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Polos & Khakis & the Uniform of the American Hero
Does this picture bother you?
American guys in polos and khakis, getting an award from the French president. They’re dressed for golf; he’s dressed for a formal occasion. Doesn’t bother me, really, but I’m not sure I’d make a big style thing about it. From the Washington Post:
It is rare when a polo shirt and a pair of khakis make such a graceful statement about style. But as worn by the three young American men who foiled an alleged terrorist attack, the informal uniform of vacationers and Friday businessmen never looked more elegant.
But then, maybe we should take patriotism from unlikely places wherever we can find it:
The trio of friends, however, wore flat-front khakis and polo shirts in green, red and gray. As a group, they looked tidy but informal. Young but polished. Their clothes said so much about happenstance and understatement, which in turn spoke eloquently about what unfolded on the train and how they have responded to it. These are the clothes of a casual holiday, not one focused on fancy dinners, formal gatherings or a bit of business on the side. They are clothes that tend to pinpoint Americans in a crowd: tourist fare that is often amiably mocked, sometimes derided. They are the sort of ensembles that young men wear when they are expected to dress up but can’t really see themselves putting on a suit because, really, is all that fuss necessary?
And what I love about this story is that it’s sort of the reverse of what usually happens, which is that as we learn more about this or that “hero” of the moment, the glitter turns to tarnish. These dudes just keep getting more bro awesome:
As [French President François] Hollande noted in his remarks, “There were over 500 passengers on that train. Ayoub el-Khazzani possessed over 300 bullets. And we realize now how close we were to a tragedy and a massacre.” But they have not thrown their shoulders back and thrust their chests out. They have simply absorbed it all with a slight hint of wonder.
Plus, they’re clearly all three light packers:
One can also imagine that a group of young men, sightseeing through Europe, wouldn’t be bothered with packing a suit or a sports jacket, a dress shirt or a tie. At a news conference Sunday at the ambassador’s residence, they were again informally dressed — in a different set of polo shirts. Indeed, it appears that they mostly just packed stacks of polo shirts.
So, maybe we should make a big Style Section thing about these guys. Simple, clean, efficient — they look nice and young and respectable. They pack light but can look presentable at the Élysée Palace. And if they happen upon a terrorist on a train, they’ll beat him senseless.
Were I in the men’s fashion business — which is to say, the polos and khakis business — these are exactly the kinds of guys I’d want wearing my clothes.
Published in Culture
The fact that these three young men weren’t travelling with suits doesn’t surprise me in the least.
I have three sons and coming up with a suit for any of them is usually a bit of a scramble. They are all of similar size and I didn’t realize that they’d been sharing two suits between the three of them until all three had to attend the same funeral.
Frankly, if my three were travelling through Europe and managed a polo shirt and a pair of Dockers I’d be shocked. But I’d be thrilled as that is their church garb and I’d assume they had either attended or were planning to.
I actually did think when I saw the medal-pinning on polos, “they’re pretty casually dressed for an awards ceremony.” But then I remembered all the mentions of their having been on vacation.
I am pleasantly surprised to discover that there is no officious maître d’ on duty at the French president’s residence, forcing ill-fitting jackets and sad loaner ties on the too-casually-dressed. (Or maybe there is, but guys this awesome get an automatic pass.)
With weight restrictions and having to pay for each bag you check it would be crazy for young men like that to have a suit with them on a European vacation. They dress better than I ever did at their age
Too dressy. Jeans are the American look.
My grandsons dress like that every day in polos, khakis, comfort shoes, for work, college, and about anything else. Well, in the winter they will add a hoodie.
I posted this article on Mona’s story and I’ll do it again. As we approach the anniversary of 9/11, this is the type of journalism and writing that took place then:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122451174798650085
To waste time talking about what people are wearing, i.e. Americans on vacation attire, shows the level of vanity and superficiality that we are so focused on nowadays, among other stupidity in the MSM. We were a raw nation back then after that event, churches were filled, people giving blood, on war footing…..has the world become safer, devoid of the extremism that brought our twin towers down? Apparently not on a train traveling from France. Or have things escalated in 14 years beyond belief?
The world has not learned a damn thing since then, and to quote a line from the movie, “My Cousin Vinny” when Joe Pesci asks if his outfit is suitable for a deer hunt? Marisa Tomei answers when the little deer bends to take a sip of cool water from the stream and gets its head blown off, “Do you really think it will care what the SOB who shot it was wearing?!”
Of course They ain’t wearing suits. They’re too restrictive. They have to be ready to kick some ass at any moment. I mean, Who’s there to protect Hollande? Certainly not the French.
Why on earth would they have been traveling with suits? If it isn’t entirely obvious, the meeting at the Élysée Palace was unscheduled.
Nothing about what they’re wearing would “pinpoint Americans in a crowd.” Stone might “look American” in France because he’s a big guy, but people might also think he was German or British or from many parts of Eastern Europe. And … doesn’t anyone remember who the best-known designer of polo shirts is?
When was the last time the Washington Post left Washington?
These 3 heroes remind me of Kung Fu Panda’s line:
They’re dressed for one of two things:
Saving a train from a jihadist
or
Resolving your IT issue.
The thing I noticed was that amazing helmet on the guard in the background.
Only in Europe do they still dress like that.
Don’t let Pleated Pants Forever see that picture of flat front khakis! !!
If these men HAD been Marines and not Army and Air Force, I guarantee you that the Corps would have had those boys in uniform by Monday if it meant field stripping every embassy employee in NATO.
This comment is really maddening. These three men have been modest and gracious: It would be nice if American citizens followed their example.
French citizens also confronted the attacker. The first one to challenge him was shot in the neck and gravely wounded.
I would actually say that since the Obama administration has been steering the ship the French have had a much stiffer backbone than the US government. For the record I am happy they have been gracious. It’s about time that the western world allies themselves against the barbarians.
However Claire….we make fun of each other. Can’t always help it and really don’t mean anything by it. They say we are crude and obnoxious, we say they wear berets and surrender. :)
Because of this story, I’ve had this song in my head lately:
Or, in my case, you can meld the two and be a cowboy boot wearing, pickup truck driving postmodernist. ;-)
In that case, the one civilian’s probably very grateful for the service choices made by his buddies.
I can see that pre-ceremony meetup in their hotel lobby now . . . . . . two uniformed marines stride in, magnificently crisp, just as their civilian buddy comes out of the dining room, brushing crumbs from his polo shirt . . . . . “Aw, come ON guys!!! We ALL AGREED last night on KHAKIS. Where’d you even GET those??!”
But no one in France is saying that. Does this look as if they are?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st5K-8q-1A8
(There are some details there that are more interesting to me than the way they’re dressed. I’m guessing the name “Anthony,” in particular, was feared to be tongue-twisting for Hollande, thus the pronunciation guide to their names.)
This brings back memories. In 89, I was in the wedding party of my high-school best friend, who had just graduated from Annapolis. Every other guy in the wedding party was in dress whites, swords and all.
The airline lost my luggage. I ended up wearing an old suit and cowboy boots borrowed from the bride’s landlord.
That. Is hysterical.
So proud of our boys. Love that our longtime ally showed them so much respect, honor and, yes, love.
Those are khakis… They’re called “Service Alphas”
Way too hot in the summer, though.
Yep, because of the heat and humidity, I’ve only worn jeans once since moving back to South Texas last month.
First, the French should have provided suits.
Second, I wish these guys would say no thanks to public recognition.
I was moved by the sight of Hollande kissing them. And their faces were priceless. Obviously, they’d been well-briefed by the American protocol officers and knew to expect that. By the time it happened on live television, broadcast the world around, I’m sure they’d already received many kisses and were almost getting used to Frenchmen doing that.
But somehow I think pounding a terrorist was more natural experience to them than being lovingly kissed, in public, by the French president.
I think the public recognition is entirely appropriate. For one thing, it builds some level of goodwill between our two nations.
As for the polos… they’re neat and orderly and the best they had packed. Not what you would ideally wear if you had advance notice, but perfectly acceptable under the circumstances.
Yes Claire you are correct, no one is teasing each other there and I for one found the grateful comments and tweets from the French to be so incredibly heartfelt and sincere. It was such a wonderful end to what could have been a horrific tragedy.