Who knew an empty suit could cost so much? In the Guardian's reporting of the Dominique Strass-Kahn sexual assault case againt a New York maid, mention was made of the IMF chief's penchant for luxury items, including specially tailored suits that can cost anywhere between $7000 and $30,000. But buried in the copy is an even more interesting tidbit that applies to our fashion chief. It seems President Obama has also purchased some of these suits, at least according to France Soir:
Strauss-Kahn is suing a French newspaper that claimed staples of his lifestyle included luxury homes and sought-after works of art. France Soir also said he had several handmade suits made by Barack Obama's tailor – a claim (Strauss-Kahn) denied. The tailor, a 75-year-old Frenchman from Marseille, sells suits for between £4,300 and £21,000.
But the Guardian isn't the only one to notice Barack's new wardrobe. A Politico article back in March observed:
From the moment he stepped into the public eye as the junior senator from Illinois, nothing much had changed in Barack Obama's sartorial world until this year, when he suddenly gussied up his closet with a rack of new suits. For the most part, the president has shed his traditional center-cut suit coats in favor of jackets sporting two side vents, a sleeker look that originated on London's Savile Row to cater to the riding set.
Of course, being dressed to kill is not a crime and we should want our president to look nice. But any wardrobe that runs into the hundreds of thousands of dollars while most Americans are struggling to survive a recession mired by inflation and record gas prices is tone deaf to say the least. Throw in the 70 plus rounds of golf, the family vacations on taxpayer dime, all the lavish parties thrown at the White House, etc., and it paints a picture closer to His Royal Highness than an American President. Let them wear cake, indeed.
There's a lot more to dissect about Strass-Kahn, who represents a whole new breed of socialists, rich and pampered playboys who can afford $3000 a night hotel rooms while guarding the people's money and being exempted from paying taxes. France's leading socialist is so comfortable putting his hands on what doesn't belong to him, in fact, that a lowly chambermaid appeared to be his for the taking. Except she wasn't.
