Power Dressing
18 January 2010
As we know, political power comes with significant responsibility, not just to the people you reside over but responsibility to yourself and your attire. An old Guards Colonel once said “Excellence starts with attire, that then transpires into operational excellence. If you’re badly turned out, your performance will also be so.”
A politician is a leader of men, and the most successful ones portray that within their dress. Some global leaders, as our list will show have allowed those standards to slip, the truly respected politicians have not. Although Finch’s Quarterly Review may not agree with all their policies, we can not deny their sartorial supremacy.
Best dressed global politicians:
1) Ayad Jamal Aldin – Iraq
His efforts to rid Iraq of Iranian influence almost single handedly have led to six assassination attempts in recent years. Despite this, the pro-American man of steel is fighting the forthcoming Iraqi election dressed in Savile Row tailored cashmere clerical robes. Finally, someone is offering the war torn country a realistic chance of security and lasting peace.
2) Nicolas Sarkozy – France
Sarkozy has been described as “the walking embodiment of the rupture he wants to bring to French political and economic life.” Despite being only 5ft 5 Sarkozy’s panache leaves other European leaders in his wake.
3) Fidel Castro - Cuba
You’ve got to be doing something right to overthrow Batista and still go on to rule for 49 years. Even fellow South American leaders can’t deny their admiration for Castro’s. He was described by Venzuelan president Hugo Chavez, in an interview with Naomi Campbell, as having “an impeccable uniform, polished boots and an elegant beard”.
4) David Cameron – UK
Not many British politicians have been declared more stylish by GQ magazine than both David Beckham and Jude Law however Cameron is not just any politician. If his immaculately cut suits and Jermyn street shirts are anything to go by Britain can be confident that they will soon finally have a leader of substance in power.
5) Colonel Gadaffi – Libya
Since completing his transition from international pariah to statesman, Colonel Muammar Qaddafi—the longest-serving leader in both Africa and the Arab world—has brought colour and his own eccentric panache to the drab circuit of international summits and conferences. Drawing upon the influences of Lacroix, Liberace, Phil Spector (for hair), Snoopy, and Idi Amin, Libya’s leader—now in his 60s—is simply the most unabashed dresser on the world stage.
And of course, the worse dressed.
Worst dressed:
1) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – Iran
2) Nuri al-Maliki – Iraq
3) Kevin Rudd – Australia
4) Vladimir Putin – Russia
5) Gordon Brown – UK
- FQ’s Political Correspondent, based in Savile Row
