G20 Style

There's much to learn and much to ignore at the current G20 summit in London. Style wise, that is. Politicians very seldom break from the pattern of dark suits, regardless of the season. That's expected. But no two dark suits are alike. 

U.S. President Barack Obama-dark two button with a center vent. The top button of the jacket falls right where it should, allowing a deep v effect for his white dress shirts. The president sticks to barrel cuffs but opted for a French cuff shirt for a dinner at 10 Downing St., the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister. Overall, nothing exciting but not bad.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown-dark two button suit with side vents. Unlike Mr. Obama, Mr. Brown's top button has a higher stance which sort of distorts the lines of his body when the button is fastened. Mr. Brown is strictly a white, French-cuff shirt kind of man and rarely dons patterned ties. The stance could be lower.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy-dark two or three button suits with side vents. The cut of his suits is the best. There is a small amount of waist suppression, which defines the body. Unlike Mr. Obama and Mr. Brown, Mr. Sarkozy often wears striped shirts, pale pinks, pale blues and white shirts. They're almost always French cuff and he shows just a hint of cuff from his jacket. His suits are often pin-stripes, which is the most excitement one can expect from a head of state. It beats The first two.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev-Two or three button with side vents and hacking pocket, and the occasional double-breasted. The most daring, he's never with a spread collar shirt and massive tie knot. When he met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (poor Merkel), he wore a windowpane double-breasted number. The cut of his suits seem to work well, aside from the too-long jacket sleeves.

What to take from this? The cut of Mr. Obama and Mr. Sarkozy's suits, the pairings of Mr. Medvedev and Sarkozy. What to ignore: The high stance of Mr. Brown suits, and the too-long jacket and shirt sleeves of Medvedev.