Betty dresses for the Left, but lives with the Right

Much was said about former leftist prime minister Alexis Tsipras sending his eldest off to Hill School, one of the oldest schools in Greece that was founded in 1831 by John Hill and Fanny Francis Mulligan. Betty Tsipras showed up to the traditional blessing ceremony wearing an elegant white shirtless blouse and smart black trousers, having an understated look as if to detract from the fact that Tsipras chose this prestigious school with a long waiting list at a time when most state schools kicked off the school year with a teacher shortage.

Rather than make the mistake of looking as though she was headed to a baptism, the former first lady chose a simple low-key and comfortable ensemble. With fees kicking off at 5,700 euros per year, Peristera (Betty) Batziana did not rock the boat any further with an over-the-top look. Her look however did have her own personal seal, proving that she did not draw Vogue’s attention in vain.

The school, located in Athens historic region, has fees that kick off at 5,700 euros. These go against Tsipras’ other lifestyle choices, such as the couple’s decision to continue living at Kypseli, a neighborhood dominated by migrant problems.

Tsipras was bashed for his choice at a time when state schools in Greece kicked off the school year with a teacher shortage and the disbanding of a number of extra programs. His decision comes at a time when a 23% VAT hike on private schools is still up in the air, making them an even more exclusive choice.

Reaction to the choice of Hill focused on the contradiction of the outspoken lefty former PM’s lack of faith in the state system at a time when his government has helped to further undermine it.