3rd Worst Dressed Dictator: Fidel Castro

Fidel Castro: From Tracksuits to Military Uniform

The idea of a dictatorship is something that a lot of people have a very hard time with, and for good reason. After all, allowing a single person to have absolute power over a nation of individuals clearly has the potential to end in tragedy, and quite often does. This being said, it can be difficult to tell at first when a dictatorship is truly taking a turn for the worse, as many dictators are loved by the masses before they ever start committing evil deeds. Fidel Castro is one of the most notorious dictators of all time, having ruled over cuba up until 2008. Castro has a political history that is about as rich and detailed as they come, and even though he brought a great deal of hope to the people of Cuba early on in his political career, there are plenty of detractors out there who have little good to say about the man. Regardless of his impact on the political landscape of Cuba, it’s fair to say that Castro has never been highlighted for the way he dressed. Consider the following aspects of Castro’s approach to fashion and style, and how modern men might wish to go down an alternate path. We put Castro in 3rd place on our Worst Dressed list.

The Early Days
When Castro first came to power, he was very often seen wearing the same type of attire, and most people will agree it did little to help push his appearance in the right direction. Castro favored a green military uniform that was bulky and drab; a look that many people still to this day have come to associate with communism and the Cuban military. After all, this “un-individualistic look” was synonymous for the communist thought. Just like Mao wore his infamous Mao suit everywhere he went, so did Castro wear his signature costume. In other words, it’s fair to say that he wore these clothes for a reason (he was, after all, a very prominent part of the communist movement in Cuba), but to say that it made him look stylish would be a massive overstatement, and one that most people aren’t exactly willing to make. Combined with the unkempt beard, this was a look that certainly did him very few favors.

Adidas Tracksuits
The tracksuit is a piece that was once specifically geared towards athletes. This being said, a lot of people have embraced the look over the years (for better, or for worse), and Fidel Castro finds himself in this group. After Castro began to recuperate from a surgery in 2006, his appearance made it into the public eye when he decided to embrace the red, white and blue tracksuit; a move that no one could’ve seen coming. Castro has since embraced the tracksuit on many different occasions, causing a lot of people to actually associate him with the look. While tracksuits might be comfortable and ideal for athletes, it’s fair to say that they’re not exactly fashionable.

Takeaways for the Modern Man
It’s important for modern men who are looking to gain traction in politics to look their best at all times. Military-type wear that Castro embraced so heavily early on is not easy on the eyes, and causes many people to feel frightened and uncomfortable. On the other end of the spectrum, however, is the tracksuit that Castro so famously wears today; something that is best left to those who are training for an athletic event. If you’re planning on embarking on a career in politics, leaving both of these looks at the door may be a wise decision.

Other Poorly Dressed Dictators:
Muammar Gaddafi - The #1 Worst Dressed Dictator
Kim Jong-il - 2nd Worst Dressed Dictator

Your Bows-n-Ties.com Team