For her: Quick-witted
The new lifestyle king of Instagram is Markus Söder, and that's a good thing, because since Gerhard Schröder was no longer allowed to be loved, we knew which dad jeans wearer we should watch enjoying life. Whether he's eating a kebab or going to the outdoor pool, we have to admit: Söder does it well. Does his daughter Gloria-Sophie Burkandt have anything to do with the new image? We can only speculate about that, but the fact is that the 25-year-old doctoral student with a modeling career is bringing a breath of fresh air to the always rather staid political crowd at the opening of the Bayreuth Festival. The dress, even if unfortunately a little wrinkled at the hem, is not a drama made of silk taffeta – so she is not in danger of being confused with the Valkyrie actress, as is so often the case in Bayreuth. It is also contemporary to combine the simple slip dress with ballerina shoes, which is not just something that is worn now, but is probably due to the fact that Söder's daughter is 1.85 meters tall. Of course, you own up to it, but you don't want to be bending down all the time in photos. At most, the aggressive finger jewelry with the delicate silk dress is a matter of taste, although it was not possible to find out whether it was actually the bag handle. Evening bags with brass knuckles were invented by Alexander McQueen, and it is no legend that a fashion editor's bag was once confiscated as a weapon at Munich airport, a few years after Gloria-Sophie Burkandt was born. Conclusion: Bavaria is becoming more and more relaxed, or at least that is how it looks.
For him: Daddy bear
Fathers of daughters can relate to this moment, because it is always the same, whether it is taking place in front of a mundane school prom hall or, as here, in front of the Festival Hall in Bayreuth. You are standing in the bright sun, sweating like an ox in a roasting ox, and yet you are silently moved that your daughter has turned out so well next to you. And secretly you are a little confused as to how it all happened? That a child who had just painted her front teeth with a felt-tip pen has suddenly become such a, ahem, charming young lady, with eyelash curlers and a thousand secrets that you would rather not know about. It's like this: once your daughter's eyelash curler is in the bathroom, you know as a father that a few of these bittersweet dates are approaching, when you are expected to stand next to your child in evening wear and pose as a father. The last such occasion is the wedding and that's it, then someone else takes over the proud position. At the same time, being a father to a daughter means that you decay at the same rapid pace as the child gets brighter, and that is the real injustice. Sons in suits often look a bit more shabby and dressed up than their fathers at such occasions, but you simply have no chance against a daughter in an evening dress, not even as a prime minister – you always seem to be completely out of place. So it doesn't really matter that Söder's tuxedo is only half-hearted here, with the sleeves that are too long, the missing cummerbund, the matte shoes – these details wouldn't have made a difference. Why he doesn't shave in the mornings anymore is something you can certainly ask. But everyone has their own way of dealing with the pain of a father's farewell.