Advisers to French president Nicolas Sarkozy are warning him that his “bling” style might not play well with British royalty when he arrives at Windsor castle with his supermodel wife Carla Bruni for his State Visit to the UK. Apparently, Elysee Palace aides have suggested a list of instructions in a bid to tone down what people perceive as Sarkozy’s rather vain “movie star” persona.

“Sarkozy wearing accessories such as his Aviator shades and Rolex watch would cause the Queen an inner shudder,” says Peter York, style watcher and author of Dictators’ Homes. “The subtext to those things, as far as she is concerned, is ‘dodgy’ and wearing them provides an instant visual of strange company and funny money.” Then again, on a global scale, Sarkozy is but a rookie when it comes to the look we must now brand “world leader luxe”.

Even in the wristwatch department, his rather plain Rolex is no match for the 25-strong collection of silly-money Franck Muller watches shown off by Dmitry Medvedev in a recent edition of Paris Match magazine. While the Michael Jackson-esque, cod military costume as paraded by Gaddafi, Amin et al may be, as we fashion people like to say, “so over”, up on the world politics catwalk, misjudged and politically insensitive dandyism is rife. Take Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez telling GQ writer Naomi Campbell that the best-dressed world leader is Fidel Castro, while rocking crisp western sportswear himself.

African leaders now head to London’s outrageously priced Elle boutique for green ostrich leather loafers and suits made of real “diamond dust” fabric. Even Bush displays alarming Imelda-like tendencies in footwear department. The official presidential cowboy boots, fashioned by Houston-based cobbler Rocky Carroll, are made of black eel skin, and embossed with the blue presidential seal.

Bush has dozens of Carroll’s boots in different styles. Mikhail Gorbachev “modelling” luggage in a global advertising campaign for Louis Vuitton, on the other hand, might just be world leader luxe at its most barmy. I mean, c’mon Gorby. Get with it. Aren’t all the most fashion-forward ex-presidents carrying Tanner Krolle this season?