Putting a Soft Foot Down on Politics and Fashion

Politics is too often about mere surfaces. What explains the endless fascination with the appearances and sartorial choices of political leaders around the world?

Consider the thousands and thousands of words that have been expended on John Edwards' $400 haircut, John McCain's sweater over t-shirt, Hillary Clinton's neckline, Nicolas Sarkozy's lack of a tie, and Silvio Berlusconi's new facial appearance.

This week, a candidate for the Hong Kong legislature caused an uproar after she left a pro-democracy march early to go to a hairdresser.

In Britain, being Britain, the talk is of socks. Black cotton socks.

The Independent reports that Prime Minister Gordon Brown spent nearly 300 pounds (or about $570) last month on socks from Charles Tyrwhitt, at 14 pounds a pair. The P.M. does this bulk order every six months or so, the newspaper says, because he "loses his socks very quickly."

A blog of the Guardian has stuck its own toe into the discussion, noting that socks have played a role in British politics in the past. A politician in Wales was apparently helped to election victory this spring by the little Welsh dragons on his gray socks.

And lest there be a Tory backlash against the Labour sock purveyor, the Independent notes that the leader of the Conservative opposition, David Cameron, also shops at Charles Tyrwhitt.

His sock preferences remain unknown at this time.

Jeffrey Cane