Is it idiotic to be talking about Pedro Sánchez's glasses?
There's a Chinese proverb attributed to Confucius that says, "When the wise man points at the moon, the fool stares at the finger." And if there were ever a case that perfectly illustrated this saying, it's Pedro Sánchez's glasses. A seemingly trivial detail that has garnered more attention than the political event itself. The "moon," in this case, would be the Prime Minister's appearance: an intervention from which we've learned almost nothing, in a committee that seems more like a showcase for each party to scrape together votes with empty, tweet-like speeches. Between evasive statements and studied gestures, what has truly stuck in many people's minds is an accessory: his glasses. Who would have thought that a pair of frames could overshadow politics?
What's undeniable is that Sánchez's aesthetic, despite his usual discretion, is typically impeccable and he has top-notch advice. And the best part? It exudes modernity and contemporary appeal effortlessly, without any apparent calculated effort. This puts him a step ahead of his opponent, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, who had to take a "reset "Aesthetic" to dust off a conservative and somewhat outdated image by taking off his glasses. The result? More mockery than admiration: the public doesn't forgive when an attempt to improve one's image is too obvious. Sánchez, on the other hand, has made a splash by accepting the presbyopia that comes with age without losing an ounce of modernity by removing his glasses.
Given the stir his glasses caused yesterday, at 8:40 p.m. Sánchez made a post titled "ABOUT THE STRIKES" and linked to a post from the Madrid establishment Gafas Vintage, in which it clarified:They're vintage Dior Monsieur glasses that we sold him about five years ago. The frames cost around €250, and judging by the pictures, the glasses are in pristine condition. That's why all the media outlets have assumed he's wearing them for the first time today."What is clear is that businessmen already know how not to lose momentum in these media frenzies, as with the Louvre crane and now with this eyewear establishment."
Retro glasses with large, square frames are bringing back the style of the 70s. Far from the round, thin frames traditionally associated with intellectuals, these glasses exude authority, dominance, and presence. It's no wonder we saw them on actors like Telly Savalas in Kojaka tough and intimidating detective, or mafia bosses in The Godfatherwhere every glance behind the dark glass reveals who's in charge. Meanwhile, Richard Gere in American Gigolo He used them to reinforce his sexual power. During the 70s, Halston popularized these glasses among the Studio 54 jet set, turning them into a luxury accessory linked to hedonism and glamour. In the 90s, Tom Ford reinforced this same style, accentuating the authority and appeal of the high-class nightclub seducer. And today, alongside Pedro Sánchez, that retro aesthetic of power and seduction returns to politics, demonstrating that a pair of glasses can speak louder than many speeches.
What Sánchez has made clear in his more than seven years as president is that nothing surrounding him is the result of improvisation. It's surprising that a pair of reading glasses made five years ago hasn't surfaced until now and that, moreover, they still fit him perfectly when, precisely because of his age, he's at the point of maximum progression of this eye condition. Everything points to this being one of his classic shell games, a maneuver to divert attention. Hence the relevance of the Chinese proverb: let us not be deceived by looking at the finger when the moon is the structural corruption that characterizes our political class.
