An image may be worth a thousand words, except in the case of the photo of Barack Obama recording a podcast with his wife Michelle which is worth only one word repeated a thousand times: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! This is because the focus inevitably shifts to a detail that is impossible to overlook: the sneakers on the feet of the former President of the United States of America. Once again, we must surrender to the evidence of the facts: Obama continues to wear Allbirds.
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It is not the first time that Barack has worn the eco-friendly Merino wool sneakers beloved by Silicon Valley geniuses, but it is certainly the most unsettling. The former president was first seen wearing this type of athletic shoe when he attended the Duke vs. UNC sports event. On that occasion, the Allbirds took a back seat as all the attention was on a tight, black biker leather jacket with the number “44” printed on it, a reference to his being the 44th president of the United States. He then wore them again during a summer getaway in the south of France.
Part of the uneasiness stemming from this image is due to the context: Barack sits in front of Michelle, who looks very cool and relaxed in shorts and barefoot. The former president, recording a podcast comfortably at his home, however, wears a pair of jeans, a button-up shirt, and the inevitable Allbirds. It’s a crazy contrast. In front of a computer camera even during a formal call, it is normal to dress in a presentable top half outfit, while the lower half is left to chance, and it seems like Michelle has mastered this art. Nevertheless, one should consider the idea that, from time to time, a person may feel the need to dress more structured and decide to wear a simple pair of jeans even just for completeness. Barry: have you considered some nice slippers?
Since leaving the presidency, and even occasionally while still frequenting the Oval Office, Obama has shown some progress in his clothing style. There was the bomber jacket we have already written about, and years before that his much-discussed light brown suit. Lately, his casual outfits have shown a greater sensitivity to fashion trends or, perhaps, just for the next. At the end of last year, he was wearing tight-fitting shorts and chinos, a white polo, no-show socks, and Adidas Stan Smith sneakers. The outfit was almost a decade behind the rest of the world of men’s clothing, but compared to the presidential standard, the expectation for Obama is similar to that of fans for Russell Westbrook when he enters the pre-game tunnel.
To some, Barack Obama in Allbirds might seem like a bitter pill to swallow, yet it is a choice in line with what we know of his character. In fact, in addition to reflecting his identity, the same language speaks in most of his fashion choices: the shoes match the jeans of a good modern father and slip on anonymously like a reliable Cabernet Sauvignon with red sauce. Since leaving office, Obama and most of his former cabinet members have embraced Big Tech companies like Netflix and Spotify, which have churned out products based on algorithms like these sneakers. In every sphere and situation, Obama seeks comfort and convenience. While active, he was never a radical, like his shoes, but he always had a strong centrist appeal. More and more Americans are convinced that he was the best president of their life and is preferred over any other leader.
Many love the Allbirds: they are environmentally sustainable, and the numerous fans attest to their extreme comfort. Many, at the first opportunity, would buy a third pair of these shoes. Both with Obama and the Allbirds, one must really dwell on their worst flaws to find true adversaries. But a question arises at the end: if Obama really wants to wear sneakers loved by everyone without giving us a headache, can’t someone suggest him to wear a pair of Jordans?
Article sourced from GQ US