Worst Dressed Dictator: Muammar Gaddafi

Muammar Gaddafi is the Worst Dressed Dictator of All Time

Anyone who pays attention to political science knows just how problematic dictatorships can be for the health of a nation in the long run. Dictators often exercise what is termed “absolute power,” meaning their word typically matters regardless of how others (both citizens and government officials) feel about a particular subject. As a result, dictatorships often result in senseless deaths, political corruption and other, similar issues that can take an otherwise healthy nation and cause it to crumble. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi - now dead - was considered to be one of the more notorious men in international politics during his reign. This being said, it’s safe to say that he could’ve perhaps focused less on causing controversy with his political decisions and instead focused a bit more on how he dressed. The following are just a few reasons why Muammar Gaddafi was by far the worst-dressed dictators of all time.

Monochrome Gold Color Schemes
Gaddafi often wore traditional clothing, which usually meant he was decked out in various shades of gold all at the same time. The fact is, gold stands out in ways that many people simply don’t realize, and is always “loud” and “flashy.” The results almost always make someone look like a caricature of themselves, especially when they are situated next to other people who wear more subtle, neutral colors. Gaddafi may have been trying to pay tribute to the role he felt he was serving in Libya by wearing the colors that he did, but he certainly stood out for all the wrong reasons by wearing multiple gold pieces at a time.

1990s Clubber’s Shades
Chances are good that Muammar Gaddafi bought his signature shades from a Libyan street vendor selling knock-off 1990s fashion for a few bucks a pop. If we were able to send Gaddafi back to Miami in 1992 then we might in fact give him a few style points. But wearing these laughable shades today makes even his fashion rival Kim Jong-il look good in comparison.

Crazy Man’s Hair
In almost every picture Gaddafi spots his signature homeless man’s hair. All it would take is a trip to the barber and/or a bottle of shampoo, and he would already have a good chance to loose his #1 spot on our worst dressed list.

Slippers and Sunglasses
A leader is someone whose job is to appeal to his or her countrymen, and in order to do so one has to dress the part. One of the biggest mistakes Gaddafi made in terms of his appearance, however, had to do with the fact that he often wore slippers and sunglasses while in the public eye. This is something that most leaders throughout the world would scoff at ever doing, as it typically connotes a lack of professionalism and an ultra-casual attitude that does little to no favors for those who embrace the look. Nevertheless, the combination of slippers and sunglasses became a rather large part of Gaddafi’s look, and certainly spawned a legion of individuals who had little good to say about how he dressed.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
Modern men who are looking to promote themselves into leadership positions should put as much effort as possible into dressing in an attractive manner. Gaddafi’s penchant for gold is something that simply won’t work for most men throughout the world, and wearing slippers and sunglasses when trying to assert one’s self as a leader will do nothing but cause a disconnect in the end. After all, subtlety is crucial when trying to dress one’s best, and should never be avoided; especially for those who are in a leadership role.

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team