The first defining images of election day came early on the morning of 4 July: Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty voting together in the country idyll of North , while Sir Keir Starmer and Lady Starmer voted in . Both couples were fabulously glossy, with a breeziness about them, clearly trying to look relaxed as the battle for power entered its final day. As ’s director, I know, hair says a lot – for both men and women.
Tradition dictates ladies first, so here goes. At HQ we’ve been talking a lot about ‘First Lady’ beauty (‘Prime Minister’s wife beauty’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it) recently. That tug between being aspirational yet not ostentatious; relatable but not boring.
The Americans get away with a more outré aesthetic than the Britons – think Jackie Kennedy – who must look at all times not too intimidatingly beautiful. Traditionally it’s all tea dresses and soft blow dries. So today, after six weeks surrounded by their husbands’ press advisors, spin doctors and even glam teams, both Lady Victoria Starmer and Akshata Murty’s looks were the end product of a well-oiled image machine.
Both appearances were equally as glamorous, matched by 'nothing to see here' smiles despite the glare of paparazzi flashes. Similar to her husband’s, Akshata’s look was polished yet not overdone, to the point one might well believe she styled her hair by herself – her soft relaxed blow dry had all the hallmarks of a Dyson Airwrap. (A status symbol for e.