Dressing the Prime Ministers Wife

Dressing the prime ministers wife

The article "Dressing the prime ministers wife" is an article in the British edition of the fashion magazine Vogue. The article is written by the editor-in-chief Alexandra Shulman. She is discussing the problem whether or not political spouses should dress in expensive dresses by British designers. In several British media the wife of the English Prime minister Samantha Cameron has been criticized for wearing very expensive dresses. Many journalists have because of the recession, claimed that these very expensive dresses like the Paul Smith she wore at the Conservative Party congress was seen as inappropriate, in a time were there could be use of that money else where in the society. A journalist in the Guardian calculated that a single mother could get the same amount of money from child-benefits in three years from the government. But someway the political spouse is helping these young British designers like; Osman Yousefzada, Alexander McQueen and others. The British fashion industry is worth of 37 billions to the British economy. Then it doesn't give the right to these journalists and politicians to criticize the political spouse, when she are very much contributes to the British society, when she is an great ambassador for the British Fashion Council, and great commercial for these up and coming British designers.

"Samantha Cameron had, until recently, a well-paid full time job in retail where it would have seemed a bit odd is she hadn't indulged in the odd piece of expensive clothing. So why should it be different now? It's not as if the government is paying for her clothes. She is also passionate about the subject and really wants to help." Alexandra Shulman, Vogue 2011

This outtake from the article may be the best one to describe the role of Samantha Cameron. She is wife of the British prime minister and represents Great Britain. She and other political spouses have a reputation and brand image to protect, whilst Osman Yousefzada and Jason Wu needed a patriotic support.