Some voters choose their presidential candidates based on political affiliation or the candidate’s take on the issues, but we but we tend to go with the guy that looks best in good suits. As custom clothiers, we feel it’s our duty to make sure that the leader of the free world knows how to dress. To that end, we think Barack Obama and Mitt Romney could learn a lot from the history books. Some very well-dressed men have occupied the Oval Office over the years, and the impact they’ve made on the country – and the world of fashion – can still be felt today. So take a moment to check out the following four presidents. These guys definitely knew how to dress themselves. Chester A. Arthur. Chester A. Arthur was a man who could do two things better than anyone else – wear good suits and sport magnificent facial hair. Nicknamed “Elegant Arthur,” the successor to the assassinated James Garfield loved looking good almost more than he loved running the country. After winning the vice presidency, Arthur famously celebrated by purchasing more than $700 ($15,000 today) in blazers and suits during a Brooks Brothers shopping spree. When he ascended to the presidency, he wore a designer jacket with a custom dress shirt and an ascot or cravat in every portrait. He also grew a mustache long enough to seduce a walrus, and he redecorated the White House to look more “French.” You can’t teach that kind of fancy. It’s something you’re born with. Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood actor before he became president, which might explain why the Gipper was so darned good at looking good. Reagan had his famous brown blazers and suitscustom tailored to highlight his shoulders and slim waist. He always showed a little cuff, and he never removed his jacket at his desk – the mark of a true gentleman. Reagan didn’t try to dress like a pauper for the people, either. His look was 100% Beverly Hills, and his closet was well-stocked with good suits from Brioni and other master clothiers. He certainly looked the part of powerful and intimidating leader. In fact, world-renowned tailor George de Paris – who has made a suit for every single president since Lyndon B. Johnson – insists that Reagan was the best-dressed chiefwe’ve ever had. Harry S. Truman. Harry S. Truman had a unique sense of style for a U.S. president. Though he didn’t wear particularly good suits, he had them tailored to fit his frame, and they looked extremely good on him. This had a specific effect: he appeared to be the perfect Democratic candidate. He dressed just like the people, but he seemed more handsome and photogenic. Truman learned the value of tailoring early in life, because as a young man, heowned and operated a haberdashery in Kansas City. When he became president, he made it a point to always appear in a moderately priced but highly tailored double-breasted or slim-cut suits. He even took his 5 a.m. morning walks in a custom dress shirt and tie. You have to respect that kind of dedication. John F. Kennedy. JFK didn’t just embrace fashion – he embodied it. He’s the only president in history to be considered a full-blown fashion icon, and he was undeniably the best-dressed commander in chief we’ve ever had. No matter what President Kennedy was doing, he always looked good doing it. He led international summits in blue blazers and suits from Savile Row. He sailed in white slacks and Brooks Brothers sweaters. He showed up to red carpet events in a tuxedo with a bowtie and coattails. The man was cool, and he knew it. He made sure that the rest of the world knew it as well. Do the clothes make the man? At the very least, they reveal the man: the way he thinks, the decisions he makes and how he sees himself. When it comes to choosing the leader of the most powerful nation in the world, that’s valuable information, and that’s why we always support the presidential candidate who wears the better blazers and suits. In our opinion, a serious leader doesn’t take his appearance lightly. Don’t you agree?
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