VICTORIA — Style advisor Dale Olsen says he doesn’t distinguish between party colours, but he doubts British Columbia Premier David Eby is well qualified to act as the fashion police.
Eby thrust political attire onto the agenda this month when he dressed down Opposition legislature member Gavin Dew for wearing a grey hoodie as he voted remotely on a private member’s bill — “dressed as if the vote interrupted his trip to the gym,” in the premier’s words.
But Olsen, owner of Outlooks for Men in Victoria, who has dressed B.C. premiers on both sides of the political spectrum, suggested Eby isn’t best placed to give advice.
“It’s slightly ironic that he gives people a hard time about their dress,” said Olsen. “He could use some help. His clothes don’t fit him. His jackets are too big. His shirts look saggy.”
Olsen, a former journalist who has been in the clothing business for more than three decades, said many politicians were “winging it” when it came to looking their best.
“Lots of them could stand a serious upgrade,” he said.
It’s not the first time that fashion choices in the B.C. legislature have come under scrutiny.
In the spring of 2019, a group of women working in the legislature, including female reporters, staged a “right to bare arms” protest and succeeded in overturning a policy that prevented women from wearing sleeveless attire.
Eby was more concerned about the look of legislators.
On March 12, he rose on a point of order to single out the appearance of the B.C. Conservative, who had just voted remotely while wearing what Dew later described as a “dark grey hoodie.”
Eby said Dew had “disrespected” the legislature and asked Speaker Raj Chouhan to issue the member “direction” about his clothing choices under the legislature’s standing orders, which require “professional contemporary business attire for all proceedings of the House.”
Chouhan called Eby’s point of order “well-taken,” but added that wearing a hoodie did not stop Dew’s vote from being counted.
Dew later said he was still wearing his travelling clothes from the previous day after a flight was delayed and his luggage got waylaid.
With no “tuxedo available,” Dew said he had to make a choice. “I thought it was more important to show up, and do my job by voting, than try to make anybody’s best-dressed list at that particular point in time.”
Dew said MLAs needed to respect the legislature as an institution, including its attire rules.
“I certainly wouldn’t have chosen to wear a hoodie to vote,” Dew said.
“I certainly wouldn’t have chosen to wear a hoodie in the chamber, and I certainly don’t think that we should go about doing the business of the legislature in sweatsuits.
“But we also need to be realistic, and proportionate about what matters more.”
Dew said it was “ridiculous” that Eby “lowered himself to that criticism” given the state of the provincial economy, and other issues.
“In the days after hoodie-gate, I was at meetings and events all over the place, and every single person I talked to was laughing about it,” he said. “Laughing at the idea that the premier of British Columbia would spend his time worrying about a hoodie.”
Olsen said he opposes hoodies, but also added Dew had legitimate grounds for his attire.
“I have been stuck in places, in panic over delayed suitcases,” Olsen said. “That part I can deal with. But, just in general, I don’t think it’s a mistake to still be in a suit and tie.”
Asked which politician wears it the best, Olsen did not hesitate.
“(Prime Minister) Mark Carney is the best-dressed politician, without a doubt,” Olsen said. “He looks sharp. His suits fit, and when he goes casual, he is appropriate.”
An orange-coloured hoodie was once a source of controversy in the National Assembly of Québec.
In 2019, Catherine Dorion left the Blue Room, where debates happen, after other legislators complained about her wearing the hoodie. Dorion, who was a member of Québec solidaire at the time, later said she should be judged on her work, not her wardrobe.
The National Assembly said at the time that Dorion’s dress was not business attire. Days later, a group of activists wore hoodies in support of her.
In the U.S. Senate, Democrat John Fetterman was allowed to wear hoodies and gym shorts during debate in 2023. Complaints from Republicans soon ended the allowance.
Olsen’s opposition to Fetterman’s previous clothing choices is unequivocal.
“Horrible — I would never take that guy seriously. I wouldn’t even want to sit in a meeting with him, anybody who looks as bad as him.”
As for Dew’s hoodie, The Canadian Press could not independently assess its suitability.
Dew did not have it to hand, and the legislature’s Hansard Services said in a statement that its official broadcast only includes members who are attending remotely if they have been recognized to speak.
Because Dew was not recognized to speak, his remote camera was not taken to air, it said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2026.
Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press
