Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), attends a portrait unveiling ceremony for outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), on Capitol Hill December 8, 2016 in Washington, DC.
Is Bernie Sanders a fashion icon?
00:35 - Source: CNN

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Bernie Sanders is Paris fashion house Balenciaga's latest muse

Balenciaga channeled a little Burlington in its Fall/Winter 2017 collection

CNN  — 

He’s an unlikely fashion icon, that’s for sure, but Bernie Sanders reacted Sunday to Balenciaga’s latest menswear collection – in which he features as a muse.

A model walks the catwalk at the Balenciaga winter fashion show in Paris.
A model walks the catwalk at the Balenciaga winter fashion show in Paris.
SIPA/REX/Shutterstock/AP

Last month, the renowned French fashion house channeled a little Burlington in its Fall/Winter 2017 collection, with brand director Demna Gvasalia sending a slew of male models down the Parisian catwalk in Sanders’ trademark khaki pants, practical shoes and cozy sweaters. Many of the clothes came emblazoned with Sander’s signature campaign logo, except they read “Balenciaga” rather than “Bernie.”

A model walks the runway during the Balenciaga menswear show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 18, 2017.
A model walks the runway during the Balenciaga menswear show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 18, 2017.
Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Asked Sunday by Jake Tapper as to what he made of Balenciaga feeling the Bern, 75-year-old Sanders appeared tickled by his new status as a sartorial trendsetter (this is, after all, the man who wore a Burton ski jacket to the inauguration.)

“I think, of my many attributes, being a fashion maven is not one of them,” he laughed.

The fashion world clearly disagrees.