Former Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown has been an ambassador for British fashion since her husband took the top job and is well respected among Britain’s fashionable set. However, Samantha Cameron and Nick Clegg’s wife Miriam Gonzalez Durantez are now in the spot light but how do their fashion credentials measure up?

Sarah Brown’s transformation from frumpy political wife to Britain’s Michelle Obama was a little late in the day but nevertheless successful. Brown became, during her reign, quite the regular on the fashion calendar. Brown opened the last London Fashion Week, has Naomi Campbell on speed dial and appeared at Channel 4’s ‘Fight Cervical Cancer in Style’ concert; heralding British fashion as a cause close to her heart. Her fashion choices have sometimes sparked scrutiny but Brown’s general style, like Michelle O's, is one of respectable conservative attire with careful consideration being made to wear British labels, both high end and high street. Whilst opening the London Fashion Week this February Brown wore a beautiful Erdem dress, a designer who is a close colleague of political-wife rival Samantha Cameron.

Samantha Cameron has been dubbed by her husband, David, as his “secret weapon”. Samantha’s role as yummy mummy-to-be and career women makes her the mascot for the Conservative party ideal. Cameron dropped from a four day week as creative director of high end stationers, Symthson, to a two day week to allow more time for political duties with her husband during the electoral campaign; but apparently has all intension to resume her near full time role soon. Cameron’s role at Symthson saw a fussy British stationers turn into a well respected fashion brand on a similar footing to Radley, stocking handbags, diaries and organisers. Making her the most fashion orientated political wife since French President Nicholas Sakozi’s wife Carla Bruni. Unlike former model Carla Bruni though, Cameron adopts a look which works with high street as well as high end clothing which appeals to a British voter. Despite the restrictions of political association Cameron is one of British VOGUE’s favourite political wives, appearing in ample features including one pictorial of Britain’s most influential women next to a passport sized photo of Brown.

Political dark horse Nick Clegg stole the spotlight at the televised debates but failed to win seats when the country went to the polls. After a bizarre turn of events, however, he has secured the role as Deputy Prime Minister and so his Spanish-born DLA Piper lawyer wife, Miriam, will stand alongside Samantha Cameron as representative of the new coalition government. Miriam has remained reclusive during the campaign, preferring to leave politics to the politicians and has therefore lost out on valuable public exposure and thus left Cameron to steal the title as ultimate new first lady. However, Miriam showed a rarely seen side of herself when partying at the launch of Oxfam Curiosity Shop in London’s Selfridges with Colin Firth and Annie Lenox. She wore a nude mini dress and on trend blazer which looked chic and elegant.

The new government has been formed and the ministerial posts granted but the country is still without a new political ambassador for fashion. Will Mrs Gonzalez Durantez outshine Mrs Cameron or will Dave’s “secret weapon” remain in the foreground and further boost Symthson’s sales figures, only time will tell.

Words by Jordan McDowell. Images via here

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