Should Politicians Ever Wear Jeans?

France's New Housing Minister, in Jeans

How formally should politicians dress? That’s the question France has been pondering since last week, when a minister of the new Socialist government, Cecile Duflot, wore jeans to Francois Hollande’s first Cabinet meeting. There are no formal dress requirements to attend meetings at the Elysee Palace, as our colleagues from Slate.fr noted, but French politicians typically favor more traditional outfits. This is not the first time the sight of denim has caused outrage—or ridicule—among the world’s ruling classes. We have assembled some images of denim-sporting politicos in an effort to answer a simple question: Should politicians ever wear jeans?
CREDIT: Lionel Bonaventure/ AFP via Getty Images.
Nicolas Sarkozy, in Jeans

In 2007, the Daily Mail christened former French President Nicolas Sarkozy the "blue-jean statesman" after he wore light denim the morning he was elected. Unlike Duflot’s denim, Sarkozy’s choice was uncontroversial. But his Ray-Ban sunglasses and Rolex watch soon earned him the nickname "President Bling-Bling" in France.
CREDIT: Thomas Coex/ AFP via Getty Images.
Dmitry Medvedev, in Jeans

When former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev hosted a dinner with Barack Obama and his wife in Moscow, many commented on his choice of dress, though, as the Washington Post noted, he “appeared both relaxed and powerful” in straight jeans and a designer blazer.

Associated Press.
President Obama, in Mom Jeans

President Obama’s mom jeans didn’t quite cause a controversy, but they certainly had America smiling at the president’s dorky style after he wore them to the MLB All-Star Game in 2009.

Tim Sloan/ AFP via Getty Images.
David Cameron, in Non-Mom Jeans

British Prime Minister David Cameron opted for a much more statesmanlike fit as he accompanied President Obama, this time dressed in more presidential slacks, to an NCAA Tournament game. Even in politics, sporting events are safe locales for a dignified denim look.

Getty Images.
Mitt Romney, in Mom-ish Jeans

Mom jeans are perhaps the one thing Mitt Romney and Obama have in common. That, and health care reform.

Chris Somodevilla/ Getty Images.
Rick Santorum, in Award-Winningly Bad Jeans

This pair of jeans was dubbed by Esquire “the worst pair of jeans that has ever been seen on a man’s leg in America." For both Romney and Santorum, jeans are a political statement rather than a fashion choice. As a Romney political consultant told the Washington Post: "Definitely jeans. No tie. Maybe mess up the hair a little bit, OK? Por favor. We’re casual people." With his very bad jeans, Santorum looks down-to-earth, too.
Scott Olson/ Getty Images.
Ronald Reagan, in Cowboy Jeans

America has a longstanding presidential jeans tradition. As early as 1983, Ronald Reagan dared the full denim look to welcome Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to his Santa Barbara home, Rancho del Cielo. It was, perhaps, a way of conveying his essential casual Americanness to the visiting monarchs. In true British style, the royals opted for rather un-cowboy-like trench coats.

CREDIT: Tim Graham/ Getty Images.
George W. Bush, in Cowboy Jeans

Back in 2003, George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney knew to rock the ranch look during a visit to Bush’s Texas property. This was a formal meeting to discuss Iraq with Condoleezza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, and Gen. Richard Myers, but Bush’s made-in-Texas look still came off, perhaps because the former commander in chief was working from home that day.

Stephen Jaffe/ AFP via Getty Images.
Sarah Palin, in Affordable Jeans

Sarah Palin’s fitted jeans helped her kill a controversy rather than create one. She turned to dark denim after it was revealed that the McCain campaign had spent $150,000 on a new wardrobe for the vice-presidential candidate and her family. Campaign jeans aren’t always as flattering as on Palin, but they always send the same message to voters: “I’m one of you."

Mark Hirsch/ Getty Images.