David Cameron has come under fire for his dress sense in the past, prompting fashion critics to speak up after sporting heavy, dark garments and black loafers – without socks – for his sunny holidays in Spain. But the criticism doesn't seem to bother the Prime Minister, who, speaking at a Downing Street reception for the London Collections: Men on Monday evening, was keen to poke fun at his lack of fashion knowledge.
"I know so little about fashion," he said, "that the two things I have been on the fashion pages for are not wearing socks with black shoes whilst on holiday – sorry about that one – and attending banquet at the Guildhall, where in full white tie inexplicably my shirt separated, and there was a rather embarrassing picture." He added: "I am obviously not a great exemplar of fashion, but I have done my best tonight." The 46-year-old then took the 200-strong audience – that included designer Tom Ford, Jonathan Saunders and Tommy Hilfiger – through his outfit, consisting of a Richard James suit and Oliver Sweeney shoes. "And my pants are by Marks & Spencer," he added, "which might be in the too much information bracket." David, who is posing below with new chairman of the BFC Natalie Massenet and GQ editor Dylan Jones, also revealed that it is his wife Samantha, who serves as Ambassador for the British Fashion Council and has a well-deserved reputation for her impeccable dressing, that chooses his outfits.
"When I go shopping my wife doesn't allow me to look around the store at all," he said. "I am put in a changing room and things are passed to me like you would pass food to a prisoner." And speaking to the Daily Telegraph after the speech he revealed that it's his wife who should be blamed for his fashion faux-pas: "The other thing they always write is that I wear the same blue shirt when I go on holiday. But it's not me, it's Samantha!" From Monday to Wednesday this week, around sixty fashion companies, the majority of which are British, will present their AW13 collections. Mr Cameron praised those who were showing, reminding them that fashion is integral to the British economy. He said: "As far as I'm concerned fashion is not some add on, it is not some accessory to British economic policy: you are absolutely at the heart of the vision this government has."
Last year, to the dismay of many fashion critics, David was spotted sitting at a café in sunny Majorca sipping an espresso with his wife Samantha sporting a blue denim shirt, dark blue jeans and black leather shoes. And with his busy career and hectic schedule, it’s not surprising he hasn’t had time to update his holiday wardrobe. But it seems he had paid attention to some fashion feedback, having added a pair of socks to the ensemble – he was spotted last year showing off his ankles by going bare-footed in loafers.