Inside the wardrobe of Rich Rishi and Slick Starmer
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer may disagree about how to run the country, but they see eye to eye when it comes to wearing expensive clothing.
The population is watching the rivals closer than ever as they decide who will best shepherd the UK out of the cost of living crisis.
It might come as a surprise then that both candidates have deemed it a suitable time to flex their designer wardrobes as they attempt to relate to hard-working voters.
In April, Rishi attempted to appear ‘normal’ and donned a pair of pristine Adidas trainers in Downing Street, and the Labour leader followed suit by wearing a £90 pair from the same label.
Yesterday, it appeared they’d forgotten about ‘normal’ when Keir wore a £500 Sandro jacket while telling people he ‘knows what it feels like to struggle with bills’ and Rishi carried a £750 backpack to visit one of the poorest areas of the country.
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have their political differences, but they both share a love for luxury designer garments
The style stakes have been high the past couple of years, with the leaders repeatedly revealing to the population that, unlike when writing their budget reports, when it comes to their wardrobe, no expense is spared.
With an estimated net worth of £651 million in the latest Sunday Times Rich List, it’s no surprise that Rishi’s suits are bespoke.
The PM regularly wears a £3,500 dark navy suit from upmarket tailor Henry Herbert, whose services start at a staggering £1,295.
The pieces, which are described online as ‘true to the highest standards of traditional Savile Row tailoring’, are crafted using fabrics sourced from mills in England and Scotland.
But spectators are often distracted by Rishi’s suit trousers. Last month, he defended his fondness for short trousers after being quizzed over what have been dubbed the PM’s ‘ankle-grazers’.
The Tory leader insisted he was not chasing style or attempting to stay on-trend, but merely explained he doesn’t like ‘lots of baggy stuff’ at the bottom of his legs.
Or perhaps he just wants to show off his designer shoes. Like his £490 brown suede Prada loafers that he wore to a building site, his £95 Palm Angels sliders, or his £150 Timberland boots that led to the internet meme – ‘stop the boots, not the boats’.
Celebrity stylist Rochelle White had a different understanding of Rishi’s love of wearing suits that are too short, revealing: ‘I feel that Rishi’s style for short trousers is a mix of comfort and style.
Sir Keir Starmer was spotted wearing a £500 coat on the campaign trail over the weekend on the same day he told voters he ‘knows what it feels like to struggle with bills’ (pictured: Sir Keir wearing the coat in Blackpool in May)
Meanwhile Mr Sunak – no stranger to expensive items – was spotted with a £750 backpack from US brand Tumi while visiting one of the poorest areas of the country
Rishi Sunak has been seen sporting a bespoke £3,500 suit by Bloomsbury tailor Henry Herbert, as can be seen by the label inside the on the right side
‘I think he is very aware of his body and what works well for him and builds that into his look.
‘The short trousers are practical for everyday wear and more comfortable. They help to elongate his legs and body.’
And it’s not only his suits which Rishi prefers to have fitted perfectly to his frame, with the politician also opting for bespoke shirts from Italian brand The The Travelling Artisan, crafted by aged seamstresses in Veneto.
Its founder Tullio Innocenti previously described Sunak to The Telegraph as a ‘perfectionist’ who chooses slim, contemporary cuts to compliment his build.
He revealed the politician will often have no fewer than three fittings to perfect his shirts, which start from £160.
Lucas said choosing to go bespoke was a clever move for the father-of-two, explaining: ‘We often see Rishi in impeccably fitted shirts which I believe will all be custom made for him.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is equally no stranger to the world of high-end fashion, and his recent outfits prove that.
Keir has a favourite colour when it comes to clothes – navy, and it’s reflected in his suits, cotton shirts, and shoes.
Keir proved he’s down with the kids after he introduced a £150 Stone Island polo shirt into his wardrobe from 2022
Rishi Sunak pictured yesterday stepping off a night train wearing a light grey hoodie, tracksuit bottoms, £750 backpack, and trainers after a day campaigning
Sir Keir pictured yesterday sporting a more humble England football hoodie, available for £50, as he left his London property
Unlike Keir’s humble North Face jacket, Rishi has previously donned a luxury £1,250 Canada Goose parka
Unlike Rishi, Keir hasn’t flashed the label of his suits to the public, leaving us in the dark of his go-to to tailor.
However, like Rishi, they’re likely expensive. In 2020, Keir returned to his home in his damaged SUV after he was in collision with a Deliveroo cyclist.
The Labour Party faced questions over the accident, which allegedly happened on his way to a celebrity tailor – a big giveaway.
Even when Rishi’s not in formal wear, it’s still going to be expensive. In 2020, GQ hailed the Tory leader an ‘unlikely fashion hero’, thanks to his streetwear wardrobe additions, such as his £1,250 Canada Goose parka.
Rishi’s other casual wardrobe additions include a £229 Barbour wax jacket and a £795 Reiss jacket.
Keir’s left the public in the dark about where his suits are from – but he allegedly visits a celebrity tailor
Both Rishi and Keir and showed their love of Adidas trainers in recent times, with Rishi opting for the £90 Sambas
Rishi revealed his running shoes of choice while running with Russ Cook – Nike Revolution Six running trainers, priced at £41.95
The leader of the Labour party picked out a £135 insulated North Face puffer jacket to keep warm this winter
The Tory leader has made it common knowledge that he loves sport and the same can be said for his sports labels.
When running with ‘Hardest Geezer’ Russ Cook last month, Rishi opted for a pair of Nike Revolution Six running trainers, priced at a humble £41.95.
For Rishi, sportswear isn’t strictly limited to exercising, and the PM is often seen out in a £123 Everlane grey hoody, including during his recent trip to Penzance.
It’s not just Rishi that’s fond of streetwear labels, as Keir has repeatedly attempted to show he’s down with the kids.
Stone Island is associated with trendy streetwear types or football hooligans, but Keir showed that there is an in-between when he donned a £150 polo shirt from the Italian brand from 2022.
Unlike Rishi’s more flashy Canada Goose jacket, Keir has opted for £135 insulated jacket from North Face.
The Labour leader has also showed his street style through footwear. If it’s not a pair of £200 navy trainers from Hugo Boss, it’s £90 Adidas Gazelle’s or £64.99 Asics Pre-Venture 9 trail running shoes.
Designed in 1966, Starmer’s favourite Adidas Gazelle was the first trainer from the German-based company to be made from suede, giving drab leather alternatives a run for their money.
Sir Keir Starmer was most recently spotted wearing a £500 coat on the campaign trail over the weekend on the same day he told voters he ‘knows what it feels like to struggle with bills’.
He was then seen sporting a humbler England football hoodie, which has a comparatively cheap £50 price tag, as he left his London property.
In doing so he ignored the warnings of his own aides who, it was reported last week by Labour insiders, advised him not to put on a Three Lions shirt during the election campaign for fear of upsetting Scottish voters.
