Theresa May A-Z: B is for Brand Britain

Rule Britannia! Besides The Queen, the Prime Minister is the ultimate Ambassador for Brand Blighty. Research that Political Style conducted after six months of her tenure as Prime Minister showed that Theresa May wore pieces from British designers for 75% of all appearances.

Unsurprisingly, Amanda Wakeley was her most worn British brand, followed by footwear from Russell & Bromley and LK Bennett. May similarly chose to accessorize with pieces from big British names such as Anya Hindmarch and Halcyon Days.

We’d expect our Prime Minister to champion Brand Britain, and particularly in our post-Brexit landscape, it’s right that our leader is spotlighting the very best that Britain has to offer on the world stage.

May doesn’t just stick to household names. Shining a light on many emerging designers and entrepreneurs, May has worn pieces from a British fashion student and a mompreneur whilst performing her duties as Prime Minister.

The British fashion industry is big business for our country. Worth £28 billion a year to the UK and bringing over 800,000 jobs to our economy, May is the ultimate ambassador for Brand Britain. Long may she reign over us in glorious style!

Come back tomorrow for the C is for... reveal! For further A-Z entries and Theresa May posts click here. 

Infographic: All of Theresa May's Clothes Since Becoming PM

Crown Copyright

We know Theresa May is a stylish leader, but what do her sartorial selections really suggest? I decided to take a deeper look at the clothes and accessories she has been wearing since becoming Prime Minister.

Focusing on public appearances and official photographs since July 2016, I've put together this infographic analysing all of Theresa May's clothes since becoming Prime Minister. From the steps of Downing Street to her Maidenhead constituency, I've taken a look at Theresa May's favourite shoes, her most worn accessories and the outfits she has turned to time and time again.

Here's what I found: 

• Amanda Wakeley is Theresa May's most frequently worn designer. She has worn a piece from the British legend almost 75% of the time between July and December 2016. 
• Theresa May's favourite colour is navy. At almost 45%, this 'true blue' staple forms the majority of the PM's tailored dresses and smart suits. 
• Russell & Bromley wins the battle for the Prime Minister's most loved shoe brand. She wore a shoe from this British institution 46 times between July and December 2016.
• Theresa May wore the Divine flat by Russell & Bromley the most during her first six months as Prime Minister. This was closely followed by the black embroidered heel by Issa x LK Bennett and the red patent Minu kitten heel by the same retailer. 
• And unsurprisingly, Theresa May is championing British designers with Amanda Wakeley, Anya Hindmarch and Halcyon Days as her staples. 

But what was surprising about the data? 

• Leopard wasn't the winner in the shoe stakes. In fact, sparkly adorned footwear and patent numbers were worn more by Theresa May during her first six months in office. 
• And the Prime Minister's trademark kitten heel was also given a rest during July-December 2016. Theresa May wore a range of fancy flats and loafers almost 45% of the time. 
• We obsessed about the chunky silver chain necklace by Amanda Wakeley that Theresa May wore when she entered Downing Street. But, the traditional pearl necklace was her favourite accessory during her first six months, with May choosing freshwater or a bubblegum style pearl 37% of the time. 

So what does this suggest about Theresa May's style since becoming Prime Minister? 

She is undoubtedly a champion of British fashion and design, relying on established designers like Amanda Wakeley to form the bulk of her wardrobe. She has her staples, and she relies on them for public appearances, state functions and to keep her stylishly chic for the day to day running of the country. Similarly, May knows what works for her and the prominence of Russell & Bromley for example, shows just how beloved the brand is to our Prime Minister.

Whilst May is predictable in her choice of designers and colour palette, she has mixed it up during her first six months in office. The choice of Dolce and Gabbana for footwear to the Pride of Britain Awards and a daringly thigh high cut evening dress by Amanda Wakeley showed just how much fun she likes to have with what she wears.

Theresa May has made many a fashion headline since July, and as we enter a new year full of political challenges, perhaps the focus on her clothes will be a welcome respite. As a blogger who has closely followed our Prime Minister's wardrobe for six months, even I was surprised by what the data revealed. Theresa May is an interesting leader and I'm looking forward to seeing what 2017 holds for this fashionable figure.

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.

Theresa May and Halcyon Days

Theresa May knows how to rock a bold accessory, and she recently wore this gorgeous shawl from Halcyon Days when the Polish Prime Minister visited Downing Street.

Any gifts that Ministers receive over £140 have to be publically declared. If Ministers want to keep them, they have to purchase the items themselves or they are kept by the Cabinet Office. The PM purchased the Halcyon Days shawl herself- a wise move!

Crown Copyright/Tom Evans

The shawls by Halcyon Days made from 100% Italian silk and produced in Como. Whilst they are a fantastic style statement, they would also look awesome framed! Whilst Theresa May's particular design isn't available to purchase online, there are some similarly stunning numbers here.