The Politics of Style

The topic for this week's Carnivale of the Couture is "the Politics of Style." Hmm...now, in my day job, I'm a political writer, so I'm taking this one literally, and would like to nominate a contemporary politician as the man who best embodies the politics of style...and the style of politics.
Style is not fashion, of course. It is how you carry yourself, finding a look that works for you and sticking with it, whether it is featured on runways or not. If you are truly stylish, your "look" sends a message to the world. The rest of us associate that look with what you stand for, and that look becomes popular or not, accordingly.
Therefore, the Hitler moustache never really caught on. And I think, whatever fleeting appeal Mao's outfits had were lost over time, as the truths of history were revealed. He really was a bad guy. Now, some youthful fools may want to romanticize evil-doers like Che Guevara, and wear a silly beret, but once they grow up and start paying taxes, they'll give that beret to Goodwill. I'm guessing that most who were tyrannized and brutalized by Attila the Hun never wanted to replicate the rampaging barbarian look, and only did so on threat of death. I like to think that even in the 5th century, cruelty and rapacity were not traits with which people wanted to be associated.
Conversely, decades ago, many emulated Jawaharlal Nehru. Dressing like a friend of Gandhi and someone who promoted the movement of nonaligned nations held great appeal, particularly in the 1960s with all its hippies and naifs. Hence, the number of Nehru jackets one sees watching reruns of Mod Squad, Hawaii 5-O, Laugh In, and Sammy Davis Jr. specials.
Now, I am a fan of interesting headwear, as well as a fan of capes. I find the latter romantic and the former something very few can carry, but when they can...oh my, how they can (particularly simultaneously)! When I was a teenager and university student, I used to enjoy watching Moammar Qaddafi on the nightly news, largely because of his outfits, many of which involved flamboyant capes and ornate headwear. But, as I grew to understand his politics, I became disgusted. Something about the whole terrorist/maniac, hate-filled, murdering tyrant thing turned me off. His look became, in my eyes, garish and over the top. I thought I would never love ornamental capes and robes and chic headwear (at least on men), ever again.
And I didn't...until 2002, when I first laid eyes on Hamid Karzai, then interim leader of Afghanistan. I was taken with his charm and bravery, and smitten with his style. And I was not alone. He won praise from the House of Gucci for his green and white chapan -- a traditional Uzbek cape -- and ceremonial karakul hat. Karzai himself said, back then: "Everyone I meet asks me about my coats...When I addressed the UN Security Council, all the ambassadors wanted one." And who could blame them? It's a look that says, "I'm ready to talk democratic reform with Condoleezza Rice, but I'd also be comfortable dining out or attending the opera, or even stepping lightly through an Afghan field, praying I'll avoid landmines." Four years have passed since we first saw him, and he is now the elected president of Afghanistan. He has redeemed headwear and capes for men -- lifted them out of the squalid association with the Libyan leader and brought them up the level of a courageous and good man trying to offer his people a decent -- and more fashionable -- future. He's already rescued the ladies (with help from the U.S. military) from having to wear burqas: Can a more free and chic Afghanistan remain only a dream?