Line #96 Main/DressedToOppress


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7	[[quoteright:300:[[Film/TheDictator https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_dictator_1_8.jpg]]]]
8	[[caption-width-right:300:By DystopianEdict, military uniforms and {{Commissar Cap}}s are ''in''!]]
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10	Often, mediums use visual cues to denote what kind of political system someone is participating in. Since the rise and fall of fascism and the advent and end of UsefulNotes/TheColdWar, a kind of sartorial shorthand has developed in media to indicate that a given political leader is TheGeneralissimo, ANaziByAnyOtherName, or otherwise heading up TheDictatorship.
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12	Many of these are inspired by the grandiose fashion senses of actual dictators such as UsefulNotes/BenitoMussolini, UsefulNotes/IdiAmin, UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi, UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet, and many, many more. In particular, UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and ThoseWackyNazis have influenced enough of this trope that they have a SubTrope -- PuttingOnTheReich -- all to themselves.
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14	Such fashion cues include, but are not limited to:
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16	* Constantly wearing ceremonial military uniforms like [[BadassLongcoat greatcoats]] -- usually grey, black, dark blue, or green -- to reflect how militaristic the dictator is, often paired with:
17	** {{Commissar Cap}}s -- the larger-crowned, the better, likely to make them look taller or more grandiose.
18	** A ChestOfMedals, or other forms of BlingOfWar, to highlight their accolades -- earned or otherwise.
19	** [[ShouldersOfDoom Large epaulets]] -- also to make them look bigger and grander.
20	* A sash or baldric -- to signify their status as leader, like a monarch's crown.[[labelnote:However, in real life...]]It's worth noting that dictator or otherwise, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_sash sashes are traditionally granted to many countries' presidents]]. The prevalence of presidential sashes in Latin America in particular might explain why in cultures not familiar with this tradition, they're associated with stereotypical BananaRepublic leaders.[[/labelnote]]
21	* [[SinisterShades Sunglasses]] -- usually aviators, and usually for the leader of a BananaRepublic. This can make them look more intimidating.
22	* Nazi-style armbands -- often with a [[SigilSpam symbol of their regime]] on it.
23	* [[RedAndBlackTotalitarianism A red-and-black colour scheme]].
24	* [[BeardOfEvil Facial hair]] -- popularized by Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler.
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26	Expect DirtyCommies, CommieNazis, and especially BananaRepublic leaders to shop at these outlets. The SukhomlinovEffect may come into play.
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28	SuperTrope to PuttingOnTheReich, RedAndBlackTotalitarianism, and CommissarCap. SubTrope to DressCodedForYourConvenience and VillainousFashionSense. Compare StockCostumeTraits.
29	[[noreallife]]
30	----
31	!!Examples:
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33	[[foldercontrol]]
34
35	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
36	* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': Führer King Bradley prefers to don dark military greatcoats and has a very prominent moustache.
37	* ''Anime/VoltesV'': Marquis Zaki, [[PlanetBaron the Emperor]]'s [[AssInAmbassador Asshole Ambassador]] who plots an assassination attempt on Heinel, dresses in an exquisite red suit with golden frills and has long hair.
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Comic Books]]
41	* ''Creator/MarvelComics'':
42	** During the ''ComicBook/SecretEmpire'' crossover event, Captain America, of all people, is revealed to be an agent of HYDRA, an organization with ties to Nazi villains of World War II, like Baron von Strucker. [=HydraCap=] takes over America and installs a more oppressive regime, with him as its leader. In his "civilian" garb, he wears a [[https://comicvine.gamespot.com/captain-america-steve-rogers-17/4000-597186/ militaristic green outfit]] and a yellow cape (HYDRA's colours).
43	** ''ComicBook/UncannyAvengers2023'': The Fenris/Strucker twins, children of Nazi/HYDRA commander Baron Strucker, despite being mutants, are allied with Orchis, who has run a successful anti-mutant campaign during ''ComicBook/FallOfX''. As part of their ensemble, they wear black militaristic uniforms with a red coat, golden yellow boots and an armband with a symbol on it.
44	* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'':
45	** In ''[[Recap/TintinTheBrokenEar The Broken Ear]]'', General Alcazar, the military dictator of San Theodoros, is shown wearing a ChestOfMedals and gold epaulettes.
46	** In ''[[Recap/TintinTheCalculusAffair The Calculus Affair]]'', statues and images of Borduria's Marshall Kürvi-Tash show him with a military greatcoat, and in particular showing off his [[PunnyName curvy 'stache]]. Senior figures like the secret police and its leader Colonel Sponsz wear ''very'' high-peaked {{Commissar Cap}}s.
47	** When Tintin returns to San Theodoros in ''[[Recap/TintinTintinAndThePicaros Tintin and the Picaros]]'', Alcazar's rival General Tapioca and his inner circle wear green military uniforms, with figures like Colonel Alvarez wearing very high-crowned {{Commissar Cap}}s (perhaps not a coincidence that Borduria was supporting Tapioca's regime) and Tapioca himself wearing ample medals plus a short moustache.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
51	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyANewGeneration'': After Sprout becomes DrunkWithPower and declares himself the ruler of Maretime Bay, he starts wearing a military cape, sunglasses and high-collared cape combo strongly reminiscent of UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet.
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
55	* ''Film/TheDictator'': Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen has many of the hallmarks -- green military uniform, sunglasses, CommissarCap, sash, ChestOfMedals, and even a BeardOfEvil. The latter becomes a plot point in the film, as a dissident hitman kidnaps Aladeen and shaves his beard during a failed assassination attempt, resulting in him being unrecognizable to his own followers.
56	* ''Film/EbirahHorrorOfTheDeep'': Red Bamboo's leaders bear grey uniforms, white {{Commissar Cap}}s, and in one case, a blinged-out EyepatchOfPower.
57	* ''Film/TheGreatDictator'': Being a satire of the rise of fascism in Europe released nearly a year into UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, with specific focus on mocking UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler and UsefulNotes/BenitoMussolini, both Adenoid Hynkel and Benzino Napaloni are inevitably dressed in dictatorial outfits mimicking their real-life inspirations. Hynkel dons a military jacket with his double-X emblem on both lapels and black jackboots, and is often seen wearing a CommissarCap that also bears the emblem. Meanwhile, Napaloni wears a military jacket and a large sash.
58	* ''Film/MoonOverParador'': President-for-Life Alfonse Simms's regalia includes a greatcoat, baldric, and a CommissarCap worn at a jaunty angle. After he dies, actor Jack Noah, coerced into impersonating him, wears the regalia. Even when out jogging, his tracksuit is imprinted with a contrasting sash with the nation's seal.
59	* ''Film/Red2010'': Joe successfully exploits this trope to get inside Dunning's house by posing as "General Baptiste", an African warlord looking to make an arms deal. His disguise includes enormous epaulettes, medals, a large green sash, and aviators.
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
63	* In ''The Creator/ComedyCentral Roast of Creator/CharlieSheen'', [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syJHxlJWGrk Jeff Ross dresses as a stereotypical dictator]], adopting a Gadaffi-inspired haircut while wearing a sash, sunglasses, a light blue suit with yellow epaulets and stickers to represent medals.
64	* ''Series/{{Community}}'': When Ben Chang seizes control of Greendale Community College and turns it into a tiny tinpot dictatorship, he takes to wearing a Napoleonic uniform with a sash and embroidered coat (and some truly impressive epaulets).
65	* Racules Husty from ''Series/OhsamaSentaiKingOhger'' wears a red and black version of an 18th-century military uniform in order to emphasize his status as a tyrannical ruler.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Music]]
69	* The cover of Music/WeirdAlYankovic's album ''Music/MandatoryFun'' depicts him as a [[TheComicallySerious comically serious]] dictator wearing a Red Army-inspired uniform including a ChestOfMedals and a baldric. Another image for the album shows him wearing a CommissarCap as well.
70	* In the "In the Flesh" sequence near the end of Music/PinkFloyd's ''Music/TheWall'', as Pink goes further and further into [[GoMadFromTheIsolation isolation-induced madness]] and gets drugged up by his managers, he imagines himself as a fascist dictator leading an army of black-uniformed skinhead minions (played by real skinheads). [[PuttingOnTheReich Pink's own outfit]] in the movie is a black uniform inspired by Italian and British fascists with a black and red "hammer" armband, a black leather baldric across his chest, and a black leather greatcoat that he wears like a cape.
71	[[/folder]]
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73	[[folder:Video Games]]
74	* ''VideoGame/EvilGenius2'': After Red Ivan went from Henchman to full-fledged EvilGenius, he was given his own country to rule. This brought with it a change in attire to a red military uniform, with several medals (complete with a giant one on his sash), oversized epaulettes, and a big Commissar cap.
75	* ''VideoGame/FarCry6'': Anton Castillo is the military president of [[BananaRepublic Yara]], and dresses in a white military uniform with a red shirt, numerous medals on his chest (one of which he [[AbusiveParents tortures his son Diego with]] by putting the medal in Diego's hand and making him squeeze it until the pin pierces his palm), and a nice case of PermaStubble instead of a full beard. Anton ''doesn't'' wear a Commissar cap, but two of his enforcers, [[InsaneAdmiral Admiral Ana Benitez]] and Anton's nephew [[GeneralFailure General Jose Castillo]], ''do'': in Jose's case, he's most impressive in that he manages to keep his cap on no matter what bad things happen to him, like being shot InTheBack by his own cousin [[spoiler:or having his personal attack helicopter blown out of the sky]].
76	* The ''VideoGame/JustCause'' franchise tends to have its villains dress like these.
77	** ''VideoGame/JustCause1'': President Salvador Mendoza wears a white military uniform with gold accents and leaf pattern, some medals, a sash, and topped off with sunglasses.
78	** ''VideoGame/JustCause3'': General Sebastiano Di Ravello wears a [[CommissarCap Commissar Cap]], a [[ChestofMedals Chest Full of Medals]], a sash with even more medals on it, and has a well-trimmed mustache over his scarred face.
79	* ''Franchise/StreetFighter'':
80	** [[DubNameChange M. Bison/Vega]] earns his disambiguating FanNickname of "Dictator" thanks to his red and black uniform with greatcoat and CommissarCap.
81	** ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV:'' Cammy has an alternate outfit that depicts her in a skimpy leotard version of Bison's dictator uniform and CommissarCap. This is meant to represent an AlternateUniverse where [[BodySurf Bison was successful in using Cammy's body as one of his Dolls to transfer his power into]].
82	* In ''VideoGame/SuperAnimalRoyale Tonight'', [[RebelLeader the Finch]] is introduced wearing a red armband with the Rebellion's insignia on it, along with a bandolier. In later episodes, we see him wearing a military uniform with a sash. His appearance is likely highlighted by the fact that his feathers are green.
83	* ''VideoGame/{{Tropico}}'': The standard template for a male Presidente (and the one that appears in all the series' marketing) has a CommissarCap, sunglasses, and military apparel, complete with medals and epaulettes. With the game being a parody of dictatorships and {{Banana Republic}}s in general, it makes sense.
84	[[/folder]]
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86	[[folder:Western Animation]]
87	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'': In "[[Recap/TheAmazingWorldOfGumballS3E32TheSafety The Safety]]", Darwin turns Elmore into a PoliceState focused entirely on making sure that nobody is allowed to get hurt by even mundane possibilities. Inside his SupervillainLair, Darwin is dressed up in a dictator outfit, a CommissarCap with an exclamation mark inside a yellow triangle, large epaulettes, a BadassCape, and tall black boots, and a riding crop.
88	* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'': In "[[Recap/DuckTalesAllowanceDay Allowance Day]]", General Chiquita, the leader of a country ''literally'' named the BananaRepublic, is dressed like a stereotypical tyrant: green [[BadassLongcoat greatcoat]] with a ChestOfMedals, CommissarCap, large epaulets and [[SinisterShades sunglasses]]. Fitting to the guy who wanted to exploit [[ItMakesSenseInContext the chaos about what day it is]] and leave Scrooge without a contact and even [[DisproportionateRetribution shoot Scrooge and Fenton when they tried to clear the situation]].
89	* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': Malediktator, the akumatized form of Mayor André Bourgeois, has an appearance based on clothes of Napoleon I, such as a mask shaped like a bicorn hat great golden shoulder epauletes, as well as a sash coloured like the French ''Tricolore'' that also bears a French cockade (though it's worth noting that as Mayor of Paris, Bourgeois usually wears a ''tricolore'' sash -- ''sans'' cockade -- even when not akumatized).
90	* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'': Abdul Fakkadi, [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Supreme Military Commander, President-for-Life, and King of Kings of the Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya]], prefers to don a CommissarCap, medals, and facial hair.
91	* ''WesternAnimation/UrbanVermin'': [[BigBad Ken]] has a grey-white military uniform with a silver sash and a CommissarCap.
92	[[/folder]]
93
94	[[folder:Real Life]]
95	* UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler [[https://www.hitler-archive.com/articles.php?a=6 wore many uniforms throughout his political career.]] During his campaigning years, Hitler would wear the SA uniform, consisting of a brown shirt, tie, and trousers, or depending on the audience, a simple business suit. Once the Nazis seized power, Hitler was more accustomed to wearing brown civil uniforms and peaked caps. Throughout World War II, The Fuhrer wore simple ''feldgrau'' uniforms in order to ingratiate himself with the rank and file soldiery. Since he had also made a public oath that he would not take off his military uniform until the ''Endsieg'', he wore it right up to his suicide. Hitler's uniforms weren't the most grandiose, especially compared to his underlings like UsefulNotes/HermannGoring, in order to emphasize his common man image.
96	* As the first Fascist dictator, UsefulNotes/BenitoMussolini was arguably the TropeCodifier. When he first was appointed Prime Minister in 1922, Mussolini would wear the standard [[https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Benito_Mussolini_1922.jpeg morning suit]]. Once his rule was cemented, Mussolini would commonly wear his most well-known ensemble: [[https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eBcDOYFmqYA/WEGClrpsxBI/AAAAAAAADRM/wX-K3Z4epOInZogR-PEXwVk-olptG5y5QCLcB/s1600/mussolini.jpg The standard uniform of the Royal Italian Army paired with a black shirt and tie, topped with a fez adorned with the fascist eagle.]] When World War II erupted, he'd put on a [[https://benedictemaselli.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Benito_Mussolini_colored.jpg full military dress uniform]] of a peaked cap and gaudy insignia that undoubtedly inspired many dictators after his death.
97	* [[UsefulNotes/MuammarGaddafi Muammar Gaddafi]], the dictator of Libya, was infamous for many things; among them was his fashion sense. The Colonel's outfits were varied throughout his long period as Libya's Brother Leader. During his early reign he typically wore garish, medal-covered military uniforms and flashy suits. By the 90s and 2000s, Gaddafi settled on wearing elaborate bedouin robes, he was also partial to sporting sunglasses.
98	[[/folder]]

Context Main / DressedToOppress