From hair to suits: style matters when Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un meet
US and North Korean leaders may not see eye to eye when it comes to politics, but they’re surprisingly aligned in the fashion stakes
Whether or not the Singapore summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un turns out to be more than just a “get to know plus” meeting, as Trump recently referred to it, one thing is certain: political analysts will scrutinise every single detail of the event, from the moment Kim and Trump land in Singapore to their body language when they first meet and obviously the clothes they wear.
For rarely have there been two world leaders whose peculiar looks have generated as much attention, and internet memes, as Trump and Kim.
Much is at stake in Singapore and you can’t underestimate the historic nature of a meeting of this kind, which is why the two heads of state may pay extra attention to their outfits. Will Kim ditch his customary pin-striped Mao suit for a Western-style suit and tie, as he has done on previous occasions? And will Trump stick to one of his baggy and unflattering Brioni suits, which have become his default uniform?
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Ahead of the much-anticipated meeting, it’s worth looking at some sartorial highlights, and faux pas, from Trump and Kim, who may not see eye to eye when it comes to politics but are surprisingly aligned in many matters of style.
Hair situations
Naysayers may disagree but you can’t deny that Trump’s blond hair perfectly complements his burnt orange tan. What really stands out, however, is the hairdo itself. Is there a toupee involved and is the haircut actually a wig? Is the dye job done in the privacy of Trump Tower and the White House or at a swanky Manhattan or Washington barber salon? The wig rumour is definitely a myth as on a slow news day earlier this year, all everyone could talk about was the president’s mane being messed up by strong winds while boarding Air Force One.
Kim’s heavily gelled hair, which is backcombed into a mini bouffant, is a thing to behold. Shaved at the sides and often styled into what has been referred to as a “trapezoid shape”, this is definitely not your average just-got-out-of-bed hairdo and is indeed quite high maintenance. Besides frequent touch-ups, it requires lots and lots of hair products. One wonders how many jars of wax Kim goes through in a month. Trump could find out to break the ice or if they ever need to exchange hair tips, like when Tony Blair and George W. Bush bonded upon discovering their shared love for Colgate toothpaste a few years back.
