Infographic: Theresa May's Clothes at the Despatch Box

13.7.17


It's been a year since Theresa May became Prime Minister- and what a rollercoaster 12 months it has been!

Despite the ups and downs, one thing remains constant- Theresa May's fabulous sense of style.

The PM's most visible commitment in her diary is her weekly outing to Prime Minister's Questions. Facing MPs and the Leader of the Opposition, May is a strong performer in this bear pit.

I've always been interested to see what May wears at PMQs, and what her sartorial selections for this often brutal event suggest. I decided to take a deeper look at the clothes she has been wearing during her time at the despatch box.

Focusing on PMQ appearances and official statements, I've created this infographic analysing Theresa May's clothes in the Commons chamber. From favourite designers to fancy footwear, I've analysed what Theresa May wears and considered the reasoning behind her choices.

Here's what I found: 

  • Amanda Wakeley and Escada are the two most frequently worn designers by Theresa May at the despatch box. Both combined, May wore items from these two brands for over 60% of her appearances.
  • Theresa May's favourite colour is navy. She chose this true blue hue for almost three quarters of these televised appearances. 
  • Russell & Bromley again topped the poll for the Prime Minister's most loved shoe brand. She wore a shoe from the brand 26 times at the despatch box. 
  • Theresa May wore the gold Twister block heel from Russell & Bromley the most for these televised appearances. This was closely followed by the chic Vivacious heel from the same brand. 
  • And unsurprisingly, British designers continue to be the Prime Minister's preferred outfitters, with a reliance on classic British tailoring and accessories. 

But what was different? 


  • Heels have overtaken flats as the most worn type of shoe. This is most likely because of the added height and confidence they give to the wearer in front of the TV cameras.
  • Bright colours didn't get a look in, with May never wearing red at the despatch box. With blue associated with the Conservative Party and red for Labour, this is a logical and obvious choice. 

What does this suggest about Theresa May's despatch box style?


May understands the power and complexities of a televised forum. She selects tailored, timeless pieces that will look good on camera and present her as a strong and sophisticated leader. She picks items of clothing that give confidence and make her feel good, relying on trusted brands to help her get the job done. 

Theresa May selects suitably serious pieces for big events, choosing classic, no fuss pieces like a white shirt and a sharp navy suit for big announcements like the Budget and Brexit negotiations. And for solemn statements, like responses to the Westminster terror attack, May uses black to convey her sympathy and solidarity. 

But just as May chooses classic pieces, she does like to wear 'wildcard' items. In this very public arena oversized necklaces and statement bangles are two favourites, as is a sophisticated silk scarf. Theresa May memorably used this public event to show her support of young designers, wearing an eye catching silk scarf by the talented Megan Ferris to a PMQ session for all the world to see. Genuine touches like these makes Theresa May a real champion of British fashion and provides us with an insight into just how much she loves to accessorise. 

As her political future remains uncertain, one thing does remain constant- Theresa May truly is the most fashionable MP we'll see at the despatch box! 


I'd love to hear what you think of this infographic- share your thoughts with me in the comments or on Twitter! View the full infographic here.
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