They join politicians from Rishi Sunak to Emmanuel Macron in putting their best feet forward.
It was business on top and party on the bottom as the European Commission’s big-wigs gathered for an away day outside Brussels to discuss the EU’s next seven-year budget and cooperation with NATO.
President Ursula von der Leyen gathered her College of Commissioners and NATO chief Mark Rutte in Jodoigne, about 45 minutes southeast of Brussels, for a Friday “seminar” to discuss their priorities over their five-year term. But it was their fashion choices that raised eyebrows, with von der Leyen and Rutte both posting a photo to social media showing off their cool kicks.
In a nod to the setting outside the stuffy EU capital, Rutte rocked what looked like a pair of Converse Chuck 70 sneakers in green (on sale for €58.45), while von der Leyen donned a snazzy-looking pair of black trainers with a metallic accent (the closest we could find are these crocodile-leather bad boys).
It’s not the first time politicians have attempted to convey their everyman credentials through casual footwear. A lifetime ago (back in 2020), then-U.S. vice presidential pick Kamala Harris famously wore sneakers on the campaign trail, favoring Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars (her legion of fans reportedly followed suit).
It was a different story when then-British PM Rishi Sunak was forced to apologize for ruining the cool factor of Adidas Samba trainers after wearing them during an interview.
British MP and Brexiteer-in-chief Nigel Farage demonstrated his own “how do you do fellow kids” vibe by donning a pair of Adidas Gazelles in a video posted to social media.
French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, got into hot water after popping up at Westminster Abbey in a suit and pair of JM Weston sneakers (€570, naturellement) during a trip to London ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
Talk about putting your foot in it.
