Since when did Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos know how to dress?

Something has changed for Mark Zuckerberg. On February 28, when he got out of a pickup truck to get to LG Electronics Inc. in Seoul. group headquarters, his silhouette caught his eye. The 39-year-old billionaire actually gives the impression of squarer shoulders, if not altogether more muscular. The physical change is undoubtedly related to his fitness program, which is centered around push-ups and pull-ups. But also his bomber cut, a velvet and shearling model that would almost make him look “tough guy” like Brad Pitt. Fight club (1999) or Belmondo et al Robbery (1971). “It’s like when he wore an Alexander McQueen suit in India in early March (to billionaire Anant Ambani’s wedding celebrations, Editor’s note), emphasizes Miriam Baldi, Gantzer agency’s communications and public relations consultant. He puts himself on the same level as all other leaders. He is a leader, he knows where he is going, he has nothing to prove to anyone. The shearling jacket reflects a change in personality, it’s the new Zuckerberg.”

If the look is surprising, it’s because we’re far from Mark Zuckerberg’s “geek” look. From the time when the founder of Facebook preferred simple (albeit very expensive) T-shirts, jeans and sneakers. A period which, according to the free stylist Tyche Agata, is behind him. “At the time of Steve Jobs, there were fewer photos circulating on the Internet. Today’s tech leaders realize that clothing is the first image they send, that it’s the first reflection of their company.” The fashion expert, however, prefers to note that the jacket emphasizes a certain aspect of Mark Zuckerberg’s identity. “What we remember about him is his simplicity. This shearling jacket is not ultra-fashionable, but has a vintage side to it. It gives the impression of being unselected, a bit like walking out of a cool thrift store. He leaves a very American heritage, a bit 1970s. Mark Zuckerberg has kept his core, his simplicity is his strength, and that’s what we remember about him.”

Make the difference

So gone is the very subtle era of the 1990s when Steve Jobs appeared in a black Issey Miyake turtleneck to draw more attention to his speeches than to his clothes. From now on, fashion occupies a dominant place in the daily life of great leaders. Perhaps the culprit is our hyper-connected society, where the image we project on social media categorizes us. To avoid obsolescence or worse, forgetfulness, clothing is an asset.

Elon Musk has always had this side of fashion […] His look is very inspired by the characters in the movie with oversized dresses, a bit like Nicolas Cage.

Tyché Agatha, freelance stylist

“Today we all promote ourselves on the internet, we can be filmed without our knowledge… So appearance is important. The choice of clothes of these leaders is a means of communication,” continues Tikhe Agata. And continue. “For a long time, Mark Zuckerberg was only interested in his work, clothes were optional. Now is the time when Facebook is getting old. It’s over, scruffy bosses in baggy suits, we’re an image company and that’s what matters.” And so, in 2024, almost forty-year-old Mark Zuckerberg replaces the gray T-shirt with an amazing gold T-shirt embroidered with a tiger.

The stylist also gives the example of the eccentric Elon Musk. According to him, the CEO of SpaceX quickly understood the importance of clothing to promote… And knew how to avoid falling into the “outdated” box. “Elon Musk has always had this fashion side, we’ve actually seen him at the Met Gala a few times. His look is very much inspired by movie characters, with oversized dresses, a bit like Nicolas Cage.” According to the stylist, the key to standing out from the crowd will therefore be for these gentlemen to take full responsibility for themselves. “Elon Musk is very authentic, he can’t make a wardrobe mistake because he is responsible for everything. Which cannot be said in the case of Bezos and Zuckerberg, who give the impression of looking for each other,” explains Emilie Zapalski, the founder of the Emilie Conseil agency. Elon Musk means what he says and isn’t afraid of backlash. Others open up a bit, but it’s not in their nature.” The proof of this is when Jeff Bezos dares to step out of his comfort zone one fine day. but wearing a cowboy hat on the pages of Vogue in December 2023, the billionaire became the laughingstock of social networks.

Luxury, relaxation and luxurious tastes

Fashion, this world that until now seemed so far from the centers of interest of tech executives, now seems to intrigue them. And they think it’s “cool”. “Fashion didn’t fit into their behavior back then,” Emily Zapalski explains to us. Today, I see this interest in clothing as fulfillment. The end of the Steve Jobs era forced them to start a new phase, to modernize.” For Miriam Baldi, this interest in this field expresses “maturity”. The abandonment, so to speak, of the eternal rivalry between the high school geek and the proverbial quarterback (an athlete wearing a offensive position in American football, editor’s note), the image has long been depicted in popular culture. So much so that we’re now seeing Jeff Bezos in the front row of fashion shows, like the Dolce & Gabbana show in January 2024.

These are not men who are known as sex symbols, and yet today we discover them in a new light, they are almost seductive.

Emilie Zapalski, founder of the Emilie Conseil agency

Their favorite brands are also handpicked. Most of the time, big bosses focus on quiet luxury, a fashion that bets on the simplicity of cuts, colors… And which especially prefers exclusive materials such as cashmere and suede. That’s why Mark Zuckerberg’s €300 t-shirts are always signed by Brunello Cuccinelli, or why Loro Piana cashmere is loved by Chamath Palihapitiya, venture capitalist and CEO of Social Capital. An understated wardrobe aimed at the connoisseur and allowing you to play the discretion card when needed.

Aging gently

More grown-up fashion too. Many years have passed since the creation of Facebook or Amazon. During that time, the founders grew up, got married, had children. We see them sharing moments of life on social media, their faces bright and peaceful…and sometimes, like Mark Zuckerberg, their bodies are more sculpted. “These are not men who are known as sex symbols, but we see them today in a new light, they are almost seductive,” says Emily Zapalski. And to conclude. “They give up this opportunity for charisma, seduction, those who have long ago organized their lives like a business plan. They seem happier, more relaxed. A bit like they were happily retiring before their time.”