For Queen and First Lady, Bush Will Try White Tie

[Orgetorix]

I agree completely.

And where O where are the top hats!

As far as I know, the last top hat to see the inside of the White House was Kennedy's.

 

[Samsa]

As far as I know, the last top hat to see the inside of the White House was Kennedy's.

Yes, I believe that's correct. It just seems so common sense that if you wear a tux, there should be a top hat on your head.[huh] Oh well.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

I'm glad, in theory, that white-tie has reappeared at the White House. But seeing how poorly it's carried off, it makes me wonder whether it really is a good thing.

What is the deal with the turn-down collars? Bush, Cheney and Perlman were all wearing them. A turn-down collar is on the low-formality end of acceptable collars to wear with a dinner jacket. I can only assume that a bunch of the guys at this dinner figured "Hey, I wear it with black tie, so I can wear it with white tie, right?" At least, that is the only way I can explain why Cheney is wearing black shirt studs appropriate only for wear with a dinner jacket...

I swear. Just how hard is it? Even if you care absolutely nothing about clothing, if you are in a position where your image is shown all over the globe, you would think you would care enough to ask a tailor, style consultant, Fedoralounger, ANYBODY whether you are wearing what is appropriate.

I can only imagine what Prince Philip and the other royals think when they show up at this sort of thing. We must seem like country-bumpkin Americans, only one step removed from being ejected from a 7-11 for violating the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" rule.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

The question to ask, given the discussions on "occasions to dress", is how many "white-tie" events are usual for a Presidential administration to host.

Practically none, though U.S. presidents do have to wear full evening dress (white tie and tails) in Britain when they attend state dinners there (with The Queen).


As far as I can tell, the last president to officially wear full evening dress in the U.S.A. was Ronald Reagan, at his first Inaugural Ball in 1981.

.

 

[RedPop4]

Probably the sun glinting off of the Queens diamonds that's making the Pres squint like that....

If you people looked as carefully at the big picture as you do at the tiniest of details, you'd see Her Majesty in shadow and full sunlight shining on President Bush. It's QUITE obvious to those NOT trying to find something to kvetch about, that he's looking right into the sun, and seemingly trying to listen and or speak to Her Majesty.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

What is the deal with the turn-down collars?

The only men who regularly wear a turn-down collar with white tie are classical musicians, opera singers, and orchestra conductors, because they find it more comfortable than high stand-up collars (which can cut against their necks). Even then, a good number of these guys wear low, soft wing collars.


I don't care whether President Bush is well tailored or not. As the head of the world's most powerful nation, he could wear an old "After Six" tux rental it wouldn't make a bit of difference one way or the other. U.S. presidents are executives, not fashion plates. Dressing really well doesn't give them any advantage, except among the few voters (if any) who care about such things.

.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It's QUITE obvious to those NOT trying to find something to kvetch about, that he's looking right into the sun, and seemingly trying to listen and or speak to Her Majesty.

This is what s are for.

.

 

[MrPumpernickel]

It's QUITE obvious to those NOT trying to find something to kvetch about, that he's looking right into the sun, and seemingly trying to listen and or speak to Her Majesty.

Perhaps and perhaps not, either way a little humor never killed anyone

...except for that one unfortunate little boy who was allergic to humor, but we don't speak of him any more.

 

[Elaina]

This is what sunglasses are for.

.

But it's rude to carry on a conversation with anyone, much less the Queen of England, where you cover your eyes.

Even if he was winking at her, I sincerely think Bush isn't that crass to just go a-winking without some kind of shared joke. Even Queens are people too.

 

[scotrace]

Who would have been in charge of checking these things?
I think an outsider might read this thread (and others like it) and think we were being ridiculous, making fun of details and who cares?

It matters. The government is us, and those people are there representing the American people, hosting the very symbol of The United Kingdom at a formal state dinner. On our behalf, they must get it right or it refelcts badly, internationally, on every Joe and Sally in the country.

Where is Tish when you need her?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

But it's rude to carry on a conversation with anyone, much less the Queen of England, where you cover your eyes.

We are an impractical species.

.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

On our behalf, [U.S. presidents] must get [dress and comportment] right or it reflects badly, internationally, on every Joe and Sally in the country.

Scott, the folks who really do need to get it right -- in terms of dress and comportment -- are the Americans who visit or live in foreign countries, and the ones that make movies, music, and TV shows.


Foreigners look at our national policies and actions and judge American leaders accordingly. Foreigners look at the way U.S. tourists/expats dress, talk, and behave towards waiters and shopkeepers -- and the way that American characters behave onscreen and onstage -- and judge the American people accordingly.

.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Scott, the folks who really do need to get it right -- in terms of dress and comportment -- are the Americans who visit or live in foreign countries, and the ones that make movies, music, and TV shows.


Foreigners look at our national policies and actions and judge American leaders accordingly. Foreigners look at the way U.S. tourists/expats dress, talk, and behave towards waiters and shopkeepers -- and the way that American characters behave onscreen and onstage -- and judge the American people accordingly.

.

Ohhhh the pressure!


D...resolves to just stay home from now on...

 

[Hemingway Jones]

Foreigners look at the way U.S. tourists/expats dress, talk, and behave towards waiters and shopkeepers -- and the way that American characters behave onscreen and onstage -- and judge the American people accordingly.

.

Hemingway Jones...



Ambassador to the World! lol

 

[LaMedicine]

Scott, the folks who really do need to get it right -- in terms of dress and comportment -- are the Americans who visit or live in foreign countries, and the ones that make movies, music, and TV shows.


Foreigners look at our national policies and actions and judge American leaders accordingly. Foreigners look at the way U.S. tourists/expats dress, talk, and behave towards waiters and shopkeepers -- and the way that American characters behave onscreen and onstage -- and judge the American people accordingly.

.

Change Americans/U.S to any other nation, and it's the same. Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Australian, British, French, Italian, German, Spanish, whomever, wherever.
When you are outside your own country, like it or not, people will judge your country from who/how you are.
At least, that was what I was taught by my parents.

Couldn't resist

 

[Nathan Flowers]

At least, that is the only way I can explain why Cheney is wearing black shirt studs appropriate only for wear with a dinner jacket...

Black shirt studs must be acceptable these days.

 

[Tomasso]

Black shirt studs must be acceptable these days.

As are notch lapel DJ's.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

is phil the greek wearing a turn-down with his white-tie too? I can't quite make it out.

bk

 

[dnjan]

Who would have been in charge of checking these things?
I think an outsider might read this thread (and others like it) and think we were being ridiculous, making fun of details and who cares?

It matters. The government is us, and those people are there representing the American people, hosting the very symbol of The United Kingdom at a formal state dinner. On our behalf, they must get it right or it refelcts badly, internationally, on every Joe and Sally in the country.

Remember the flack that Nancy got a number of years ago when she insisted on buying new china for the whitehouse? Because there wasn't enough matching china left at the end of the Carter administration to serve a state dinner. She was accused of confusing the presidency with royalty ...

 

[Diamondback]

We are an impractical species.

.

And then there are those of us who HAVE to wear tinted lenses almost all the time...