The Wildcards of May: Theresa's rarely seen clothes

We all have our favourite go-to items in our wardrobe, but what about those pieces that don't get a regular outing?

Theresa May's wardrobe is fabulous and well-known, but there are plenty of 'wildcard' items that we've only seen her wear a handful of times.

So which pieces have not seen the light of day since their last outing?

Anya Hindmarch green clutch

We've seen the silver version many times, but this sparkly green glitter coated Valorie clutch from Anya Hindmarch hasn't been seen since! It's perfect for brining an added bit of sparkle to evening political events - bring it back Theresa!

Dolce & Gabbana lace heels

Making their entrance for one night only, the Prime Minister wore these baby blue lace kitten heels from Dolce & Gabbana to the 2016 Pride of Britain Awards. Teaming them with a midnight Amanda Wakeley evening dress, this was one of May's chicest looks.

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Next linen dress

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Perfect for a hot Italian summer, May's budget buy for her Roman holiday in 2017 was the talk of the fashion pages. Whilst also suitable for cooler climbs, we've not seen this since!

LK Bennett baby blue heels

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Digging deep into the archives, May was last pictured wearing this quirky patent baby blue bow topped heels from LK Bennett on a trip to Cardiff in 2011. I wonder if these are still in the archive?

Hepburn bag in turquoise from Aspinal

And another wildcard piece- May carried this turquoise Hepburn bag from British band Aspinal during 2011. Like the baby blue shoes, it has been relegated to the back of the closet... will we ever see it again?

Which other wildcard pieces have you seen Theresa May carry? Send us a message with your picks!

Infographic: Theresa May's Clothes in 2017

2017 has been a year of change for many reasons, but one thing remains constant - Theresa May's fabulously fashionable wardrobe.

This year has probably been one that the PM won't forget, and despite the ups and downs, Theresa's sense of style and commitment to British fashion has remained constant.

Eagle eyed readers will remember the infographic I produced last year, detailing Theresa May's clothes choices during the first six months as Prime Minister. We've had a full year of gorgeous clothes to pore over, so here's the low-down of what Theresa May has worn during 2017.

Focusing on public appearances and official photographs, I've put together this infographic analysing all of her clothes during 2017. From the steps of Downing Street to her Maidenhead constituency, I've analysed the PM's favourite shoes, designers and included a few of my own favourite fashion highlights.

Here's what I found:

• Daniel Blake has replaced Amanda Wakeley as the Prime Minister's favourite designer. With a whole mix of jackets, coats and tailored trousers, items from British designer Blake have been worn by May a total of 51 times throughout the year.
• Russell & Bromley remains Theresa May's favourite shoe brand, with the high street favourite retaining its crown for 2017. 
• The Divine jewelled flat black pump also remains May's most worn shoe for a second year running. This is closely followed by the lovely leopard Delicious flat and the sparkly Cocktail loafers.
• Flats also remain the PM's go-to shoe, worn by May on 53% of public appearances. Heels frequently appear when May appears at the despatch box or for speeches, providing an added boost of height.
• Pearls were Theresa May's favourite accessory during 2017, with a mix of simple strands and oversized versions appearing most often. The Amanda Wakeley oversized silver chain necklace and bracelet remain a style staple, appearing 25% of the time. 
• And what about the handbag? The newly purchased Vere satchel by Anya Hindmarch has been carried constantly by the Prime Minister over the past few weeks. From the battlefields of Iraq to the peaceful surroundings of her Sonning home, May certainly loves this luxury satchel! 

What surprised me about the data? 

We've seen a steady shift away from European designers, and a reliance on Brand Britain. Perhaps a subtle nod to Brexit and the importance of British design, we've seen May champion designers such as Daniel Blake and Amanda Wakeley, as well as introducing new ones into the mix - such as Charlotte Olympia for a quirky take on the leopard kitten heel. And who can forget Theresa wearing a custom made pair of Charlotte Olympia heels for Red Nose Day? 

I'm particularly excited to see Theresa May supporting small businesses and British traders. We've notably seen her wear a gorgeous navy and white silk scarf by young designer Megan Ferris to the spring Budget, a sophisticated faux fur collar by Louison d'or to Davos and numerous hand painted and printed scarves by Pazuki. 

The PM has also dug deep into her closet and re-introduced items from the past! We've seen old leopard Russell & Bromley boots on the campaign trail, a Liberty x Barbour olive wax jacket and patterned dresses from Maria Grachvogel and Amanda Wakeley all make welcome reappearances into the prime ministerial repertoire. 

And for someone who has chronicled what Theresa May has worn throughout 2017, my personal fashion highlights have been:

• The PM embracing bargain buys, particularly a pair of classic white Converse trainers and a pink linen dress from Next for her Italian holiday
• A range of gorgeous handmade hats from Henley on Thames based designer Liz Felix- I particularly loved the nod to the uniforms at Sandhurst with a red hat by Felix and military inspired coat by Daniel Blake
• So many amazing tailored items from Blake and Wakeley to show how British fashion inspires and empowers women 
• The sparkly tweed jacket from DvF paired with the Russell & Bromley Vivacious sparkly bow adorned heels for Prime Minister's Questions
• The steady reappearance of leopard into May's wardrobe- everything leopard, all the time! 
• A nod to the Japanese flag on her visit to Tokyo, wearing a red jersey dress and sharp white Peserico blazer
• Championing my homeland of Wales with two Celtic Treasure rings!

There have been so many great stylish moment from the Prime Minister this year, and her leadership and humour remind us what a role model she is- both professionally and personally. Who else could fly the flag so stylishly for Global Britain?! Here's to another fashionable year!

Theresa May's Budget Buys

There's no doubt that the Prime Minister is one of our best dressed Britons. Showcasing the very best of British design, Theresa May frequently wears pieces from Daniel Blake, Amanda Wakeley and Russell & Bromley. But like the rest of us, the PM also loves a bargain.

It's not all fine tailoring and Italian made shoes for Theresa May. The PM knows how to spot a bargain- and importantly, make it work for her important job and quirky love of fashion.

Theresa May has long turned to French brand Longchamp to house and carry her personal possessions. Established in 1948, the Le Pliage nylon bags have been a familiar sight on many famous arm, and are my go-to bag for lugging around my laptop and other bits that I can't live without. Like many Longchamp fans (me included,) May has several types of Le Sac bags.

She continues to use the Backpack Le Sac, opting for a classic black model with tan leatherwear. She has added to her collection with a khaki version. May also used a Tote Bag L on her recent holiday to Italy, this time using a utilitarian khaki colour. Mr May is also a fan of the Longchamp Le Sac, often carrying the document holder. All priced at the £65-£75 mark, these bags are extremely affordable, durable and a classic edition to your everyday wardrobe.

Staying with European designers, Theresa May is also a fan of the Italian brand, Mirta Bijoux. May has worn this striking, oversized navy blue Balls necklace on many occasions- from her first day as PM to trips around the world, this is one of her favourite pieces. And for those of us looking to capture a piece of May jewellery, you can snag your own Balls necklace for a purse friendly 45euro.

What about footwear? Theresa May memorably wore a pair of white classic low top Converse on her recent Lake Garda holiday- and the fashion world went wild because of it! Selecting the optical white colour, these £50 sneakers were also worn by May on a recent trip to an outdoor centre in Wales. They're the perfect low-key, high-fashion shoe!

And who can't forget the pink linen dress Theresa May also wore on her Italian holiday? The £26 linen blend dress has caused much discussion in the fashion press, but for a world leader who just wanted to chill in the hot Italian sun, it was an ideal choice.

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It's important for our leaders and politicians to be able to relate to the electorate, and for the electorate to feel a connection with those that lead us. May's choice of affordable items- and the fun that she has with her clothes is just one successful way in which she does this. What will her next budget buy be?!

Converse and Next: Theresa May's Holiday Wardrobe

Theresa May and husband Philip have been on a much deserved break to Italy this week. Enjoying the sun and sights of Lake Garda, the Prime Minister debuted her holiday wardrobe - the items of which caused quite a debate back home!

Arriving in Italy, the PM was wearing a familiar outfit of navy trousers, white jacket and the Divine flats from Russell & Bromley. But fast forward 24hrs later, and May was wearing a completely different holiday wardrobe!

Our PM loves a bargain, and she turned to Next for her pink linen shirtdress. At £26, it's an affordable piece of holiday chic, and can easily be dressed up or down. Theresa May teamed her Next dress with a pair of open toed leopard sandals with chic ankle straps and one of her Longchamp bags. (These are perfect for travel- I never get on a plane without mine!)

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There was much discussion in the press about if the PM's dress was a good choice - it's a little different from what we're used to seeing May wear, but she's on holiday! It's the perfect time to experiment with different pieces and chill out from the daily grind.

What I loved the most was May's pick of the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star in Optical White. Now this is a bold move from our Prime Minister, and likely her raddest shoe wear pick to date. The Chuck Taylor continues to celebrate personal style and self-expression, two traits that Theresa displays really well! (Plus, at £50, this is an attainable piece of Prime Ministerial style that we can all afford!)

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