Power Jeans
Jeans have now transitioned into being acceptable in high-ranking business and political circles. Power jean dressing signifies that the wearer is powerful but relaxed as demonstrated by Dmitry Medvedev when he dined with President Obama a few months ago. Medvedev wore a fine blazer with and impeccable button down shirt, expensive shoes and dark blue, straight-legged jeans according to Christina Binkley, reporter for The Wall Street Journal.
Jeans started out as work wear but as designers adapted styles to look more cosmopolitan, the younger crowd embraced the modern styles and now even those with gray hair are sporting jeans. To quote Binkley, “…jeans are now a legitimate part of the global power-dress lexicon, worn to influential confabs where the wearers want to signal they’re serious—but not fussy –and innovative.” CEOs of luxury products have even embraced the trend. President Nicolas Sarkozy and Tony Blair are among global leaders who have joined Steve Jobs choice of work-wear. Jobs, CEO of Apple, has been known since the ‘90s for his work uniform of Levi’s 501s and a black turtleneck. Of course, this has been the classic work uniform for the tech world for twenty years and anyone wearing slacks was viewed with suspicion.
Powerful men wearing jeans properly takes finesse as Barak Obama learned from the ridicule he received for his “daddy jeans” (baggy and high-rise) when he threw out the first pitch at the All Star game. Eric Jennings, men’s fashion director for Saks Fifth Avenue, offered a list of “don’ts” for a man to carry off the jeans well. They must be dark and straight-legged, well fitting, worn with a crisp, well-pressed shirt – no French cuffs. A distressed or acid washed jean is not appropriate nor is lavish embroidery, metal studs or other extra embellishments. Baggy high-rise, super-low-rise and jeans with holes also fall into the “no” category.
Jeans have not become acceptable attire in conservative professions such as banking and accounting. I would caution anyone hoping to bridge into wearing jeans in a professional setting, to take your cue from senior members of the firm. If you wish to be promoted or perhaps even keep your job, it would be wise not to be a trend-setter! However, now that you know the rules, you can knock everyone’s socks off with your great power jeans look during leisure hours!
