Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is Iran’s ‘elected’ president in the same way as he is a ‘fashion icon’. True, there was an election in Iran last year, and according to some, he won it. Also, to a certain degree, I like and respect Ahmadinejad’s white and beige
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is Iran’s ‘elected’ president in the same way as he is a ‘fashion icon’. True, there was an election in Iran last year, and according to some, he won it. Also, to a certain degree, I like and respect Ahmadinejad’s white and beige colour combinations, his sartorial consistency in the constant use of white shirts. But, of course, we can’t beat around the bush here. Ahmadinejad is a sweltering religious dictator and has the look of an off-duty Teheran cab driver on the lookout for a pair of new felt slippers.
But, dear Spinners, we all know and appreciate the impact and importance image has in this line of work. And, like it or not, that’s exactly what Ahmadinejad is good at. The Muslim world and its leaders adhere to a proud tradition of side-tracking Western politicians by not wearing a tie. Smart shirts are okay, but not ties, they’re the fashion snare of the infidels. A case in point was Saddam Hussein during his own trials a few years back: he fought the system suited and booted and well-groomed, but tie-less.
Another distinct aspect of Ahmadinejad's stylee is how his political comrades dress in a similar way to him, almost forming a posse and an association. And 'association' is the key word here. A politician like Ahmadinejad relies on being 'one of the people'. His ambition isn't necessarily to wear fancy Versace shirts and living in a castle. On the contrary, Ahmadinejad had to be persuaded to move out of his suburban semi-detached house for security reasons when he was 'elected' leader in 2005.
Generic grey suits and beige windbreakers are his costume and uniform of choice. His image is one of an 'modest and simple' man. Nevertheless, the 2009 presidential election which saw him 're-elected' caused massive protests and riots in Teheran. A dictator with an massive ego (and most of them suffer from that condition) is easy to spot in a crowd. It's the slippery normal-looking ones that we miss, that slip through the net. It's all an illusion anyway. That drab and beige jacket he hides behind isn't bought at a city bazaar stuck in the 1980s, it's from the Jil Sander S/S09 collection.
