How the Macron vs Le Pen fashion war mirrors their election contest, as both use style choices – and one his chest hair – to swing the tides of battle

Emmanuel Macron’s recent photo where he shows off his chest hair in an unbuttoned white shirt was done in a bid to appeal to younger voters, some pundits say

Right-wing Marine Le Pen knows she needs to appeal to the centre, which she is trying to do by looking presentable and serious but also feminine

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French President Emmanuel Macron reclines on a sofa, the top four buttons of his white shirt undone to reveal a full pelt of dark chest hair - an image that saw social media users compare him to Sean Connery and Tarzan. Photo: Soazig de la Moissonnière

Published: 11:15am, 23 Apr 2022

Female presidential candidates nearly always make headlines for their fashion choices but male ones rarely do, a fact that can irritate women running for office. During the current election season in France, however, it has been Emmanuel Macron who has dominated the sartorial coverage.

Backstage at an election rally last weekend – after he had won the first round of voting – the current French president reclined on a biscuit-coloured sofa, the top four buttons of his white shirt undone to reveal a full pelt of dark chest hair. Social media immediately lit up with the images, with Twitter users comparing him to Sean Connery and even Tarzan.

I’m not sure if Macron is quite Bond-worthy, but it was a surprisingly out-there look for a president known for looking sleek and neat, but rarely head-turning.

Pundits have said that these behind-the-scenes photos were released in a bid to appeal to younger voters ahead of the second round of the French presidential elections this Sunday. Usually, Macron is found in tailored navy or black single-breasted suits, worn with immaculately starched white shirts and one-colour ties.

Marine Le Pen and Macron before the start of a live face-to-face televised debate on French public national television on April 20, 2022. Photo: AFP

With this election being fought during a cost-of-living crisis by an incumbent who has been accused of being the “president of the rich”, the ever-savvy Macron has responded by purging anything that might be deemed luxurious. That means au revoir to his beloved Cartier Tank watch and bonjour to €400 (US$430) suits from Parisian tailor Jonas & Cie.