MPHO RANTAO
US President Joe Biden has received an “All American” fashion makeover as he settles into his first term as president.
The American leader features on the cover of the British edition of GQ “Hype of The Week” segment, wearing colourful looks in the cover feature that seem to display the splash of life and hope that the new president and his administration aim to bring back to the USA after the turbulent term by former president Donald Trump.
Picture: Twitter/BritishGQ
The men’s fashion and lifestyle magazine draped the new president in looks from classic blue jeans and Converse All-stars, to the pastel two-toned shirt and shorts look that could attribute to the casual trends of the traditional values of American summer and the patriotism that Biden symbolizes to the American people: industry, order and moderation.
Titled “Swagger-in-Chief” on the cover, British GQ really goes over their imagination of draping the president in All-American fashion labels, propped by the jolly, indulgent activities of the everyday American (we wouldn’t be surprised if the President does indulge in Starbucks once in a while).
Picture: Twitter
The spread features the President in five environments that encapsulate all there is to being an All-American patriot (cue Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’) while wearing popular foursome of American men’s fashion like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Perry Ellis and Ralph Lauren.
The President takes a nostalgic trip to his varsity days at the University of Delaware, where Ivy League students roamed the campus wearing preppy ensembles of pastel oxfords and Madras shorts and a sweater draped over their shoulders during the semester, and a similar attire when visiting Martha’s Vineyard during the summer break.
It also takes readers on a quick tour through parts of the USA that represent much of their white culture: singing sweet country songs in the countryside, being a leader in the geo-political space from the White House’s press briefing room, and enjoying the July summer that dazes Americans while hitting the pristine green (in jeans apparently – to the British GQ fashion director).
British GQ’s small feature is the second cover of the Biden administration to be released so early in the president’s term. American Vogue released their February feature with Vice-President Kamala Harris on two covers, wearing a brown suit with Converse All-stars in one, and a pastel blue suit in another shot by Tyler Mitchell.
Picture: Twitter
These magazine features are beginning to show the optimism and relief that Americans, and the globe have begun to feel with the shift in leadership at the White House.
It is not to say that this administration will be perfect in their duties to the American people and the global audience, but it does give everyone that unbridled optimism that American administration is returning to its traditional values as the USA, but with the forward-thinking of an inclusive administration.
To put it simply, the whole cover feature seems like a lot to take in, with so much of it screaming about Joe Biden being a proud patriot of the blue, white and red, but after Trump’s presidency, perhaps Americans don’t mind the overzealous patriotism projected by this cover. After all, Americans are known for being overzealous at almost everything.
