VB's dress on Mrs Burnham - horrible

[TheBlueKoala]

I'm not a fashion expert and I really don't care much for it but this was the most horrible dress I have ever seen. Even on a coathangar bodytype like VB herself it wouldn't look good but on an average body it's just hideous. That's 850 £ unwisely spent. She could and should have gotten a dress from M&S for 50£ and actually looked good.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/middle-class-mrs-burnham-dress/

I am guessing that she works, earns her own money and can spend it how she chooses. What on earth makes you think she gets a clothing allowance from her husband? We are in 2026 not the 1950's

'she has a political history herself.'

• does she? I thought all her jobs had been in marketing.

I agree Michelle Obama did good work in promoting up & coming designers, though

The women tend to make the husbands hide in the shadows most of the time because presumably the other blokes would automatically assume he is in charge otherwise?'

• I don't remember Philip May being 'in the shadows'. We barely saw Liz Truss' husband but them she was only there 7 weeks.

I think it’s just symbolic as they arriving at the new house together - I remember the Blairs doing it but I always did find him rather presidential

That's a good point.

Otoh what you said earlier re heterosexuality/patriarchy, gay PMs & Presidents have all appeared with their spouses too. Iceland's Johanna Sigoardottir, for one, who was the first gay elected leader anywhere. Leo Varadkar appeared with his partner when he was Taioseach, too.

Agree!

'criticising her choice of dress is fair game and people in power need to be scrutinised'

• I would agree if she were the person in power, but she's not. She has no political role.

I thought it suited her fine, personally. I also think some comments are a bit hyperbolic, saying it hugely aged her, for one, which I didn't see. What's wrong with a woman looking her age, anyway? No one complains about male politicians doing that.

I do agree VB was not the ideal designer choice but not because of how the actual dress looks.

Some people don’t have partners. Are they not capable of being PM? Maybe they never met the right person or they had a bad relationship and it was enough to put them off another? Is this not a valid choice? It’s not about straight or LGBT.

Interesting re Meghan. I read Tom Bower's book a while ago and he was quite critical of various clothing choices but it sounds like at least earlier on they were more astute.

Otoh Meghan's role feels a bit different. Duchess of Sussex is an official role, being married to the PM is not.

Please! We don't need to speculate on their sex life. You could say she looks attractive/sexy without saying that.

I don’t think even one prime minister has been appointed prime minister as they are married, or due to who their spouse is. I do find the thought you think this rather odd.

What should they have done otherwise? I agree it was embarrassing but would stony silence have been better?

I’ve no idea what you’re on about honestly, their spouses accompany them when they take the job, leave the job and a few state events. Past that ypu don’t see them.

Criticising her dress is fair game..and people in power need to be scrutinised.(what political power does she have.. and scrutinised over a dress!). I really do not understand what people get out of all the hate. So the dress was £850 - I think anyone on here, knowing their picture was going global would maybe not buy one from Primark. Just imagine if she had bought an inexpensive dress..'there's that Andy Burnham pretending to be 'everyman' with his wife in a cheap dress..'

What does it matter what what she chooses to wear as long as she feels comfortable. It does not make any difference to the new government her husband is forming

I did not notice what Mrs Burnham was wearing and envy those with the attention to spare for such things. I want to know what Andy's going to do and by what means.

I think some of these comments are just downright nasty and spiteful ... without cause. I think anyone reading this thread would be appalled by the vitriol. It's embarrassing 😞

It was a stunning dress and she looked absolutely stunning. The colour suited her perfectly and I love the cut. She is an indomitable woman and she’s shown us who she is and he must be so proud of her.

That really really isn’t true. It was the wrong choice of dress and did nothing to flatter her body shape. It was also nearly £1000. Why is she an indomitable women.

Do you know her personally??

TBF this applies to practically all of them, I think we only saw Victoria Starmer when he won the election and then yesterday wnen he left No 10. Same went for the Sunaks. I think that Cherie Blair and Carrie Johnson chose to have more of a public role. Imagine the media frenzy and mad speculation if an incoming or exiting PM appeared without their partner, there would be a meltdown

Well the PM’s spouse is not the First Lady or First Gentleman. It’s not an official role and the PM is not head of state. The parading of partners IS dated.

I agree, they can't win in that respect, and I'm concerned that a particularly sexist man happening to see this thread would leap around gleefully, shouting "There! That really is all women talk about!" The world's in such a dreadful mess it seems really shallow to scrutinise clothing in this way, unless it cost more than £5000 per person and the taxpayers were footing the bill.

Isn't that Aunt Lydia?

Really? Presumably you don't read newsprint or online news.

V Starmer went to the US with him and was photographed there. She went to social functions in the UK, meeting Royalty etc, in front of massive audiences and was photographed. Her outfits were scrutinised. (many from Me&Em) and commented on.