The October 26th edition of The Washington Post includes a picture of Abdullah Abdullah, the former Afghan foreign minister who may or may not challenge President Hamid Karzai in the runoff election (he’s considering boycotting). In the photo Abdullah is seated in a chair, wearing an ascot, addressing male supporters who are wearing traditional Afghani clothing. An ascot? In Afghanistan?
We’re accustomed to seeing his opponent Karzai in native dress. In an NPR piece also on 10/26, host Steve Inskeep said of Karzai, “He had charisma, he spoke English beautifully, he dressed in the elegant robes of the region.” All of which got me thinking about whether clothes make the man.
I recall a NYT Magazine piece from a few years back, which featured photos of homeless men dressed as they were initially found and then post a stylist’s magic makeover, beautifully dressed in tailored Paul Stuart suits or Brooks Brothers’ blazers. Some probably wore ascots, although I don’t recall regal robes a la Karzai. The obvious point was still provocative and stayed with me for days. How quick we are to make assumptions based on dress.
And it appears that influenced our view of Karzai, as Inskeep pointed out. But what do Afghanis and Westerners make of the ascot-wearing Abdullah? This façade seems so far from the reality of the country. It will be an interesting election to follow and if Abdullah is elected, we’ll see whether looking smashing in a navy blazer, ascot and pocket scarf can make a difference in a troubled land.
