Reason Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not wear a suit at Pope Francis' funeral
Although the funeral of Pope Francis isn't a fashion show, the style choices of a lot of attendees have been called into question.
There is a dress code for the sombre occasion which took place today (26 April), but it appears as though a couple of people missed the memo about what they were expected to wear.
Men are supposed to don dark suits with a black tie, while adding a button of the same colour on the left lapel of their jackets, and white shirts are permitted.
Women, on the other hand, are asked to wear long black dresses, gloves and a veil, while the only jewellery they are allowed to wear is a string of pearls.
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Donald Trump has caused a stir with his funeral attire, as the US President opted to wear a blue suit - so as you can imagine, he was easy to spot among the crowd of mourners dressed in black.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also come under fire for going against the grain and swerving a suit altogether.
The 47-year-old - who had a 'good meeting' with Trump in Saint Peter's Basilica before the service for the Pope got underway - instead wore a black jacket and a coordinating shirt, without a tie.
This prompted a lot of conversation on social media, as it's not the first time Zelenskyy's understated fashion sense has been brought up.
Back in February, Trump sarcastically remarked that the Ukrainian President was all 'dressed up' for their White House meeting as he sported his signature military-style outfit.
As we all know, the sit down resulted in an explosive war of words - and tensions were only exacerbated further after a journalist chimed in the conversation with a comment about Zelenskyy's dressed down look.
He was wearing black trousers, boots and a black jumper, which was embroidered with the Ukrainian trident, leading reporter Brian Glenn to accuse him of 'not respecting the dignity' of the Oval Office.
Zelenskyy wasn't shy about explaining himself though and revealed the reason behind why he hasn't been bothering to dress up in a suit amid the invasion of Ukraine.
And the same reasoning applies when it comes to his choice of clothing for Pope Francis' funeral - as the President uses his clobber to project a message each time he is on the world stage.
By wearing clothing which is reminiscent of military attire, he reportedly hopes to remind people around the globe that his country is still very much at war with Russia.
Responding to Glenn back in February, Zelenskyy explained: "I will wear costume after this war will finish. Maybe something like yours, maybe something better. We will see, maybe something cheaper."
He made a similar statement in the documentary A Year, created by Ukrainian TV star Dmytro Komarov, while showing off a blazer which he intends to wear when Ukraine reigns victorious.
"It's a symbol," Zelenskyy said, as per the Kyiv Independent. "It means that the war will be over soon, we will win soon, and we all will wear suits again."
The creative director at Damirli, a brand which is behind some of Zelenskyy's most talked about looks, also revealed how the President communicates through his clothing.
Designer Elvira Gasanova previously told Politico: "When world leaders see Zelenskyy in military style, it is a signal - 'Ukraine is at war and I am part of this fight.'
"A persistent call to return to the suit is a de facto demand to return to the usual format of political dialogue, which means ‘enough of war, sit down at the negotiating table.
"During war, the president is not just a politician, but the supreme commander of the army and civilians under martial law," she said. "The classic suit would be perceived as a detachment from the reality of the front.
"And his clothes help him to keep the world’s attention on the war in Ukraine."
Gasanova did acknowledge that Zelenskyy has being going against 'diplomatic traditions', adding: "His refusal to wear a suit is a refusal to play by the old rules."
Ukrainian fashion historian Zoya Zvynyatskivska also suggested that the leader still 'demonstrates respect' with his clothing, even if it is casual in comparison to his international counterparts.
"Yes, it's not a suit, but it's a kind of intermediate option," the art critic also told Politico earlier this year. "I think he really demonstrated respect. Very modest, beautiful outfit in black, restrained colour, no khaki.
"If Zelensky takes off his military-style outfit and puts on a suit, what does that mean? It means he agrees that the war is over."
Topics: Fashion, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine, Russia, Pope Francis, Politics
Olivia Burke