Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner are in power at last and they’ve already had a radical style overhaul – the latest in their history of developing their wardrobes to match their careers.
Dishy Rishi and his Savile Row suits are out. Now we’re in the Starmer era of stylish glasses and tailored suits paired with Rayner’s bold – yet often still whimsically quirky – power dresses.
Fashion designer Josh Birch Jones told MailOnline as Starmer became more and more powerful, there was a ‘notable transformation’ in his style.
Meanwhile, fellow fashion designer Jashaan Gill said while he hoped Rayner’s sartorial pazazz would endure, it would be interesting to see whether she dulls down her style – something Gill thought would be a mistake.
One thing is for certain, Gill said – both Rayner and Starmer will need to have robust skin routines if they are to keep their youthful looks throughout their time in power.
Sir Keir Starmer opted for a clean-cut look in a sharp suit for his first day as Prime Minister (pictured after an audience with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Friday)
Gone are the Stone Island shirts he used to wear that gave him his ‘casual dad’ vibe
Angela Rayner is known for her quirky style – especially when it comes to shoes
On her first day in office she opted for a turquoise suit with emerald suede heels
On her second day in office, she ditched the suit and wore a bright orange dress with folded flat shoulder pads
When she visited Scotland earlier this year she wore a pair of tartan boots
She once complained after she was unable to get her hands on these Star Wars-themed heels
Breaking down Starmer’s fashion journey, Josh Birch Jones said: ‘Keir Starmer’s fashion evolution mirrors his political journey — from a grassroots activist to the highest office in the land.
‘His ability to adapt his style to reflect his evolving role while maintaining a sense of authenticity has been a key aspect of his public persona.
‘As a young politician, Starmer was often seen sporting casual and practical attire, emblematic of his working-class roots and down-to-earth persona.
‘One of his signature looks during this period included Stone Island shirts, a brand renowned for its casual yet stylish appeal.
‘These shirts, often associated with football culture and a rebellious edge, perfectly complemented Starmer’s early image as a reformist and approachable figure.
‘As Starmer’s political career progressed and he took on more prominent roles, his fashion choices began to evolve, reflecting his growing stature and the need for a more polished public image.
Keir Starmer: From ‘casual dad’ to power-dressing PM. Pictured: On June 18, 2024
Keir proved he was down with the kids after he introduced a £150 Stone Island polo shirt into his wardrobe in 2022
Sir Keir sporting a more humble England football hoodie, available for £50, as he left his London property
‘The transition from Stone Island to more sophisticated attire marked a significant shift.
‘Gradually, his wardrobe incorporated more tailored pieces, signaling a move towards the formality expected of senior political figures.’
Starmer still occasionally sports Stone Island garb as he pushes his ‘football and Peroni dad’ image but he chooses a power suit more and more.
Jones added: ‘As Prime Minister, Keir Starmer‘s style has fully matured into one befitting his office.
‘His preference for smart suits is evident, with well-fitted, classic cuts that exude confidence and authority.
‘Starmer often opts for dark, conservative colour such as navy and charcoal, paired with crisp white shirts and understated ties.
‘This choice of attire not only aligns with the traditional expectations of a Prime Minister but also underscores his commitment to presenting a professional and reliable image to the public.
‘Despite this shift towards formality, Starmer’s style retains an element of his original authenticity.
As a youngster he sported a chequered lumberjack shirt
As a young man he was seen with braces in what appeared to be a white polo shirt
Gone are the days of his shiny, slick back hair on top of his fresh face. Pictured: Starmer as a lawyer before turning to politics
Sir Keir is pictured wearing a shirt and tie in his younger years
Keir’s left the public in the dark about where his suits are from – but he allegedly visits a celebrity tailor
The leader of the Labour party picked out a £135 insulated North Face puffer jacket to keep warm in winter
Keir Starmer at the last Euros final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021
Starmer has started wearing smarter clothes – although manages to keep a semblance of his more casual self with a pair of plimsolls
With a smart navy puffer jacket with fabric sleeves, Keir Starmer looks pleased as he holds a football
Keir has showed his love of Adidas trainers – which he paired here with dark blue jeans and a clean-cut jacket in April 2024
‘He is occasionally seen in more relaxed suits and open-necked shirts, particularly during less formal engagements, which hark back to his earlier, more casual days.
‘This blend of professionalism with a touch of personal flair ensures that Starmer remains relatable while embracing the gravitas required of his current role.’
Starmer has replaced his Stone Island shirts with smart suits and his statement black-framed glasses.
His predecessor Rishi Sunak was no stranger to the world of high-end fashion,but Sir Keir’s outfits from the last year show the Labour PM isn’t far behind.
He even has a suave favourite colour when it comes to clothes – navy, and it’s reflected in his suits, cotton shirts, and shoes.
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.
Meanwhile, 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.
Keir has also previously sported for a fancy £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.
During the campaign, Starmer was spotted wearing a £500 coat on the campaign trail 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 reportedly advised him not to put on a Three Lions shirt during the election campaign for fear of upsetting Scottish voters.
The Labour leader hailed his ‘hungry’ reshuffled front bench on a Reservoir Dogs-style walk through Westminster
Even Angela Rayner toned it down as she matched the group with a maroon number
Rayner’s bold colours have often been in contrast to Starmer’s dark suits – now paired with a pair of smart black shoes
Meanwhile, Rayner has also had a style glow up.
Early on her career it became clear she had ditched the usual politician’s wardrobe of stuffy grey suits or simple shift dresses for a bolder style, with clashing colours, bright pink ankle socks and tartan skirts.
And as her profile has risen at Westminster, she has been unafraid to tone down her outfit choices.
Even so, these days, gone are the bovver boots and animal print. Now Rayner opts for bold suits and power dresses.
But even though she may be the most powerful woman in the country, that doesn’t mean she’s lost her quirky dress sense completely.
She still manages to retain her trademark flare – just last week she was spotted in a pair of Marvel comic themed socks.
Fashion designer Jashaan Gill told MailOnline: ‘I’ll be interested to see how their outfits and styles develop over their term while they’re in office.
‘As for skincare they’re going to have a really good one. They’re going to have to keep up with that.
‘If you see pictures of previous Prime Ministers when they first started and when their term ended, you can tell they’ve aged at least by a decade or even more
‘Their skincare routines need to be top tier. This is definitely something to watch and take note of. It’s all that stress of running a country.’
Over the years, Rayner has made a number of bold fashion statements, such as here in 2021 with a cream coat with charcoal trimmings over a polka dot white and black dress, as well as magenta socks with her sable-coloured trainers
In 2020, she wore quite the combination of black boots with red rubber trimmings alongside a tartan shirt and red shirt with two oversized buttons and slim shades as she carried a mallet
Angela Rayner in March 2022 at BAFTA Piccadilly in a black skirt, matching her heels, paired with a tasteful flowery number
There’s never a dull moment when it comes to Rayner’s shoes, such as these strappy animal print boots
Angela Rayner visiting Glenkinchie Distillery in Tranent, Scotland, in her Tartan boots
She has previously worn red mid-heel peep-toes featuring polka-dot and cherry prints, like here in 2021
He hailed Angela Rayner’s bold outfits on her first two days in Downing Street as showing she was ‘staying in touch with her true self’.
He said: ‘She’s wearing bright colours. The two piece sets the suit in the bright colours – a more formal approach now she’s in office.
‘But it’s nice to see she’s staying in touch with her true self.
‘It’s a great thing to see in the public eye. Politicians are more approachable , omre relatable when they are wearing things at in line with fashion trends.
‘We’ve seen the grey and black suits – it’s boring in terms of the fashion perspective.
‘We’ve been disillusioned in politics because they’re not relatable.
‘Now the election has passed we can move on from that and fashion is an evolving industry as so it would be interesting to see how long these outfits are in the public domain for.
This year, Rayner’s wardrobe is largely all about the power dress. Pictured: Angela Rayner in a marvellous rose-coloured dress and flowing jacket at Gillingham football club on May 23, 2024
In May this year, she showed off another of her power looks with a classy pearl top to match her necklace and a dark navy skirt
Yet there’s still room for some flare when it comes to her power suits, as in this one from June 18, 2024, on the campaign trail in the West Midlands
She was also seen in a sage-coloured suit with a pistachio silk shirt – although she was also wearing Marvel comic superhero socks of characters Thor and Black Panther with a hint of green as well
Angela Rayner in a stunning crimson pantsuit as she posed with party supporters at a campaign event on June 28, 2024, in Hamilton, Scotland
Never one to shy away from a challenge, she still managed to incorporate a rare hint of animal print as she donned a high-visibility jacket while marshalling an easyJet plane arriving from Amsterdam during a visit to London Stansted
‘The longer they’re in office, they may change their approach.’
But it’s not just her clothes that create her style. Rayner has always been proud of her radiant ginger hair.
Around a dozen years ago, when she was still an up-and-coming trade unionist, she said people would underestimate her because of her locks.
She said: ‘I’m a pretty young woman, lots of red hair, and everyone expects me to be stupid when I walk into a meeting for the first time.
‘I’m not stupid and most people know that now, but I still like to be underestimated because it gives me an edge. It gives me a bit of stealth.’
As she started moving more into the public light, she decided to cut her hair short in 2022, with her straight ginger locks falling just below her shoulders.
Celebrity hair stylist Tom Smith told MailOnline that Rayner’s natural hair appeared ‘fine’ and said the politician was opting for a ‘formal-looking’ style at the time.
In 2016, her pale ginger hair was short and fairly straight with a fringe
During a visit to the Social Enterprise Hub near King’s Cross in 2021, the MP opted for a shorter cut, with her straight ginger locks falling just below her shoulders
He added: ‘I suspect she has always wanted longer hair but as her hair is thin it can be hard to grow out.’
She later grew out a lengthy mane of red hair which reached her waist, which she regularly styled into tight curls.
She became known for her big and bouncy hair-do. Her voluminous hair extensions added length to her ginger locks and she curled them into a distinctive bouncy style.
Celebrity stylist Tom said: ‘Her extensions are mixed colour which gives the illusion of highlights.
However months later, the 41-year-old debuted a much longer bouncier mane of red locks and it has since become known as her trademark look (pictured in September 2021)
‘This is a common choice when having extensions as it allows people to get a colour change and length all in one go.
‘When she first had the extensions put in, she may have been excited to style her new hair which is why she curled them initially.’
Meanwhile Ava Holland, artistic director for Gielly Green, explained Angela may have styled the extensions into bouncy curls to ‘cover up the disconnection from her natural hair and the extensions.’
Angela Rayner, 41, ditched her trademark mane of tight curls in favour of a poker straight do, which she showed off in the Commons in 2022
After treating herself to hair extensions, Angela rocked a bouncy main with cascading curls around her shoulders
In 2022, Rayner ditched her trademark curls in favour of a poker straight set of hair extensions to show off her ‘confidence and personality’.
However, she debuted a new look in the House of Commons when she appeared opposite Boris Johnson at Prime Minister’s Questions in January 2022.
Rayner straightened her extensions for added effect and length, meaning they almost reached her waist.
Celebrity stylist said there was ‘a sense of playfulness’ about her new style.
In January 2021, Angela debuted a new look in the House of Commons when she appeared opposite Boris Johnson at Prime Minister’s Questions. Her natural hair could be seen beneath her hair extensions and she opted for a poker-straight hairstyle
Tom Smith said it was a ‘drastic’ change, explaining: ‘Angela is not afraid to express herself and she is empowered to make her own choices and she is not trying to fit a stereotype.
‘She is clearly comfortable in her own skin and likes to look after her appearance.’
He added: ‘There [was] a sense of confidence and playfulness about Angela’s look.
‘Usually, extensions are undetectable, but her extensions [were] quite a long design choice and a drastic change.
‘She may have opted for this length to show more of her personality.’
In 2023, her commitment to the straight hair seemed to be faltering. First, the extensions got shorter. Pictured: Rayner caresses her hair during the TUC congress in Liverpool in September 2023
Then the trademark curls back, and remained until April 2024
But this year it’s not all been one hairstyle – instead, Rayner is mixing it up
On May 1 she was seen with straighter hair with extensions again (left). Then just two days later on May 3, she had taken out her extensions (right)
In June 2024, she stuck with her natural tresses, which had grown slightly longer, as she appeared on ITV’s Lorraine
Now, she flicks between fully straight and curled at the end – but one thing seems almost completely certain: the fringe remains
Meanwhile he added that Angela’s straightened hair might be ‘less effort’ to style each day.
He said: ‘After time the motivation to put the effort into styling each day decreases which is why in newer photos her hair is straight.
‘Straight is the way the extensions are cut when put in and require effort into managing them.
‘The novelty has essentially worn off which is not unusual.’
In 2023, her commitment to the straight hair seemed to be faltering. First, the extensions got shorter.
Then the trademark curls were back. Now, she flicks between fully straight and curled at the end – but one thing seems almost completely certain: the fringe remains.
