French President Emmanuel Macron attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, drawing attention for a fashion accessory. During his speech, he kept his sunglasses on, an unorthodox practice for any speaker, especially a President. Viewers online were quick to raise their questions.
Macron wore mirrored blue aviator-style lenses that not only gave him a striking, "Top Gun"–esque look but also shielded his eyes from direct light. According to Macron, the decision to wear sunglasses has nothing to do with aesthetics. He's been dealing with a benign condition for some time now, with him seen sporting a bloodshot eye during his New Year's address to the French armed forces on January 15.
"Please pardon the unsightly appearance of my eye," said Macron at the time. He called his condition "completely harmless."
At the World Economic Forum, Macron made a few jokes about his appearance, calling his injured eye the "eye of the tiger," a reference to the song used in one of the most memorable scenes from "Rocky III."
"For those who get the reference, it's a sign of determination," he said.
On social media, users were quick to draw comparisons, mentioning Tom Cruise or Joe Biden, who has long had a preference for Aviator sunglasses. They also said that Macron was using fashion to make a statement, putting up a tough persona for the crowd in attendance.
To quell the public interest, the Élysée Palace weighed in, stressing that the choice was driven by the President's health. The palace explained that Macron has a sub-conjunctival haemorrhage, resulting in an eye that looks pretty disturbing.
"He is wearing glasses because of photosensitivity, while the minor issue mentioned last week clears up," said a source to ABC Australia.
According to ophthalmology experts, a subconjunctival hemorrhage occurs when a small blood vessel breaks beneath the conjunctiva. The issue typically resolves on its own within a few weeks and causes no lasting harm.
Fashion first
While the world has determined that Macron didn't wear the sunglasses for fashion, he's still wearing a stylish pair of sunglasses. He appears to be wearing the Louis Vuitton Attitude Pilote sunglasses from the 2009 Autumn Winter collection. While the same model can be found by shopping vintage, new pairs are also released, having a more square look and a price tag of $995.
According to ABC Australia, Macron could also be wearing other brands, including the Bajio Soldado or a pair of Ray Bans.