David – not Ed – Miliband appears in this month’s Vogue. His interview is trailed on the cover, where he is hailed as “David Miliband: a man on a mission”, no less. It all translates as a big air kiss of approval from the fashion establishment, Team David all the way. While the interview has David dodging the question on his brother – “I made an absolute commitment to myself not to play into the story,” he says – the contrast between siblings is clear for style insiders. David, always slick, with an eye for a well-cut suit, has an Obama-like knack for grown-up power dressing. It doesn’t run in the family. Forget the Labour leader’s four million conversatin, Ed might start to persuade voters to go his way if he sorted out his shirt, which looked in need of an iron at the launch of the party’s election campaign on Monday. It’s a detail you can’t imagine the older Miliband missing. Here are six reasons why David gets the fashion vote.
Both Milibands have the kind of thick dark hair that receding men gaze at with envy. But while Ed’s current longer, side-parted style has something of the banker about it – especially when teamed with a suit – David’s grown-out buzzcut is a bit cool. He gets extra points for sticking for yonks to a style that suits him and the signature badger-ish stripe of grey at the front. Fashion loves a power haircut. See Anna Wintour’s bob.
Here’s a man who speaks fashion’s language. He knows that, when it comes to a slick look, it’s the infinitesimal tweaks that matter. Sure, most people won’t notice the 5mm peek of shirt at his jacket’s cuff but those are the details that get fashion people – not usually the most politically active – interested. And where fashion leads, the apathetic follow, surely.