Fashion police can cop Pinochet threads

Fancy an old dictator’s threads? The son of late Chilean strongman Augusto Pinochet has put up for sale some of his dad’s former wardrobe, the Chilean daily La Tercera reports.

Pinochet’s eldest son, Augusto Pinochet Hiriart, said the collection includes "street clothes without historic significance: suits and old jackets that my father gave to me."

There are none of the garishly teutonic uniforms from "emblematic or special moments," nor anything dad wore while in custody on human rights charges in London during 1998-2000.

A Santiago tailor is said to be offering the collection, discreetly. Why the son needs the cash remains unclear, since papá allegedly stashed away millions in secret funds for his family.

The infamous captain general, who died last December at 91, was finicky about his look, even ordering an extra-big hat size so his chapeau would rise above those of inferior rank.

Posted by Patrick J. McDonnell and Andrés D’Alessandro in Buenos Aires

Comments

[carlos]

Hugo, I think the idea for La Plaza is to supplement the coverage of the news section of the Times, rather than actually provide news. That's why they covered the Peru earthquake in the news section, rather than here--such a major story deserves more (and better) than a couple of blog entries. What it does offer are fun little anecdotes about what's going on throughout Latin America--things that otherwise wouldn't make it into the paper. And I, for one, thoroughly enjoy it. So instead of hasta la vista, I'd say, Viva La Plaza. Keep up the good work, correspondents. After not seeing anything for close to 2 weeks, I'd thought you'd given up on it, and I was gratified to see the new entry today.

[hugo]

It's time to say "hasta la vista, Plaza." This tepid experiment to reach out to the Hispanic demographic is a failure. It's been a few days since an 8.0 earthquake struck Peru with hundreds of dead, and the last posting on here is of the excretable Pinochet?

L.A Times, save yourself the webspace. This is a poor excuse for a blog.

[Hugo]

I think La Plaza should say "hasta la vista." An 8.0 earthquake hit southern Peru with hundreds of casualties, a reporter in Bueno Aires, and the most recent blog posting is about the excretable Pinochet and his threads? C'mon, this blog could and should to better.

Save the web space and fold this failed experiment. Nice idea though, but needs better follow through.