Barack Obama At White House Correspondents' Dinner: Wears Long Tie To Black Tie Event (PHOTOS, POLL)

***Scroll down for slideshow, poll, and update!***

This past Saturday, President Barack Obama attended the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, a traditionally black tie affair. And while President Obama's tie was certainly black, it was, however, long.

Was this a fashion faux pas? Or was it merely a youthful president exuding some personal style?

Take a look at the slideshow below and scroll down past it for the poll!

See photos of Michelle's hot pink ensemble.

Photos by Getty and AP.

• • • • •

On Saturday, President Obama attended the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner -- a traditionally black tie affair. While looking decidedly dapper in a black tuxedo, President Obama opted for a long tie, as opposed to the more classic black tie accoutrement: the bow tie.

UPDATE: After doing a little more research, we've discovered that President Obama was not alone in the long-tie camp. He was, however, in the minority. His companions included:

Secretary Robert Gibbs
Ludacris
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
Kyle McLaughlin

And the opposing (bow-tie) party was a veritable mix of media men, politicians, and Hollywood stars, such as:

Ashton Kutcher
Wolf Blizter
Rev. Al Sharpton
Mayor Bloomberg (who opted for a bright royal blue!)
Chris Matthews
Matthew Settle, otherwise known as Rufus Humphrey on the hit show Gossip Girl
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Former Somali Pirate Hostage, Capt. Richard Phillips
Steven Spielberg

Quick Poll

What do you think of Obama's choice of tie?

Long Tie Lovely! The President looked dashing, dapper, and decidedly cool.

Black Tie Blunder! Everyone knows that "black tie" really means bow tie.

Who cares? He's the President and he can wear whatever he darn well pleases!

Share your vote on Facebook so your friends can take this poll

Comments

[totalliberal]

Other than in films, Cary Grant never wore a bow-tie. Nuf said.

[adamsmith3]

It's sad that these codes of fashion still exist. The average American would stare at you in disbelief for bringing up such a superficially air-headed concern as to which would be the appropriate tie. These types of concerns over fashion faux pas only entrench the northeastern stereotype of elitist snobbery toward inconsequential matters such as clothing. The average American doesn't consider the clothing they wear to be as consequential of a matter as to fret about some arbitrary codes of conduct passed down from the aristocracy of which this nation stood against. The American ideal is one of individual expression, not one of conformity to archaic codes of fashion, but one of breaking free from the bonds of an irrational respect for foppish etiquette. Let the President wear some blue jeans and a nice t-shirt for all I care. It's about the message, the substance, and the spirit of relaxation of fun on a night such as the correspondents dinner. Let the celebrity airheads worry about the trifling matters as to which garment is appropriate for which occasion, as though they have a cross-sectional chart hanging on their closet door so as to not offend anyone with an off-color jacket. I am glad I live on the west coast where people tend to not obsess so much over such superficial matters as fashion etiquette. Fair enough to call it culture, but to a certain extent it just becomes superficial, vain foppishness.

[Netkat]

I'm a fan.

[Michael Rappaport]

George Will wept.

[adamsmith3]

LOL, at least it wasn't a denim tie

[gatogato]

BREAKING NEWS>>>>>OBAMA SHUNS BOW TIE

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

Oh the horror!

[ceblakeney]

Bow ties are pansy-ass suck-up artifacts. Get over it America. They may have had some kind of status quo place in the past, but honestly they look like dilettante affectation now. Evolve!

[lucite]

Black silk tie with a tux and straight collared white shirt is already a year old look. Bow ties are out......

[American50]

bow tie?

[HerCabinBoy]

I noticed the tie immediately. He looked terribIe with it. I'm surprised ther's a thread about it so late, though.

[KillgoreTrout43]

Oh puleeeeeese. Give it a frickin rest already. No wonder you guys lost.

[SueInCA]

So now they tr0ll.....­..........­.........p­ity they try to come over here in drag and we find them out all the time

[HerCabinBoy]

We certainly did.

[JoKnows]

He needed the tie to keep his balance, a bowtie would have added to the wingspan of those ears...

[DaisyDooks]

That was funny. I was trying not to laugh to, but you managed to snatch a snicker or two from me.
Leave my POTUS alone. :-)

[American50]

why has he apologized for you to?

[Dupree]

Anybody that has ever read my post knows that I am a huge supporter of President Obama...but I have to confess...that was real funny. I had to pull on the brakes and exercise some restraint. Now, leave our POTUS alone.....I am back together now.

[Donnat]

I'm surprise FOX hasn't devoted an entire week to discussing this. Maybe they have, I never watch it.

[KeepMeLearning]

They are probably still going off about his choice of mustard on his burger...from last week.

[phoenix58]

My first reaction is who cares, but maybe he didn't want to confuse some of the Republicans. They might have mistaken Obama in a bow tie for one of the waiters

[Brotherbeez]

Hee,heeee! I'm tryin' to tell ya!

That's wayyy deeper than you think it is, phoenix!

[blaqntelligence]

That's a knee-slapper for sure....but it happens.

[DaisyDooks]

Daaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaayum­!

[NowWhatFolks]

That was my first thought, too. Just picturing the photoshopped waiter pics that would come out.

[SmallFarm]

The tie looks nice on the Prez.

[Aramarcal]

The president is wearing West Coast black tie a la Hollywood (think Oscars). He keeps it real!

[duze]

For those of you who obviously have no real idea of fashion or fashion choices, let me educate. President Obama wore his tuxedo with a european style tie. It's not new, it's not weird, it's not wrong. Truth is if you look in any high style men's magazine you'll see that the President is way up on the fashion scale. He was dressed just right, whether you know it or not. He not only keeps it real, it keeps it looking better than anyone else. Get real people, the day of the little twisted knot at the throat is gone, I couldn't be happier. Smooch, kiss, blink and wave.

[M1]

Who needs a bow tie when you have such a dashing smile!