Asking Clarkson to step away from her celebrity clients for a moment to perform a hasty hypothetical make under (or glow down?) for Huang, she has very kindly put together three outfits that I think we can all agree give off considerably fewer bad-egg biker vibes with pieces from Paul Smith, The Row, Lemaire, Giorgio Armani, Brunello Cucinelli, and more. If you’re lucky enough to have a budget to match Huang’s, we’ve added links to the individual pieces in the captions under each “look.”
“There’s been a lot of tight-fitted leather jackets that just about cover his biceps, which always feels like he’s looking to lure his next lover or like he’s just whizzed off on his Ducati to have a quick lunchtime visit with his mistress,” says Clarkson. “That’s not the vibe you want to go before Congress with.” For the Hill, she suggests Huang go for a Nehru collar that “feels a bit more buttoned up.”
However, because Huang’s existing look is so strong, Clarkson advises that changing it too quickly will not only draw an enormous amount of commentary but even more memes. “Little steps, not a full overnight makeover. That’s why he should perhaps keep the leather jacket, something like a suede blouson instead of the biker,” she says, adding that the black jeans should be ditched in favor of proper pants.
“He could do a tie as well—a bit more apologetic, a bit more formal, a bit more respectful. So a brown leather jacket with a tie and a shirt—so then it’s a segue into a new direction,” Clarkson says, citing Giorgio Armani’s June Milan collection as ideal inspiration.
However, Clarkson says credit must ultimately go to Lori Huang, Jensen’s wife of 41 years. “She did a brilliant job. If anyone comes out of this as a winner, it’s her. She could rebrand as a Hollywood stylist at this point because she’s done a great job of creating an identity for her husband. Almost too good because it’s attracted too many women. Still, she could step away with a really great divorce settlement and a whole new career.”