Justin Trudeau's Adidas trainers were a major fashion faux pas

Telegraph

3 days ago

When you're set to meet royalty – the King of England, no less – you very much feel pressure to put your best foot forward.
So Justin Trudeau's decision to wear trainers to greet King Charles and Queen Camilla at the opening session of the Canadian parliament at the Ottawa Senate on Tuesday was a curious one, to put it mildly.
The former Canadian Prime Minister, who is still a member of Parliament as part of the Liberal Party – guided the couple around wearing a classic blue single-breasted suit, with shirt and tie, alongside a pair of cheerful, mint-hued Adidas Gazelles, the signature stripes in a bold coral colour.
It's unconventional for such a formal set-up and ceremonious occasion, but an increasing sense of casualisation has imbued men's dressing for a while now, fuelled by the work-from-home culture that's led to a dress down approach for many men.
X – formally known as Twitter – promptly got itself in a froth about what some deemed Trudeau's sign of disrespect. Is it a poor show? It's certainly outré, and the vivid colour makes them stand out all the more. He could have opted for a stealthy, sleek pair in a subtle suede or leather that would have looked more elevated and dressy, particularly on a 53-year-old man, rather than a pair that says 'dad-at-Glastonbury'. They're also about as unstatesman-like as footwear can get.
The issue of whether it's appropriate to wear trainers with traditional tailoring has reared its head – or foot – before. It's also not the first time that a politician has courted controversy via Adidas trainers; last year Rishi Sunak wore a pair of Sambas and promptly had to issue a tongue-in-cheek apology for killing their cool credentials. Perhaps it was a subtle demonstration from Trudeau – ever the left-leaning liberal – that he wasn't about to bow in deference before the monarch.
The rise in trainers as part of a formal office uniform – rather than a sturdy pair of classic Oxfords or Derbys – is partly due to the impact of casual ease and streetwear in men's style, a phenomenon that shifted the needle over a decade ago and shows no sign of abating, particularly now that less men are required to wear the full bells and whistles of a smart suit.
It's also been fuelled by luxury's embrace of the humble trainer, with designer price tags to match; glossy varieties in leathers and suedes, discreet and subtle, easily aligned with a sleek suit in terms of aesthetics and smartness. Perhaps that's the problem with Trudeau's particular choice; they're too dress down and sloppy, rather than being a sartorial iteration. A pair of trainers from Church's, for example, crafted with the same skill and savoir-faire as the historic Northampton brand's more stately varieties of shoe, wouldn't have raised such eyebrows and headlines.
I'm minded of a 60-something Italian CEO I once met in Milan, who having spent his life in crisp tailoring and creaking Oxfords, had pivoted to gilets, joggers and trainers in a 'quiet luxury' mode of athleisure, although even he would blanch at the thought of doing so before royalty. The King, as it happens, tends to favour Oxfords from Trickers and Crockett & Jones; perhaps he had a subtle word in Trudeau's ear?
Tom Chamberlin, editor of elegant men's style title The Rake and no slouch when it comes to gentlemanly dressing, takes a dim view of Trudeau's royal wrong foot: 'When Harold Macmillan was as rickety as old age can make one, he still showed up, walking stick in each hand, to a photo op with Queen Elizabeth, wearing black tie – even with his eponymous flourish of tucking the bow tie under his collar,' says Chamberlin. 'If Macmillan can do this, Trudeau can do the basics of not wearing trainers in the King's presence, a sort of bizarre display of apathy, a pro-consular nerve that I hope he is embarrassed by.
'That being said, knowing him he'd wear tan shoes with that blue suit and I can't be sure what's worse.'
At least we can be thankful that Trudeau didn't turn up in a Canadian tuxedo.
Four stealth trainer styles that Trudeau should try instead: