Current sartorial mode
Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed the presidency in 2022, his standard wear in formal or official occasions has been the national costume for men (and sometimes for women), which is the barong tagalog (or more commonly known as barong).
In several of his foreign trips, he wore a long sleeve cream barong with minimal frills the proper way, i.e., buttoned up to the level of the collar, sleeves fully rolled down and buttoned, the lower hem dropping a few inches below the belt line.
And most importantly, he also wore plain shoulder length underwear shirt.
READ: 15 modern barong that pay homage to the iconic Filipino shirt
On the times he attended the summit meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, his barong stood out from the dark suits of his fellow heads of state.
It helped that Marcos is quite tall and does not have a paunch so the elegance of the barong had been projected well to the public.
Article continues after this advertisementIn formal ceremonies in Malacañang, including meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries, the barong is the President’s standard getup, although from time to time he would wear a short sleeve barong that his father made popular during his tenure.
Article continues after this advertisementWith Marcos unofficially setting a sartorial code, the barong has become de rigueur for guests in activities in the presidential residence and when he is the guest speaker in formal business settings.
Thus, in a photo shoot with him, anybody who wears something other than a barong would often awkwardly stick out. For politicians who want to be seen or perceived to be in his good graces, that “scene stealing” does not make good public copy.
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The manner with which Marcos has been carrying himself with the barong is in sharp contrast to that of his predecessor. Then President Rodrigo did not do justice to the national costume by sloppily wearing it, with the collar hanging loosely, the front buttons open almost halfway and the sleeves rolled up to his elbow. It didn’t matter even if there were elegantly dressed foreign guests in attendance.
It was obviously a ploy to project himself to the public as a man of the masses and not a part of the clothes-conscious social elite.
Thankfully, that dress style which many of his subordinates followed during his term of office, has ceased to be practiced by the present set of government officials.
There is nothing elitist about that change, but it’s a recognition that certain rules on social etiquette should be observed in important public events.
The sartorial style of Marcos seems to have rubbed off on many of the country’s prominent business executives.
Unlike in the past (even predating the Duterte administration) when black or dark gray suit was the go-to wear for male business people, the barong has become the new norm for clothes to be seen in public or in the boardroom.
(Incidentally, Japanese business people are reportedly averse to wearing brown suits because that color is supposedly identified with funeral attire).
It is common knowledge that in the business community, the top executives set, through their clothes, the dress code that their employees are expected to conform to.
If the top honchos report for work in coat and tie, in the case of men, or in formal corporate skirt and blouse, for women, the managerial or supervisory staff under them follow their lead although on more subdued or less expensive terms.
That practice is more strictly observed or enforced if a staff member meets with clients inside or outside of the office because his or her physical appearance is considered a reflection of the image of the company.
In some companies, management sometimes even provides the clothes or gives clothing allowance to their employees to help them keep to the office dress code.
The sartorial mode that Marcos has initiated is a boon to local producers of the barong, especially the expensive jusi or piña type, which projects very elegantly. INQ
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