He knew how to rock a cagoule: the sartorial legacy of Sir Keir Starmer

Starmer had loftier ambitions for his term, and will find little consolation in having got the tricky brief of prime ministerial style right. Being remembered for “he had good hair” was not the legacy he hoped for, but the look he settled on was consistent and recognisable.

His prime ministerial appearance was smart, unpretentious and unflashy. Dark suits suited him; many were bought from Charles Tyrwhitt at a typical price of about £350 and were well fitted, although menswear pedants noted the sleeves were a little long — a jacket sleeve should expose a half inch of shirt cuff, leaving the hands visible.

He avoided a flashy Rolex, wearing a sensible Tissot that costs about £320. Despite modest tastes, his image was dented by revelations in 2024 that he had accepted £16,000 in wardrobe donations from the Labour peer Waheed Alli and £2,485 worth of spectacles. He often favoured a suit and shirt with no tie — a man-of-the-people shorthand — but could execute a Windsor knot when occasion required.

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