'Olive T-shirt' Zelensky Wears Daily, Clear Difference from Putin's 'Luxury Padding'

Zelensky Appears at Official Event Wearing 'Ordinary T-Shirt'
"Symbol of Ukrainian People's Strength and Patriotism" Interpretation... Contrasted with 'Luxury Adorned' Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine. / Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Attention is focused on the 'olive-colored' T-shirt that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky always wears in videos posted on social networking services (SNS) and at official events. Analysts say Zelensky's attire symbolizes the strength and patriotism of the Ukrainian people.

On the 21st (local time), fashion critic Vanessa Friedman wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times (NYT) that "President Zelensky's clothing has become a symbol of the strength and patriotism of the Ukrainian people."

She said, "This T-shirt serves as a link between President Zelensky as an 'ordinary Ukrainian man' and the citizen militias fighting on the streets, and it signifies that President Zelensky shares their hardships."

President Zelensky wears an olive-colored T-shirt in every video he posts on SNS. He also wore the olive-colored T-shirt instead of formal suits during speeches to the European, British, and U.S. parliaments. Some criticized this as 'disrespectful.' In response, Friedman argued, "It is not disrespect but a sign of respect and loyalty to the people he represents (the Ukrainian people)."

On the 18th (local time), Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the concert commemorating the 8th anniversary of the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula held at Luzhniki Stadium in downtown Moscow. Photo by AFP

President Zelensky's 'ordinary T-shirt' sharply contrasted with the luxury padded jacket worn by President Vladimir Putin at the ceremony commemorating the 8th anniversary of the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, held on the 18th at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia. Despite the economic sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine causing suffering among its citizens, Putin faced international criticism for appearing adorned in luxury and making statements that seemed to justify the war.

The padded jacket Putin wore at the event is from the Italian high-end brand Loro Piana, priced at approximately 16 million KRW. Friedman described President Zelensky and President Putin as representing "the common man and elitist," respectively.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.