Prabowo aims to assert Indonesia's position through double-breasted suit

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Fashion observer Lisa Fitria assessed that President Prabowo Subianto’s style of wearing a double-breasted suit at the 2026 MPR Annual Session was intended to assert that Indonesia holds a position equal to other strong nations.

“In my opinion, his style is not much different from during the campaign. Here the President seems to want to show that state attire is very strong, formal, and symbolic, certainly on a par with presidents of other countries,” Lisa said when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Friday.

A double-breasted suit is a suit model that has two rows of buttons at the front that overlap. Lisa said the model has become one of the garments commonly worn by men around the world.

The outfit worn by President Prabowo Subianto has six buttons, presenting a firm, formal impression with a classic style. What Lisa found particularly interesting was the choice of a grey suit, which she considered to emphasise an impression of stability, maturity, and moderation.

“In the context of a state address, that choice can be read as a representation of leadership that wants to display firmness as well as balance,” she said.

That firmness, according to her, was intended to be highlighted together with an impression of authority, calmness, and approachability, which was symbolically shown through the use of a light blue tie.

The founder of the Indonesian Fashion Chamber (IFC) also assessed that the wearing of a black peci serves as a symbol of commitment to preserving the culture and identity of the Indonesian nation as a religious country.

This is in line with the habits of previous national leaders such as President Soekarno and Soeharto, who wore similar attributes.

Overall, Lisa said the President was not trying to make an excessive statement through fashion. The outfit worn today was instead used as a language of diplomacy and a symbol of statehood, closely associated with the use of the red-and-white flag pin.

“That detail reinforces that the outfit worn is not merely formal clothing, but also part of the representation of the institution and his position as head of state,” she added.

On Friday, the MPR, DPR, and DPD held the MPR Annual Session and the Joint Session of the DPR and DPD, one of the agendas of which was President Prabowo Subianto’s address for the delivery of the performance report of state institutions and the state address of the President of the Republic of Indonesia in the context of the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia.

In addition to the speech, the government will also screen a video of government performance achievements.

This annual session is a state agenda to welcome the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, which carries the theme “A Sovereign, Just, and Prosperous Indonesia”.