Do I need to be concerned that what I’m wearing is sending the wrong message about my political proclivities? The other day I was in a Brioni suit and was accused of being MAGA. Would a Canadian tuxedo be a more solid message, what with Levi Strauss being a San Francisco company with clothing made in Mexico, all mashing into a kind of a “NAFTA works!” vibe? — Dan, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Once upon a time the only real way anyone’s politics could be worn on their sleeve was for them to literally wear them on a sleeve (or a lapel) via a campaign button, T-shirt or other piece of branded merch.
But one of the stranger side effects of the Trump administration’s facility with personal branding — its relentless adoption of certain, very recognizable styles — and our current visual culture is that those very recognizable styles have become a widely disseminated shorthand for the sitting president and his supporters. They’re a sort of pictograph of politics. Sure, the red MAGA hat is the most recognizable piece of sartorial semiology, but it is just the beginning.
Consider, for example, the various components of what has become the movement’s female archetype: a sheath dress, stiletto heels and — perhaps above all — flowing Miss Universe/Fox newscaster hair, false eyelashes and the plumped lips and cheeks of Mar-a-Lago face. See Katie Zacharia, White House press secretary for all of five days last week, as a prototype.
Or, for that matter, Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former ambassador to Greece; Kristi Noem, the former homeland security secretary; and most of the women of the Trump family.
It’s an unmistakable look, but it has a male equivalent in the navy suit, red tie and white shirt that has become the president’s signature — and that has been adopted as a quasi-uniform by most members of his cabinet as well as many of the Republicans in Congress. Not to mention those who would be in Congress, like Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate for Senate in Texas. It has become such a signifier of allegiance to Team Trump that it is almost impossible to see this particular combination of men’s wear and not make a MAGA connection.
As a result, it’s not just the words on a garment that may be “read” by those around you as clues to your own political positioning but the actual mixing and matching of the garments themselves.
That doesn’t mean you have to give up half your wardrobe. That would be both economically and logistically unfeasible. But it does mean being aware of the effect your wardrobe choices may have on those around you — and the impression they may convey about your own value system.
That said, I admit to being surprised that the Brioni label sparked this kind of reaction. While the president once declared his affinity for Brioni suits (he wore them during his time on “The Apprentice,” according to his book “Think Like a Billionaire”), the actual label inside his jacket has not been a subject of conversation during this term.
He is more known for the Florsheim shoes he likes to gift to his cabinet members than his make of suit. Only last week he inadvertently revealed his choice of brand during one of his trademark rally dances, and it was Jos. A. Bank. It is possible the person who had that reaction to your suit is operating on old information.
In fact, it seems to me what matters most in all of this is the Trump brand, not any particular suit manufacturer. And if your goal is to avoid being confused for a MAGA man, what you should take into account is the overall impression your clothes make rather than any single piece.
(Also, embracing denim won’t necessarily solve the problem. The country singer Jason Aldean is a major Trump supporter, and he’s often seen in jeans.)
So go ahead and keep your suits, but make sure they are neatly tailored, not as blousy and voluminous as the president’s. Perhaps forgo the tie and the brown or black shoes for some dress sneakers, which would give the whole look a more casual vibe than the one Team Trump usually conveys, which leans more toward New York in the 1980s. Eschew the ersatz patriotism. Make sure the details add up to a different conclusion.
Your Style Questions, Answered
Every week Vanessa will answer a reader’s fashion-related question, which you can send to her anytime via email or X. Questions are edited and condensed.
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