Forget Brexit – now there’s Legxit. British politics and the UK media have a shiny new story they’re up in arms (or in this case, legs) about. Prime Minister Theresa May was photographed at home for the Sunday London Times two weeks ago in $1250 “desert khaki” leather pants by English designer Amanda Wakely.
Wakely, of course, came to fashion fame when Princess Diana wore a number of her “glean glam” style clothes back in the nineties. The designer is mostly known for elegant architectural evening dresses.
Now why can’t fashion-friendly Theresa May wear leather pants? Because they’re too young for a 60-year-old? Too casual? Too sexy? Too trendy? May has so far shown a healthy regard for an appropriately elegant wardrobe. She wears mostly tailored navy jackets and straight skirts or navy pantsuits, which she accessorizes with bright kitten heels by L.K. Bennett. She’s been known to wear dark plaid pantsuits by designer Vivienne Westwood, solid color dresses by Escada and dark coats and dresses by Amanda Wakely, who is clearly one of her favorite designers.
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Often adding pearls to simple classics, pairing white blouses with black trousers, Theresa May is either Queen-ready or 10 Downing Street ready all the time. No, it’s not her style that’s in question, it’s the price of the leather pants – 995 English pounds equals about $1250.00 dollars – that has created the commotion. Since May’s whole platform is built on a relationship to the common working person – the salt of the earth British workers – her classy wardrobe is an easy target for competing and enemy politicians.
Then female former Education Secretary under Prime Minister David Cameron, Nicky Morgan, complained to The Times of London, “I don’t have leather trousers. I don’t think I’ve ever spent that much on anything apart from my wedding dress,” adding that the trousers had been “noticed and discussed” in conservative Tory circles.
Then a Conservative Brit politico on May’s side, Nadine Dorries, took Morgan to task.
“I think it shows Nicky Morgan’s comments were sexist, because she never criticised David Cameron’s extremely expensive suits,” Dorries told The Daily Mail.
Meanwhile, British foreign secretary Boris Johnson made fun of the price of May’s leather pants in a speech he gave to British journalists, saying: “”We are so cosmopolitan that we drink more champagne, buy more German cars than anyone else – and our wonderful Prime Minister wears lederhosen.”
When asked by the press if the price of the trousers made her feel out of touch with her constituency, May instead turned the topic toward creating “a country that works for everyone” that “meets people in a whole variety of circumstances.”
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The question is: Do her political views have to be in line with her fashion views? In the case of May, this seems the case – much like her politics, her wardrobe is low key with nothing too young or flamboyant. A female CEO would dress similarly. It’s not like May is dripping in diamonds and fur. To dress like a woman of her station, she actually needs clothes that broadcast that message.
It is interesting that no one bothered to ask or write about what the former Prime Minister, David Cameron, spent on Savile Row suits. When Sarah Palin was running as John McCain’s vice presidential partner in 2008, the Republican National Committee gave her a makeover mid-campaign, putting her in expensive Armani and Gucci jackets and dresses. And Hillary Clinton wore pantsuits and coats on her recent campaign by Ralph Lauren and Armani. In fact, one Armani coat is rumored to run about $12,000.
Yes, the suit was noted by the press – as were the prices. But we’ve never seen a male politician’s wardrobe questioned – nor how it relates to the people who voted. In fact, Donald Trump wears Brioni suits that run up to $17,000.
Female politicians seem to be damned if they do and damned if they don’t. If they wear unfashionable inexpensive clothes, the press and the public criticize them. If they wear good designer clothes that cost more or what male heads of state wear in terms of price tags they’re called out for extreme extravagance.
First of all, working women like Theresa May – and Hillary Clinton – can afford these clothes. Secondly, they’re in the public eye and are admittedly celebrities and celebrities are forced by public image to look on trend, tailored and refined. They are constantly photographed, no matter where they are. And London is one of the top fashion towns in the world – British Fashion Weeks now are as clamored for in terms of tickets as New York and Paris.
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So we say bring on the designer leather trousers! And the chic coats and great cut dresses and kitten heels. British women have been made fun of for years for their “frowziness” – for not trying to fix their hair or wear nice clothes – or called “mumsy.” Meanwhile, the Queen certainly loves her designer clothes – as do Melania and Ivanka. Public figures need to project authority and nothing says authority like well-cut classic designer clothes.
And, well, leather pants. After all, female heads of state are the modern superwomen.
