Selection shoes

This fashpolitico has been snapping the shoes of the Labour leadership contenders.  And what can we learn from the below:

Well the first thing you learn is that fashpolitico needs to sort her photography skills if she is to become a fashion professional instead of a political professional.  Clearly she will have to stick to the day job for the time being.

From the right hand side, the man standing up, who is the only not to have polished his shoes, is Ed Miliband.  This is perhaps unsurprising given his ‘man of the people’ pitch.  Next to him is David Miliband.  Having already been reportedly wearing Ozwald Boateng suits, his shoes are equally sharp, polished, slightly pointed and smart.

Diane goes for a solid choice, ballet flats in red.  She can campaign at a moment’s notice.  In the middle is, a journalist.  This is probably just as well as no future leader could be taken seriously wearing those trainers with a curved sole – they may be good for you – but they wouldn’t cut it in Number 10.

Finally we have Ed Balls and Andy Burnham, both well both polished.  Interestingly Andy has gone for loafers over lace ups.  Is this a hidden Northern fashion statement which Fashpolitico doesn’t understand??

The fashion choice from these shoes is clear, David Miliband wins on first preferences alone….

… but wait, whose shoes are these?

These shoes belong to another race, the race for London Mayor.  They strike the balance of fun, clearly Labour red, with a slight heel, but not one that would cause a problem if called out to knock on doors for 2 hours at a moment’s notice.  With shoes like these on Oona’s feet Ken should be worried.

Campaigning merchandise

The advent of the ‘Step Outside Posh Boy’ T-shirt from the Guardian got me thinking about campaign merchandise.  So Fashpolitico investigated the mainstream parties to see what you can buy.

The Lib Dems were the first to fail, I couldn’t even find the word ‘shop’ on their front page.  Surely there are campaign funds to raise through merchandising?  Well certainly not if you were a casual internet shopper looking to spend money buying a T-shirt with an homage to Clegg on it.  #Superfail

The Labour Party barely did much better.  In the shop under the word ‘gifts’, which is certainly an exaggeration, there are a few items you could give as a ‘gift’, if you did not like the person you were giving it to that is.  There is only one item of clothing (fashion would be stretching it) to purchase, a tie, which I couldn’t imagine any of the Cabinet wearing, so why would a member of the public?

So it appears that only the Conservative Party has grasped entrepreneurial opportunity of marketing their political party this General Election season.  The ‘online shop’ is proudly advertised on their frontpage. 

Future Prime Minister

Inside the shop there are baby grows with ‘Future Prime Minister’ written on them, bags, umbrellas and that old campaign stalwart, the slogan T-shirt; in male and female fits, with attempts at witty slogans.  There’s event the interesting development of a polo T-shirt with a small Conservative logo on the right hand side, essentially attempting to elevate their scribbled tree logo to the heights of Ralph Lauren’s polo player – an audacious move.

I can only conclude that Margaret Thatcher’s legacy of coming from a shop keeping background has rubbed off on the party.

But even with the Conservative’s best efforts there’s a long way to go.  Fashpolitico envisages a world where the political parties have sections in ASOS where you can buy SamCam or Sarah Brown’s outfits after you see them on TV.  Some may criticise this as taking the role of ‘first wives’ and merchandising too far.  But let’s face it, their endorsement of high street fashion leads to extra sales.  Perhaps it is time political parties could capitalise from this with a small percentage… I’m sure SamCam, with her work at Smythson, could lead the way.

Start a campaign with style

A fashion friend with a political edge recently started a cunning campaign. Bake cookies, in suitable housewifely clothes, and deliver them to your office to raise money for a good cause. Top work politicos.  And I hear that there may be a round of mince pies in December in the offing.  Check out the housewife fashion and sign up now!