"SPREZZATURA" ON CAPITOL HILL
American politicians are dressing down with big intentions. But when does casual cool become carelessness—and who’s still pulling it off?
Italians have perfected the idea of sprezzatura—a kind of nonchalance that begins and ends with style. It’s a reverence for carelessness, the fine art of hiding the work it takes to appear like you haven’t worked at all. David Beckham is the poster child of this. But sprezzatura isn’t just about fashion. It’s the style in which you live your life while pretending you’re not trying too hard to live it.
It’s waking up late and slinking around in Brunello Cucinelli before grabbing a coffee at 1 p.m. or the long, winding drive to the countryside in your 1968 Fiat that somehow ends with you drinking wine for three hours in a remote cafe alone in bliss.
The term originates from Baldassare Castiglione's poetic teachings. In his 1527 novel, The Book of the Courtier, discretion, decorum, and grace take center stage, especially regarding what he called “good government.”
“I have found quite a universal rule which in this matter seems to me valid above all others… and that is to avoid affectation in every way possible; and, to do this, to practice in all things a certain sprezzatura, so as to conceal all art and make whatever is done or said appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.”
Which is a way of saying, don’t be fake. Sprezzatura isn’t just about the surface; it’s about making the hard stuff—like virtue and charm—look easy.
Today, you can see sprezzatura unfold in real time on Capitol Hill. AOC’s recent “Fight Oligarchy” tour had her in high-waisted jeans and a white button-up, slightly wrinkled and slightly tucked, entirely intentional to appear grounded yet effortless. Representative Maxwell Frost's taste in boldly patterned ties (those sourced from a thrift store) reads not sloppy but scrappy—like a kid ready to enter the ring of heavyweights.
The most significant example, however, is Michelle Obama, who arguably redefined the modern relationship between fashion and politics. Many remember her one-shoulder gown at the Inaugural Ball, designed by Jason Wu, or her parade of brightly colored, razor-sharp suits. Fewer, but the real cultured swines, recall the custom thigh-high Balenciaga knife boots she wore while being interviewed by Sarah Jessica Parker.
But Obama never styled herself solely for fashion’s sake. She used clothing to provoke, to signal, and to refocus public attention on the political. That’s true sprezzatura: style as intentional performance in the theater of democracy.
Even Trump, who perhaps teeters on the edge of sartorial tragedy, uses sprezzatura in unassuming ways with his baggy suit, which can only be described as “careless” tailoring. We also see it with Senator Raphael Warnock’s low-cut thigh-hugging denim jeans. Both aim for a relatable, "just like you" style. Though wildly different, it reflects their approach to policy: a practiced carelessness. Whether you buy it or not is beside the point. The illusion is the art.
Danger creeps in when that nonchalance hardens into a sloppy lifestyle. Take Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who’s practically declared a stylish war and has taken casual dressing to such extremes. His refusal of the ceremonial suit and tie, opting rather for hoodies and gym shorts, earned him a removal from the Senate floor, voting now from the doorway of the chamber instead of permission to enter.
But maybe that’s the point. After all, Castiglione also said, “For it is far more important to adorn the mind than the body.” Maybe this is Fetterman’s strategy: avoid the vanity of choosing clothes altogether and present as too busy governing to care. Although many leftists would disagree that his 30 absentees from policy voting this year alone would warrant larger issues, conservatives have pounced on the idea that Fetterman has done nothing but fight for the people, signaling his approachable, disheveled look might be alluring to few.
It worked for Steve Jobs, didn’t it? The black turtleneck and light-washed jeans became his uniform of genius. However, in Jobs’ case—and much like AOC’s—the foundation of his look was built on timeless staples that have been stylishly replicated for decades. Andy Warhol, Diane Keaton, Audrey Hepburn, and Joan Didion were all devotees of the black turtleneck.
Politicians are finally taking a page from the style playbook, although not all of them are quite successful. In an era where every move is documented, aesthetic ease isn’t just a personal trait—it’s a political strategy. The real question is, will this come to dominate Capitol Hill?
READING LIST
If you need more context on the descent of Fetterman, here’s a recent piece that outlines everything relatively quick
We HIGHLY recommend reading Baldassare Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier, which is only $0.99 through kindle so why not?
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