Rare Sartorial Flair in the Power Chair

Members of elite corporate and political power circles are not known for their personal style. Quite the opposite, actually. The titans of industry who make headlines today practice such a rigorously uninspired, frumpy, Normcore anti-glamour that it must disappoint even the most well-paid prostitutes who show up to their suite at the Mandarin Oriental.

Casual Friday has dragged the rest of the week down so far that we have produced legions of men who will apparently do anything to look like nothing. Guerrilla casual at all costs, with a poor example set by dowdy higher-ups. I don’t know about you, but I simply cannot get excited or inspired by t-shirts, hoodies and active separates in stretch fabrics. I love jeans and other casual wear, but they have their place. It’s called a weekend.

During the work week, some movers & shakers often attempt some kind of workaround to fit in with the young turks of the street, but they’ll do it in pieces, like wearing a suit with sneakers, a dress shirt that’s deliberately not ironed or a tie without the top button fastened. Adolescent, deconstuctive “fuck yous” to the full kit, as if to say “I don’t care” or “it’s not my thing” (with an “It’s out of my league” subtext). This fear of committing to something a little more serious works with some men men of influence (like Nick Wooster or Thom Browne), but fails to inspire with most.

Power is an aphrodisiac. Part of that allure is the visual package – a look that demands to be taken seriously and commands respect. My intent here is to celebrate real men of influence and power who bring a true masculine glamour to the role. They don’t cut corners. They go all out. They don’t work in suit and tie because they have to. They dress in beautiful tailored finery because they get to. They don’t wear the suit like a prison uniform. They thrive in it.

They approach their work with a sense of occasion and with sense of respect: respect for themselves, respect for their brand, respect for their position, and respect for the people, places and things they encounter along their work day. However subtle and understated they may be, their individual choices are detailed and well-considered. It may be old school, but from across the room, you can tell these guys run an empire. It’s a rare thrill and a genuine inspiration to see.

Gianni Agnelli

Italian industrialist and principal shareholder of Fiat

Terry Lundgren

CEO, Chairman of the Board, President, and Director at Macy’s, Inc.

Prince Charles

Royalty

Nicolas Sarkozy

French politician and former President of France

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele

Co-President of Geneva-based watchmaker Chopard

Lorne Michaels

Creator/Executive Producer of Saturday Night Live; Executive Producer of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers

Francois Pinault, Sr.

Businessman, head of holding company Artemis S.A.

Tom Ford

Designer, film director

Leonard Lauder

Businessman, philanthropist, chairman emeritus of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Lapo Elkann

New York-born Italian entrepreneur and grandson of Gianni Agnelli