By Kathy Blessin
Politicians quite possibly make their most important statements with their fashion choices. You are what you wear—and the crowd at The Edge last Thursday election night showed the many colors that make up Ryerson’s political scene.
Although this is university, there are still some boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed with politics, beer and peanut shells. And on this night-of-nights for the would-be politicians, some bowed to fashion while others struck off in their own direction.
Andre, the pub manager, was the most practical. His pinkish, slightly worn dress shirt was the right choice as he bounded across the bar to stop brawls. (The Eyeopener has already apologized).
The chief returning officer and her advisor dressed for success and ballot counting. Andrea (Ah-ndrea) Webb was splendid in heels which meant business. She strutted across that tally board like a professional. Her assistant was also glorious, as should be expected from a veteran politician like Paul Felstein. Casual, but with just enough strictness in his collared, tasteful plaid shirt, loafers and belt that just screamed “wear me.”
Jim Pelkmans, while not winning the presidency, took first place for fashion sense. He showed up in a beautiful, soft plaid shirt and the classic choice of jeans. Dana Shaw did the statement to the end with a Ryerson shirt, and John-Paris Phillips was the businessman’s choice in a well-tailored blazer.
Also worth mentioning was Student of Change candidate Gianni Stanizzo, well-coifed and strutting the classic dark-clothes statement that just oozed politician.
Greg Thomas, who regained his spot as the person who does all the work, remained steadfast to the end. His usual I’m-overworked-and-on-my-way-to-bed statement was displayed with a well-worn orange-ish plaid shirt over a dark undershirt. Thomas didn’t take off his maroon coat with the knitted gloves stuffed in his pocket all night, since he appeared and disappeared more times than Elvis has been doing of late.
Sharon Mandelaoui also chose the casual look. Well-fited jeans, curly swishy, healthy hair and glasses that give her just that edge of seriousness allowed her to party all night. Angelo DeLuca was also in jeans but chose the smart but savvy statement of a black T-shirt (possibly Calvin Klein) with a nifty set of black suspenders. The metal polished to a gleam of course. Donna MacNeil, who won herself the spot of v-p administration, chose the female-business-power-suit of a blazer that was just pink/reddish enough to be feminine. It oozed confidence.
The Eyeopener’s very own Dick Slander bows to nobody. Slander was his usual striking in a fashionable, basic black Eyeopener cap. The key to Slander’s cool style is that damn Indian biker jacket that could pay my way through school if it was pawned. His contingent of journalists, mostly off-duty, were in the obligatory jeans and shirts that flapped in the wind from the flying political bull. (Journalists have never been ones to make fashion statements).
And what could be a vision of the future: man-of-the-moment Paul Cheevers wore one of those tacky and tired “Cheevers Achieves” T-shirts and a cheesy Styrofoam election hat. Oh, yes, and a pitcher of beer. This is the man and the fashion that will represent us in the next year? Woe to Armani.
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