British PM's 'trousergate' drives international interest in Amanda Wakeley label

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Dec 12, 2016

A row at the the top of UK politics has been focusing attention on Amanda Wakeley and Mulberry with commentators rushing to defend or criticise Prime Minister Theresa May and former Minister for Women and the Equalities Nicky Morgan over their fashion choices.

The storm erupted after the PM was photographed for a Sunday Times interview wearing a pair of Amanda Wakeley leather trousers that cost £995 at retail, along with a pair of Burberry trainers. It is unlikely that she paid full price as she lists an Amanda Wakeley discount card on her register of member's interests.

A spate of newspaper articles ensued, with some critics saying that such an expensive item showed the PM was out of touch. But others accused them of sexism after not questioning how much her predecessor David Cameron paid for his suits, and said promoting British fashion is part of her job. May also wore Amanda Wakeley to meet the Queen when she first accepted the Prime Minister’s role.

Morgan, who has clashed with May over issues relating to Brexit, said after the interview appeared that "I don't have leather trousers. I don't think I've ever spent that much on anything apart from my wedding dress” and added that some Conservatives felt uncomfortable at such a conspicuous display of expensive fashion at a time when many in Britain are tightening their belts.

However, the focus on what has been dubbed “trousergate” appears to have driven traffic to Amanda Wakeley with reports that the trousers in question are now sold out. It has also generated a massive amount of publicity globally for the brand with coverage in news media around the world.

It also emerged on Sunday that Morgan herself carries a Mulberry Bayswater bag that retails for £950, although she said it was over a decade old and had been a gift.

Observers said the spat had become a proxy fight between two opposing views of the Brexit issue with senior Conservatives complaining that it was trivialising the issue.