© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Casual Hoodie Gets An Executive Makeover

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

You know, one of the benefits of starting your own company is that you can pretty much wear whatever you want - up to a point. Our last word in business today is: dress for success.

Just as Steve Jobs was known for his mock-turtleneck, Mark Zuckerberg has become known for his hoodie. Business blogs breathlessly chronicle Zuckerberg's dress decisions and note the fact that he sports the collegiate just-rolled-out-of-bed look, even at important business meetings.

Some thought he might dress up to meet with potential Wall Street investors. But no, Zuckerberg showed up in a black hoodie, rankling some of those potential investors, who called him immature and disrespectful.

But think how easily he could have made a better impression if only he'd bought from Betabrand, a San Francisco clothing company that says it's coming out with an executive pinstripe hoodie. The company says it will satisfy both Wall Street and Zuckerberg.

Crafted from 100% percent Merino wool with paisley lining, we're told, the executive hoodie offers a more tailored silhouette, and it's dry-clean only.

Chris Lindland is Betabrand's founder.

CHRIS LINDLAND: I just assumed that there'd be a great interest in anything Mark Zuckerberg-related. And since he's the Mount Everest of hoodie wearers, if we could make a product that somehow would connect that with his visit to Wall Street, it would be funny.

INSKEEP: Zuckerberg has not yet been seen wearing the pinstripe executive hoodie, though his sister did tweet that she thought it would be opening-bell worthy.

That's the business news on MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

KCUR prides ourselves on bringing local journalism to the public without a paywall — ever.

Our reporting will always be free for you to read. But it's not free to produce.

As a nonprofit, we rely on your donations to keep operating and trying new things. If you value our work, consider becoming a member.