Does G-20 Wear T-Shirts?

Wednesday 23rd of June 2010 08:27:43 PM

Does G-20 Wear T-Shirts?

Chances are you did not see any cheap t-shirts at the G-20 conference in Toronto. The television cameras showed men in white shirts and dark suits and women wearing pants suits and dresses. But don't assume the t-shirt was not present, because many of the attendees are avid exercisers, like US President Obama, and take every chance they get to play some casual sports or enjoy other recreational activities as opportunity permits.

The fashion style at the G-20 meeting was decidedly sedate and conservative. Last year Mr. Roberto Girombelli, an Italian tailor, summed it up best when he said, "Generally, I'd expect Americans to dress for comfort, Russians to favour cuts that underline the body's natural shape, with Italians placing the highest premium on style, favouring styles that smooth over physical eccentricities.”

Of course the world is naturally more interested in what the women, either attending the conference or accompanying attendees, wore. On them you could find elegant t-shirts designed by small fashion houses and expensive dresses with name brand labels.

At the G-20 summit, the general understanding is that there are limited opportunities to express personal style. There is a uniform that men wear that consists of a dark suit and a white shirt and a tie in an offsetting colour. There is little room for tees at these events until it's time to find a little time to stretch the legs doing some exercises in private.

So the color seen at the G-20 meeting was mostly found in the ties and the women's dresses. The ties were yellow and blue and black and many had designs. Michael Booth of Hilditch & Kay talked about the options for including colour in the somber uniforms of the conference attendees. He said, "A yellow tie can lift those around you as well as onlookers. Indeed, I tend to think this way myself. During difficult times such as these, we do need brightening up." And that is exactly why you can be assured at some point during the conference, some of the attendees pulled out their bright comfortable t-shirts to relax in.