Fashion Faux Pas?

Robin Givhan, a fashion reporter for the Washington Post (use Bugmenot) has taken Vice President Dick Cheney to task over his choice of attire. Cheney was attending the 60th anniversary memorial services at the site of the Auschwitz Death Camp. Now Auschwitz, which is in Poland, is at a latitude similar to that of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Anyone who has ever been in Central Europe (or Central Canada) in January can tell you it gets cold! Most of the dignitaries attending the ceremonies wore heavy overcoats and dress hats or ushankas. Mr. Cheney appears to be wearing an arctic parka with a watch cap. Practicality vs. protocol? Maybe he borrowed the parka from his boss.