We’ve ruminated in the past on Lloyd Blankfein’s sartorial strategies and the tradition of executive dressing, particularly among Italian titans of industry who know how to do it. So we were curious to discover recent shots of Mr. Blankfein, CEO of Goldman Sachs, in Davos, with a beard. Apparently he grows them when he’s on vacation and this time he felt confident enough to go on the record before the cameras.
While this did not cause as much comment as the First Lady’s bangs, it does represent the migration of the beard from the urban woodsman to the corporate boardroom. Mr. Blankfein’s beard is certainly not radical–it’s more of a thin layer of snow than an avalanche of white–but it is progress of a sort for those of us who support beards in all tax brackets and all locations, including the corridors of power.
A beard should be at home everywhere man goes, in the city and the country, among the creative class and corporate chieftains. It pairs well with a bottle of Bowmore or Barolo, with a fountain pen or a fly rod. It would be nice to see Charlie Rose with more advanced stubble, Joe Biden with a massive three-monther or Larry Gagosian, who’s been on his back foot recently, rebooted and properly bearded for 2013 (though in his case a mustache might be even more raffish and compelling).
The beard does not judge the one-percent–it moves across society, beyond reproach, ennobling and expressing the face of man. –DAVID COGGINS
I grew one after Sandy when the house was trashed. I haven’t had had one in 25 years, so there’s major snow in it. Still it is blacker than Lloyd’s. I am thinking on keeping it even after I am back home, as the wife is more accepting of it with time.
Biden could just have his beard plugged in. Probably already has but the plugs got confused and are growing into his brain.
I’ve always grown a beard then shaved it, pretty much twice a year for as long as I can remember.
And I keep it trim.
On another note, Blankfein is a dickhead, and a disgusting human being.
Had a beard for nearly 15 years now (since I was a senior in high school), but then I have inhabited mainly academic spheres in that time. Always happy to see beards make their presence felt.
Cheers!
Uh, Ben Bernanke?
As a full-time, die-hard beardo I am reminded of Crocodile Dundee:
“That’s not a beard … THIS is a beard!”
The beard worked out real well for Jon Corzine…
Can’t believe you posted a picture of this wallstreet parasite.
Davos is where the really wealthy and powerful get together and come up with plans about how the rest of us should live.
Looks like weekend stubble. Not much of a beard, not much of a man.
“Can’t believe you posted a picture of this wallstreet parasite” Amen bro. Well said.
“Davos is where the really wealthy and powerful get together and come up with plans about how the rest of us should live.” ………yes, of course, they want us on our knees, drowning in debt and living lives of servitude.
People like Blankfein, & Jamie Dimon are infinitely worse than any Russian, or Italian crime boss. We’ll be bailing these people out for the rest of our lives & our children’s lives. The big people never do time, since they make the rules.
Anyone notice Jamie Dimon’s Presidential Seal cufflinks during his testimony??? What was the intended message? Rumors abound that he was signalling that HE is the President, not Obama, the choir boy & bank’s bitch. Blankfein & Dimon are the capo dei capi. Obama is just a marionette.
These folks are the worst, they just dress better, that’s the only diff.
I’d expect nothing less than a paean to the beard from that hirsute facial hair apologist Coggins!
Who gives a fuck if this man has a beard or not worst post ever.
Rather like using Hitler to make a statement about his utterly stylish stache.
Not a real beard, it’s a common style for doctors and wonks of various types.
I have another name for it, but it is ethnic/racist.