The first evidence of this transformation came from the televised sittings of the Russian parliament a few years ago - where it became hard to square the sharp suits, Italian jackets and silk ties with the untailored brown and blue ensembles of before.
Первым доказательством этого изменения стали переданные несколько лет назад по телевидению заседания российского парламента – когда стало трудно скрывать яркие костюмы, итальянские жакеты и шелковые галстуки....
I assume the members of the parliament were trying to show others that they had money and access to buy these things. They certainly don't reflect on their ability to serve the government.
'transformation' : of sartorial style [dress sense]
'hard to square' : difficult to equate/recognise as equivalent
'ensembles' : combinations [of clothing]
The first evidence of this change came from the televised sittings of the Russian parliament a few years ago - where it became hard to accept the sharp suits, Italian jackets and silk ties as worn by the same people that used to wear ordinary brown or blue suits.
