The British know that Winston Churchill was serviced at Henry Poole & Co and Turnbull & Asser on Savile Row. Former Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom John Major and Gordon Brown wore clothing from Gieves & Hawkes, while Tony Blair was a fan of Paul Smith.
The image of Rishi Sunak, a former banker at Goldman Sachs, stands out favorably from Boris Johnson’s image, who has been criticized for his untidy appearance. The most authoritative British magazine, GQ, called Johnson the “worst-dressed Prime Minister of all time” due to ill-fitting suits and perpetually crumpled shirts, while The Sun drew attention to Boris’ socks, which he wore for three consecutive days without changing.
Rishi Sunak delights the eye with impeccable clothing and a neat hairstyle. The press speculates that his wife, Akshata Murty, the daughter of a billionaire and co-founder of Infosys, one of India’s largest IT companies, takes care of his appearance. Akshata has a passion for design and had her own clothing brand, Akshata Designs. Rishi’s suits are always bespoke and cost £3,500, tailored by the young Henry Herbert from Henry Herbert Tailors. His atelier used to be located on the fashionable Savile Row in London but has now moved to a building near the British Museum. The unique feature of the atelier is that they specialize in making suits for busy men, and the tailor will come to the client on a Vespa scooter.
Rishi’s blazers have narrow lapels, visually making his shoulders broader. Thin collars and ties help maintain proper proportions. Short, non-wide trousers are practical and comfortable, visually elongating Rishi’s legs and increasing his height. Fitted shirts emphasize that Sunak is well-built, allowing freedom of movement. Not only are Rishi Sunak’s suits handmade, but his shirts are as well. They are custom-made by the Italian brand The Traveling Artisan, whose production is located in the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, with prices for such shirts starting from £160. The founder of the brand, Tullio Innocenti, says that Sunak is so meticulous that they need to make three fittings for his shirts. Sometimes, a red thread bracelet, known as the kautuka amulet, which is considered a symbol of luck, protection, and Hinduism, can be seen peeking out from under his suit cuff.
Unlike many of his colleagues, Sunak prefers more relaxed outfits. He wears Barbour jackets, Polo Ralph Lauren sneakers, and Common Projects Achilles sneakers with embossed gold serial numbers. He appears in university hoodies, Everlane sweaters, Lacoste t-shirts, or Palm Angels slippers with socks, and wears Prada shoes.
Rishi Sunak’s outfits create a perfect harmony. Well-tailored, dark blue or dark gray double-breasted suits, white shirts, and striped ties. No pocket squares or unnecessary embellishments. Luxury is not needed today. The British need a serious person with a serious gaze who can stand up for the nation on the global stage and reassure the country that he will take care of it. The time for unbuttoned shirts and chinos will come again, but for now, we need confidence, strength, and seriousness. And that’s what a suit is,” concluded Tom Whiddett, co-founder of the Mayfair atelier Thom Sweeney, in an interview with British GQ.
