The Critical Importance of Perspective

As in the eye and the values of the beholder. The beholder in this instance being a reporter for The Washington Post with nothing more critical to observe and write about than criticism of President Barack Obama's insensitivity to the public's desire to see him always, whatever the occasion, and wherever the opportunity, "dressed for success".

It was not his fashion sense that was responsible for his election; he achieved the success of the presidency as a result of his presence, his experience and vision for the country; his oratory, his promises and the public's desire to see the man achieve his promises.

One suspects that the vast majority of the public is far more interested in the state of the American economy, the chances of eventually pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan, national health care, and crime and poverty than whether the President of the United States lacks sufficient style to wear close-fitting jeans.

But the writer, Robin Givhan, waxes indignant over President Obama's non-existent dress code. The subject is so painful that it merited a large two-column spread, and reprint in The Ottawa Citizen.

The agony caused to fashionistas and to the reporter was laid out for all to read and realize fully how disappointing the new president has been to his public. "The overarching aesthetic problem with Obama's jeans was they seemed to have only a passing acquaintance with the dimensions of his body. They were too short; one could see the tops of his sneakers and a hint of white socks when he was at a standstill."

This, while the man put in an appearance at the All-Star Game in St.Louis. A casual, relaxed affair. He was not attending the opera. He was dressed as befitting a man comfortable with himself. Not one with an eye to popular dress codes, and being perceived as 'cool'. On the other hand, no one could accuse this man of not being cool.

"They were baggy - but lacking in old-school urban swagger or beachcomber, loose-limbed ease. To be technically correct, the jeans sagged. It wouldn't be surprising to discover that the jeans were 'relaxed fit'. ...Obama's jeans sat relatively high on his waist and so some have referred to them as 'mom jeans' because they managed to make the lanky Obama look ... well, not so lanky.

"But really, these are the jeans of middle-aged dads who have thrown in the towel and decided that when they get home from the office and take off their suit, all they care about is comfort. Because they cannot wear their pyjamas in public, their 20-year-old jeans are a viable alternative.

"This is all fine and good for those middle-aged men who do not fly on Air Force One and rule the Free World. But on men who travel with a posse that includes sharpshooters, we can impose a higher standard."

Really, is that so? People whose small minds are so transfixed with the message they perceive whether the wearer of clothing - that is stylish or definitely not - is worthy of respect. As though clothing of high fashion defines the intelligence and overall quality of the person sporting them.

In a celebrity-obsessed culture whose standard of admirable presence is people wearing au currant clothing while behaving like vile goons or adolescent self-obsessives, such a discriminating level of sophisticated perception is unsurprising.