clad in his ‘Tech Support’ t-shirt, single-breasted charcoal overcoat, jeans, and bespoke Tesla-themed belt buckle, ‘Make America Great Again,’ baseball cap Musk is making it clear that he has thrown convention to the wind – much like the gospel according to DOGE.
Vance caught Trump’s attention with the Irish-themed shamrock-decorated socks he wore to meet the Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin in the Oval Office (pictured).
Just look at Melania, his couture-clad – and unquestionably stylish – First Lady. A fastidious view of fashion has become a hallmark of the Trump dynasty and integral to the theatricality of its success. (Pictured: Donald and Melania Trump on February 22).
Clad in his ‘Tech Support’ t-shirt, single-breasted charcoal overcoat, jeans, and bespoke Tesla-themed belt buckle, ‘Make America Great Again,’ baseball cap Elon Musk is making it clear that he has thrown convention to the wind – much like the gospel according to DOGE.
Musk, has labeled himself mere ‘Tech Support’, humbly driving forward the will of his commander-in-chief. But he is anything but ancillary, as the clothes make clear. They scream ‘disruptor-in-chief’.
How long this anomaly can last is open to question.
Elon Musk rocked up at the White House in a suit and tie last week. Twice!
Is this some sort of demotion – the end of the bromance? Has Musk suddenly been brought to heel?
And will JD Vance’s ankles remain so prominently on display?
If you want to know what’s really going on in this White House, keep watching the wardrobes – that’s my advice.
