The new Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, and his Greek government are setting a new dress code for men across Europe and the western culture. And I believe it will be a very welcome one. The Greek politicians are ignoring the conventional suit and tie dress code of European politics and choosing a much more casual style. Most of the Greek cabinet have copied the much more casual and comfortable dress code of their 40 year old leader. Tsipras refuses to wear a tie even if he is wearing a suit.
One of the biggest supporters of this fresh dress code is the new Finance Minister, 53 year old, Mr Yanis Varoufakis, who is a dual Greek-Australian national. He has become a near rock star in Greece for his casual unique fashion sense. He rides to meetings on a motorbike with a backpack slung across his back. He does not wear a tie nor tuck in his shirt and quite often wears his suit collar up. When he arrived for a meeting with the Ex-chequer, George Osborne, at Downing St in London recently, he was wearing tight black trousers, an overly tight bright blue shirt and a knee length black coat which attracted both positive and negative comment. Imogen Fox of the Guardian Newspaper reported, “It was apparent from the photo call on Downing Street that we are witnessing a bit of a fashion moment.”
Prior to his election, Mr Tsipras commented that he would wear a tie when Greece reached a debt reduction agreement. At a recent meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, he was presented with an Italian tie he could wear when Greece finally came out of its financial crisis.
The majority of men I know detest wearing a tie. They find them very restricting and uncomfortable especially in a hot climate. Most men loosen them or remove them at the first chance they have – when they get home or even at official functions such as a wedding reception. I believe that most men would welcome a change to the formal dress code and would be eager to adopt a more casual style without having to wear a tie. I am convinced that most men would admire Mr Tsipra for initiating the acceptance of this more casual dress code. Would you?
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