The Health Education Campus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, where the presidential debate was held on Tuesday night, saw some unhealthy personal attacks and constant interruptions (primarily from President Trump). Joe Biden, at times unable to respond to a question, pointed out that this loud, insulting behavior was very unpresidential. And while this dirty politics made many of us angry and frustrated, let’s focus on something that makes us happy — clothes. 

Owen Gleiberman, Chief Film Critic for Variety, made a sartorial observation: “Trump wore a black tie with diagonal red stripes — a classic killer politician look.” He is not a fashion critic but everyone is entitled to have a fashion opinion: “Biden’s silver-and-black tie was elegant, but it made him look too much like the father at a wedding.” 

I noticed myself that Biden’s white tie with diagonal deep blue stripes looked a little soft and not as aggressive as Trump’s but there is nothing wrong with being a “fatherly figure” either! Maybe that’s exactly what America needs.

What I also noticed was that Joe looked much better than Donald: Biden’s suit fit him perfectly, it was sleek and elegant, while Trump’s suit was as usual too big for his shoulders (maybe because he has a chip on his shoulder). Trump also looked a little hunched over at times, which made the suit appear even more ill-fitting. Is it because he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders like every other American president?

Trump has been scorned for those baggy suits for a long while. Many outlets, including Business Insider, pointed out that his suits are far from being cheap. They are by Brioni, an Italian menswear couture house. If you are wondering about the price tag, they cost from $6,000 to $17,000, the price to be determined by fabric choice and whether you need made-to-measure or ready-to-wear (the latter is usually the more “economical” option). Needless to say, that’s a whole lot more than the $750 Trump allegedly paid in taxes!

We all know that a good fit makes all the difference. As Dennis Green summarized in his Business Insider article: “His suits are cut too big, with absurdly wide pant legs and sleeves too long. It makes the whole ensemble look cheap, just as his fire engine red tie does. Speaking of ties, his are frequently much too long and often hang between his legs.” 

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But maybe the problem is that Trump’s Brioni suits are not made-to-measure. As I found out from the New York Times article, his love for Brioni goes back to 2004 when the brand reportedly provided him with suits for his show “The Apprentice.” Trump boasted about it in his book “Trump: Think Like a Billionaire.” Donald also wrote in the book: “I wear Brioni suits, which I buy off the rack.”

When it comes to looking sharp in a suit, sometimes it’s all about the fit. But who is most fit to be President?