A well-intentioned piece of fashion advice from a Polish official has spectacularly backfired, igniting a diplomatic spat and accusations of sexism after he mistakenly identified a designer outfit worn by Slovakia's deputy prime minister.
The incident unfolded when Poland's European Parliament member, Radosław Sikorski, took to social media to compliment Slovakia's deputy PM, Denisa Saková, on her choice of attire. In a now-deleted post, Sikorski praised what he believed was a 'beautiful dress by Japanese designer Comme des Garçons'.
A Costly Misidentification
The sartorial assessment, however, proved to be wildly inaccurate. The elegant black dress was, in fact, a creation from Italian fashion powerhouse Dolce & Gabbana. The gaffe did not go unnoticed, prompting a swift and sharp response from Slovak officials.
Peter Susko, a spokesperson for the Slovak government, delivered a cutting retort, suggesting the Polish politician's expertise might be better suited to 'assessing the quality of coal in the mine' rather than critiquing high fashion. The remark was a pointed reference to Poland's historical mining industry.
Beyond Fashion: A Deeper Political Strain
While the exchange centred on a fashion misstep, commentators were quick to highlight the underlying political tensions fueling the fiery response. The two nations are currently at odds over several significant European policies, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Slovakia, under the leadership of Prime Minister Robert Fico, has adopted a markedly more Russia-friendly stance, criticising EU sanctions and halting state military aid to Kyiv. This positions them in direct opposition to Poland, one of Ukraine's most ardent and vocal supporters within the bloc.
Mr Susko's statement further accused Mr Sikorski of 'sexist behaviour', framing the unsolicited fashion commentary as inappropriate and demeaning. The incident has been seized upon by critics as an example of the casual sexism that female politicians routinely face, where their appearance is scrutinised ahead of their policy work.
A Pattern of Provocation
For Mr Sikorski, a seasoned diplomat and former foreign minister, the blunder is an uncharacteristic stumble into the world of cultural commentary. Married to renowned American journalist Anne Applebaum, he is no stranger to the international spotlight.
Yet, this is not his first foray into provocative online behaviour. His social media history includes a controversial post following the assassination attempt on Mr Fico last month, which many interpreted as tasteless given the serious nature of the event.
The seemingly trivial mix-up between two luxury fashion brands has thus opened a window into the much more profound and serious geopolitical rift forming between the two central European neighbours, proving that in diplomacy, even a comment on a dress can carry significant weight.
