Either it’s me or the overall casualness in semi-formal/business menswear is continuing to increase. Gone are the days that we constantly view in old newsreels of the average gentleman wearing a suit, fedora, and necktie at an old school baseball game after work at Ebbets Field or the Polo Grounds.

Apparently President Kennedy, a man who was non to fond of hats, ended the days of daily presidential wear of them. The fedora look was one shared with French President Charles de Gaulle as well as many other leaders of the day. But in public, Kennedy usually preferred to just hold his hat in his hand. President Johnson preferred not to bother with one at all after his vice-presidential days ended.

The post-Vietnam era brought an overall casualness not just to men’s wear, but the global populous as well . Jeans became the norm, yet the office always required suit and tie. To this day its still a debate if women should convert to pants suits….that’s usually a debate only if your boss is an old school type that’s afraid of their own shadow.

But now Barack Obama, John Edwards, and Joe Biden have taken the presidential candidate look to another level of casual style at times throughout their campaigns. The open collar look has spread to the corporate world even when its not “casual Friday.” Even the crew of the new Warner Bros. Ocean’s 13 wear the open collar look with a flair unmatched by any other group of cronies out there, a far cry from their predecessors in the original Rat Pack featured Ocean’s 11.

Looks like the MTV generation has found a way to incorporate a less stuffy feel to the office, The White House, and general pop culture while still managing to keep the look of class just as in years before.

Technorati Tags: Obama, Edwards, Rat Pack, George Clooney, Ocean’s 13, Ocean’s 11