Martin Greenfield has been making suits for presidents and Hollywood stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio for decades, so when it came time for the Obama White House to look for a presidential tailor, he was the obvious pick.
In his new biography, Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz Survivor to Presidents, Greenfield wrote that Obama aides brushed aside his request to measure the president and instead shipped him an old suit to copy.
“Martin Greenfield doesn’t copy anybody’s suits. Everybody copies Martin Greenfield’s suits,” he said in the book provided to the Washington Examiner.
The White House caved in, and Greenfield was invited in, where he found Obama smiling and charming. “He’s built like a fitting mannequin, a 40 long with an impressive 33-and-a-half waist, which makes dressing him extremely enjoyable,” said Greenfield, who also dressed Bill Clinton.
He said Obama knew what he wanted. “The president showed us a fine Italian-made suit jacket. ‘Feel this jacket. It’s soft and feels really nice. This is the kind of thing I would like you to do for me,’ ” Greenfield said. And Obama preferred the suits in charcoal gray and navy blue.
The tailor added a special touch: Red, white and blue hand stitching on the interior.
“We’ve made many suits for President Obama. In fact, virtually every suit he’s worn since February 2011 has been one of ours,” Greenfield said.
One constant: The first lady has no input. Obama told his tailor, “Michelle never gets involved with my fashion business.”
One change: Greenfield now supplies pleated and non-pleated pants. “My girls tease me about my suit pants,” said Obama. “They say my pleats make me look old and uncool.”
When he dressed Clinton, Greenfield said he pledged to make the former Arkansas governor look presidential. He recalled looking into Clinton’s closet for ideas. “I couldn’t believe my eyes. A couple of short leather jackets, more jogging suits than any man needs to own, a ratty old overcoat so ugly I was tempted to throw it away on the spot, and a couple of average, off-the-rack suits,” he wrote.
Not only did he make a “presidential wardrobe” for Clinton, but he also taught Clinton how to wear clothes and formal wear. “I will teach you how to wear tailed, tie a bow tie, everything,” Greenfield promised.
His book is published by Regnery and out next week.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
