Is 5'7" John McCain Dressing For Defeat? (PICTURES)
There has not been a President in The White House who has stood shorter than 5'8" since President McKinley took office in 1897. At 5'7" John McCain is up against more than just 6'3" Barack Obama, he's up against an American population that has consistently demanded that their guy be the bigger guy.
Does McCain seem to care that 10 of the last 15 elections were taken by a taller candidate? His dress sense indicates not. Instead of styling himself in a way that compliments his height, McCain repeatedly dresses for defeat, sporting styles and outfits that accentuate his short stature.
Had he been campaigning in the era before the ubiquity of television he might have better luck. 11 of our first 25 Presidents were under 5'8", whereas zero of the remaining 17 have stood shorter than 5'9". While the camera may be reputed to add 10lbs, McCain and his style team seems to be banking on the fact that it will also add several inches.
With his oversized suits, grandfatherly sweaters and shirts that swim around his sleeves McCain's sartorial blunders are often magnified by his impeccably styled wife Cindy, who does dress like she belongs in The White House. Look at any un-posed long shot of McCain and his entourage. Can you find him? No. Try looking for Cindy first, then for him in proximity.
In a world dominated by visual images, McCain has the fortunate opportunity to have what every shorter actor wants on camera... a female costar that can make him look taller. McCain can look at least 5'9" standing next to his lovely wife, if dressed in the right wardrobe. However, all too often it just looks like he's trying to ride her coattails into the White House.
With all that said, it's easy to criticize generalities, so below I have provided a spotters guide to McCain's fashion faux pas. Enjoy.
Most of his shirts fit like this--and they're all too big. The shoulders are too wide, the body is too big and the sleeves are too full. It makes him look smaller and sickly like he's lost too much weight.
John's McCain's jackets tend to be too big. It's unlikely it's because he needs it for his gut. They're just poor choices. The shoulders are too big and the sleeves are way too long. Look at how his sleeves are folded just to have it at the right length.
The shoulders on this suit are too wide, making him look smaller, and his sweaters make him look like a grandfather, not a presidential candidate. The sweater says "I need to keep my old bones warm, even in the dead heat of summer." If he's truly in need of a little warmth, a 3-piece suit would be a better choice. He can stay warm and still look more presidential. A vest is a much better option.
John McCain's suit jackets are too long. He clearly should be wearing a short size, not a regular size. The longer jacket and lower button stance is too low for his frame. Not to mention the jacket is still too wide in the shoulders.
A more suitable cut for his frame and stature would be more of a trimmer fit. It would elongate his body and make him look taller and a trimmer cut would also make him not look so stout. A man can be short and proportioned, but McCain's clothes currently do not reflect that.
John McCain can also find better fitting casual wear that won't make him look so wide. Beyond the fact that McCain eeds to dress sharper because he's the shorter candidate, he also needs to step it up because he has a beautiful slender wife. Until he dresses better, she steals every shot they are in together. After all, they should look like the first couple already. She already looks like the first lady.
Alan Au is Marketing Director & Vice President of Jimmy Au's for Men 5' 8" and Under in Beverly Hills, California.
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The shedding of John McCain's moral character in this campaign has clearly had an effect on fit as well, hasn't it?
why is Cindy so happy always or is it my imagination?
She avoided jail time after being the Bookkeeper for the Keating Five.
Shouldn't that be the Cheating Five?
One word: Oxycontin!!!
"HOWEVER, ALL TOO OFTEN IT JUST LOOKS LIKE HE'S [McCAIN] TRYING TO RIDE HER [CINDY] COATTAILS INTO THE WHITE HOUSE"
McCain has been riding on other people's coattails ALL of his life.
He rode on his family's legacy and coattails in order to be accepted into various schools for which he would not have been accepted otherwise on his own merit ..........
He married a very young heiress, and rode on his wife and her family's coattails in order to enter politics, and to be able to live the life of the rich and famous, and in the process RODE over his 1st wife with his bus and never looked back.
In this campaign he is riding on George Bush's coattails in order to woo the Republican base, and has guaranteed a 3rd Bush term.
We have seen him ride on the coattails of so-called experts knowledge, because doesn't have a clue about the economy or international relations, but he often bungles the talking points he has been coached on.
WHERE WOULD McCAIN HAVE BEEN, WERE IT NOT FOR THE COATTAILS WHICH HE HAS RIDDEN ON FOR ALL OF HIS LIFE?
And YOU have accomplished WHAT in your lifetime?
Another example of elitism... the official height requirement for the naval academy is 5 foot 8 inches... yet he is only 5 foot 7
That is a lie.
The min height is 5'2"
Maybe he lost an inch with age you idiot.
NAvy height requiremetns are:
Men 62-78"
Women 60-78"
As a cancer survivor and someone who is aware of how injuries can make you feel very self-conscious about how you look, I can sympathize with Sen. McCain's problem. My neck lost about a quarter of its width. So, I wear turlenecks with a tight neck in winter. You can't tell I ever had an operation. Second, my jackets fit strangely because the lack of muscle in my neck. So, I have a tailor put in a little padding on one side of my suit jackets to make up for the imbalance. While I understand Sen. McCain might not want to buy a "short", and that he has war injuries, a good tailor could fix all that. I know politicians will get ratted out if they buy custom-made suits, but a good tailor can alter even the cheapest of suits. And yes, his wife should help him out on this.
Well it is said he wears $400-$500 dollar shoes so why can't he drop a few bucks for a well tailored suit. Imagine a man who owns eight homes won't cough up the cash for a suit tailored to make him look good!
$520 Ferragamo loafers...
John McCain is a multi-mult
Or maybe looks to him are not important.
I do find it odd that this is even subject of discussion. Are there not other issues for discussion?
Like does he STILL want to grant amnesty to illegal aliens whose FIRST act in America was to break the immigration laws?
if he can play golf in $500.00 shoes then he can get a tailor... Right?
I wonder if the rules have changed on this. Does Bush add support to the idea that being a little scruffy is more attractive, especially to middle America, than a more polished look? His attire may also serve to make a stronger contrast with Obama, making it easier for Obama to be seen as a preppy elitist or a little "too perfect".
I don't know about that - Bush definitely has "casualized" the office, but he does wear clothes that fit - which seems to be the thesis of this article. Go formal, go business, or go casual - just wear clothes that fit.
Give me a break. Clinton's young people were the first to "casualize" the WH. Just like he was the first to stain the carpets.
Why tell him? You never know, he may get the hint
On the other hand, you could put Barack Obama in sack cloth and ashes and he would still look good.
That's because he's got good posture. Those who don't have that need a good tailor.
Here is how I envision the conversation the first time Cindy tried to tell McClone how he should dress.
Cindy: "John, you would look more presidential if you...."
John: "I least I don't dress like a trollop you c**t!"
And that is why Johnny boy gets to pick his own clothes.
lol
That's so accurate, you must have had a recorder in their bedroom.
Why doesn't anyone point out that John McCain IS NOT WEARING THE FLAG PIN???? I can't believe all the hell that was raised because Obama wasn't wearing the American Flag pin on his suits and I haven't see McCain wearing one for weeks. I think the whole thing was STUPID, but if one canidate gets blasted for not wearing the pin; then the other one should also get blasted by the press for not being American and wearing the flag pin.
What a concept - apply the same rules to both canidates
You are so silly! Don't you understand that which applies to the Democrats doesn't necessarily apply to the Republicans?
Sheesh! The MSM is owned by corporate America which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Republican party.
I think you have the relationship between Corporate America and the Republican Party reversed. RP is fully controlled by CA.
This for your own information: McCain has never worn a flag pin for this campaign. The ONLY reason flag pins became an issue is because a reporter asked Obama why he had stopped wearing his. Obama said that something to the effect that flag pins are a substitute for true patriotism, thereby insulting everyone who wears one.
Personally, I don't think Obama meant to be rude when he said that, and I think this issue is stupid. In fact, everyone had pretty much forgotten about it, so why do you want to revive it? Do you think that's a good idea?
I would agree, but it's difficult to attack a war veteran for being unpatriotic.
McSame can do what ever he wants. He is a war hero.
A true war hero would not pander to his captors. He would be executed.
my comments before did not violate HUFFPOST policy but they have not been added. whoever is moderating doesnt like the fact that I think focusing on a candidates clothes is ridiculous and must protect the author and the commenters from my idea. A new low for the HUFF POST, a website I used to think shared my desire for open, honest, intelligent discussion. I guess its more important to point out that McCains shirt is an inch short or wrinkled or baggy than to focus on issues.
Since the 1960 Kennedy/Nixon election, appearance has in fact been an issue.
"A new medium was brought to the campaign: televised presidential debates. In the first of four televised debates, Nixon was recovering from illness and, wearing little makeup, looked wan and uncomfortable, in contrast to the composed Kennedy.[8
And now, in a time where we are not just bombarded by images on television but also on the internet, I would imagine that the subliminal emphasis on appearance has only gotten stronger.
"grandfatherly sweaters and shirts that swim around his sleeves"
priceless
Jeez, who cares. He's an old man. leave him alone. He is what he is. But I sure ain't voting for him.
I'm wondering if he's swimming in his clothes because with his injuries, very loose clothing is easier to manage.
But I take the point about looking like a loser; this stuff matters WAY more than politics junkies, especially policy wonks think.
Look at Cindy's suit! Why doesn't she see to it that her hubby dresses for success? I grew up in a generation that believed the attention you pay to your appearance is an indication of the attention you pay to the work you do. The last thing we need is another president who doesn't give a damn.
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