Leading Ladies of Diplomacy: Ibu Retno, Ms Bishop and Mrs Clinton

Bonjour, fashionista!

As we embrace our TGIF mood, I would like to present my stylish readers with a bi-weekly (serial) post on "Leading Ladies of Diplomacy". This first parthighlights the fashion diplomacy puts forward by Her Excellency Mrs Retno LP Marsudi, the first female Foreign Minister of Indonesia. Next Friday, JET will feature the style note of Her Excellency Ms Julie Bishop (Australian Foreign Minister) and Mrs Hillary Rodham Clinton (former US Secretary of State and currently US Presidential Candidate) 

What do these women have in common?

First, they are history-making ladies who share one of the most prestigious and powerful jobs in the world, namely the Foreign Minister. Both Ibu Retno and Ms Bishop is the first female to hold the previously male dominated top job in Indonesian Kementerian Luar Negeri (MFA) and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). In the case of Mrs Clinton, although she was not the first American woman who served as Secretary of State, history would recall that she was the first ever First Lady and female Senator who served as the US Secretary of State during President Obama’s first term administration, and now as a candidate for US President 2016-2020.

Second, the three women had demonstrated their excellent commitment and accomplishment in each of their previous positions. As the MFA’s Director General for American and European affairs and Indonesian Ambassador to Norway and subsequently to the Netherlands, Ibu Retno was known for her sharp ideas as well as her friendly nature not only to her peers, sub-ordinates and staff but also to others. Ms Bishop has previously served as Cabinet Minister during Prime Minister John Howard’s administration. Whereas, during her tenure in the White House, Mrs Clinton was known for her active campaign on education and women’s rights.

Third, these three highly educated women have impeccable taste in fashion and style. Whether they are wearing their power suits to attend Ministerial Conferences and Summits, or in a more relaxed outfits for less formal events, their outfits epitomize their grace and confidence. In other words, these women understand not only in making their fashion ensemble works but also in developing their elegant outfits as an effective tool of their prominent field of work, diplomacy.

As today’s edition focuses on the Indonesian Foreign Minister’s fashionable style, my coverage on her Australian and American counterparts will be published next Friday.

From the moment she began her tenure as the first female Foreign Minister, Ibu Retno Marsudi proudly demonstrates her Indonesian roots of culture. 

Event: The Official Inauguration of Cabinet Ministers by President Joko Widodo in the State Palace,

Outfit: A traditional Batik Tiga Negeri with ‘Sido Mukti’ pattern in a Shanghai collared jacket, worn with a pair of black pants. Batik Tiga Negeri or Three State Batik in English rose to prominence since 1920s. The most well known producer of this Batik type is the Tjoa family, a Chinese-Indonesian family based in Solo. The Three State name derived from the fact that in the past, the technique making and colouring of its cloth would take place in three different states/cities, namely Pekalongan (indigo blue), Solo (soga/dark brown) and Lasem (red). Since early 1990s, Batik Tiga Negeri has become a collectible item for Indonesian Batik aficionados and traditional cloths enthusiasts. The pattern ‘Sido Mukti’ on Ibu Retno’s Batik was once considered an exclusive pattern which could be worn only by the Javanese Sultan and his inner circle. ‘Sido Mukti’ symbolises stages of life which is continued to be filled with prosperity. Thus, the wearer of Sido Mukti is expected to live prosper and well.

Event: Welcoming the visit of Switzerland Foreign Minister in Gedung Pancasila, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta.

Outfit: An elegant dark green and black bi-colored wrapped dress which is worn with a pair of black pants.

Event: Welcoming the visit of Indonesian Boyscouts (Pramuka) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta.

Outfit: A crisp and modern white kebaya and matched with lovely set of pearl earrings and necklace have completed the dashing look of the Indonesian Foreign Minister. Kebaya is a hand-embroidered blouse which in the past was only worn by sarong/long cloth. These days kebaya are also worn with cigarette pants and event denim pants. 

Stay tuned fashionista for next week's coverage on Ms Bishop and Mrs Clinton. 

TGIF!

To be continued...