Keir Starmer, the departing Prime Minister, may have had loftier ambitions for his term of office, but he made a notable impact on the tricky brief of prime ministerial style. According to fashion commentators, his look was smart, unpretentious, and unflashy, earning him a reputation for 'dad chic'.
Signature Style: Suits and Accessories
Starmer favoured dark suits, often purchased from Charles Tyrwhitt, where a standard price tag comes in at a typically restrained £350. These suits were well fitted, although menswear pedants pointed out that the sleeves were a little long—a jacket sleeve should expose a half inch of shirt cuff, leaving the hands visible. His watch of choice was a sensible Tissot, costing about £320, avoiding flashy Rolexes.
Despite his modest tastes, Starmer faced scrutiny in 2024 after revelations that he had accepted £16,000 worth of donations towards his wardrobe from Labour peer Waheed Alli, along with £2,485 worth of spectacles.
Dressing for the Occasion
Starmer often wore a suit and shirt with no tie—a man-of-the-people politico shorthand understood by all. However, when the occasion required, he could execute a Windsor knot. Unlike predecessors, he played it straight with no Johnsonian creased jackets or cutesy sartorial foibles, such as Rishi Sunak’s trouser hems.
His finest fashion moment came at the rain-drenched opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024. Starmer, like a true Brit, had packed his own anorak—the official Team GB waterproof—and was one of the few world leaders spared the indignity of being photographed in a plastic poncho. Off duty, he was often seen in a black North Face quilted jacket, standard-issue centrist dad chic.
The Hair Legacy
Perhaps the most celebrated aspect of Starmer's appearance was his hair—a silvered shark-fin somewhere between Tintin and film critic Mark Kermode. It gained its own Instagram fan account, @ratingstarmershair, which remained loyal to the end. As one observer noted, 'He had good hair' is not the legacy he hoped for, but it became a defining feature of his public image.
