It was business on top and party on the bottom as the European Commission’s big-wigs gathered for an away day outside Brussels to discuss the EU’s next seven-year budget and cooperation with NATO.
President Ursula von der Leyen gathered her College of Commissioners and NATO chief Mark Rutte in Jodoigne, about 45 minutes southeast of Brussels, for a Friday “seminar” to discuss their priorities over their five-year term. But it was their fashion choices that raised eyebrows, with von der Leyen and Rutte both posting a photo to social media showing off their cool kicks.
In a nod to the setting outside the stuffy EU capital, Rutte rocked what looked like a pair of Converse Chuck 70 sneakers in green (on sale for €58.45), while von der Leyen donned a snazzy-looking pair of black trainers with a metallic accent (the closest we could find are these crocodile-leather bad boys).
It’s not the first time politicians have attempted to convey their everyman credentials through casual footwear. A lifetime ago (back in 2020), then-U.S. vice presidential pick Kamala Harris famously wore sneakers on the campaign trail, favoring Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars (her legion of fans reportedly followed suit).
It was a different story when then-British PM Rishi Sunak was forced to apologize for ruining the cool factor of Adidas Samba trainers after wearing them during an interview.
British MP and Brexiteer-in-chief Nigel Farage demonstrated his own “how do you do fellow kids” vibe by donning a pair of Adidas Gazelles in a video posted to social media.
French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, got into hot water after popping up at Westminster Abbey in a suit and pair of JM Weston sneakers (€570, naturellement) during a trip to London ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
Talk about putting your foot in it.
Von der Leyen and Rutte rock casual sneakers look at EU retreat
Source: Viral Showbiz Pinay
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