Over the past year, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been seen wearing a suit and tie in nearly every setting, including football games, beach visits, and even swimming pools. He seems determined to prove that a formal suit is appropriate for all activities.
Mamdani, who frequently buys suits from Suit Supply, almost always wears dark colors with a formal tie and smart black boots. He is not the first politician to embrace the suit, but few have been as committed to the formal blazer and matching trousers.
Examples of the Suit in Action
In May, he cheered on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in a dark suit and tie. After the win, he wore the team's jersey over his shirt and tie but under his suit jacket. In June, he wore a navy suit, white shirt, and blue striped tie for a beach press opportunity with children.
On New Year's Day 2025, while running for mayor, he wore a suit for the Polar Bear Club plunge, swimming in the frigid Atlantic. He said in a TikTok video: "I'm freezing … your rent as the next mayor of New York City." Last month, he jumped into a Harlem swimming pool fully suited to announce the opening of city pools, despite rules requiring swimsuits.
Why the Suit?
Mamdani's recent predecessors were not as tied to the suit. Bill de Blasio wore shorts (and faced ridicule for cargo ones), while Eric Adams wore polo shirts and cardigans. Fashion commentator Ella Devi, a fellow member of the Democratic Socialists of America, said: "I think Mamdani wants to double down on appearing as a working mayor, as someone who is always on the job and on the clock." She added: "It's also that he's a young, Muslim, socialist."
Political and Personal Pressures
Mamdani, often targeted by rightwing media, may face higher standards. Leftwing streamer Hasan Piker noted: "I used to wear T-shirts all the time … But then I figured I should start wearing a suit and a tie because there are a lot of adults watching on Fox News – if they see me saying something in the clips, they'll be more receptive."
The mayor's office declined to comment, but Mamdani told CNN about jumping into a pool in a suit: "I think I misunderstood the term swimsuit. I do also have to say thank you, though, to Goodwill, because I got that suit for 30 bucks, because you can't go ruining the other suits that you have. But I'm clearly learning that there might be a different way to dress when it's 100-degree weather."
Leftist Fashion Evolution
While leftists have not always been formal, Nathan Robinson, editor of Current Affairs, wrote: "If there's a visual language that connotes credibility and authority, why not take advantage of it?" He explained that suits help socialists like Mamdani assert legitimacy.
Trapped in the Suit?
A source who played football with Mamdani before his election said he didn't play in a suit but always arrived in one. The source noted: "But he never missed a tackle." Asked if a suit is appropriate for football, they listed issues: limited stretch, restricted motion, heat, and grass stains.
Devi believes Mamdani is now trapped: "If he wears jeans, then the New York Post is just going to write about that for the next three weeks." She suggested Thom Browne suit shorts for heatwaves, but they retail at about $1,300, which might challenge his socialist image. For now, Mamdani seems stuck in the suit.
