by Forget the fight for the right British hearts and minds, the real challenge on Nigel Farage’s hands right now is a fashion challenge. Since the streets of Clacton – the constituency where the Reform UK leader is hoping to become an MP on July 4 – have become as loud as a political battle thanks to Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, the Labor candidate for the area, and – I’m calling him – Britain’s most stylish new politician.
Owusu-Nepaul’s style credentials were respected Vogue editors and political watchers alike. “Not my politics, so not an endorsement, but Jovan is a very stylish candidate,” wrote one social media user on X last week. The Goldsmiths University graduate, who also has a Masters from Cambridge, reposted the comment, adding “but it’s an endorsement”, a nod to his awareness that his preppy, more-Clapton-than-Clacton looks are making waves.
If you were voting on fashion credentials alone, you couldn’t help but win for Owusu-Nepaul, who could have walked straight out of a vintage Ralph Lauren ad but had Labor rosettes pinned to his coat lapels trench. In fact, the photos he posts on social media often look more like he’s posing for a brand campaign than running for parliament – see how he pairs a Tattersall’s check shirt with a slouchy knit like Grandpa’s standing with fish and chips on the beach or how He layers a red Labor t-shirt under a navy blue shirt and chunky khaki cardigan for a walk with a fellow candidate.
Thanks to our extremely low expectations of the style of politicians, Owusu-Nepaul looks less like he’s canvassing for a seat in the House of Commons and more like he’s about to plate a natural wine bar small to open in Margate. If he does not win the election, he will be an ambassador for a label like Drake’s or Rowing Blazers, who specialize in Revisiting Kenbride for a 21st century vibe.
But the irony here is that there are many crossovers between the Farage look and the Owusu-Nepaul look. Both men dilute a very traditional English aesthetic and although he now prefers to stick to navy blue suits, white shirts and eye-catching ties, Farage made himself look in the tweed jackets and colorful trousers – indeed, few could Owusu-Nepaul to be defeated. Farage took his campaign outfit from the Brexit era and gave them an injection of youthful indolence.
Dr Benjamin Linley Wild, a senior lecturer in Fashion Transitions at Manchester City University, notes that Owusu-Nepaul’s carefully curated clothing “suggests that he is a shrewd political operator”. He says, “Owusu-Nepaul seems to be playing sartorial sleight of hand. While his textured knits, twisted trousers, gingham shirts and bold print ties suggest a casual disregard for the Establishment, and seem to embody Labour’s message of change, his outfits also look borrowed from a country man’s weekend wardrobe. .”
Although they are at odds with each other politically, both men seem to be happy with their wardrobes. “Jovan certainly has his own style, and the best of the British,” says a Farage spokesman. The Telegraph. “He is a breath of fresh air among the gray suits of the safe and aesthetic ranks of most Westminster wannabes.” They say to him, “Nigel’s style speaks for itself”.
But does hipster Owusu-Nepaul seem more of a political threat than a breath of fresh air? “His clothes are perfect for the challenge he faces in Clacton,” says Dr Wild. “He cannot present himself too strongly to his opponents, as this would suggest that he does not understand local sensitivities. Owusu-Nepaul’s best chance of winning Clacton appears to depend on voters who would normally vote for Liberal Democrat and Green candidates. The nod to a friendly, consensual approach to politics through his more unusual wardrobe choices – for example, a yellow, blue and orange flat-striped tank top – suggests that Nepaul is simultaneously signaling that he wants to do things in a different way.”
Clacton may be a flashpoint in this election, but the style lessons Owusu-Nepaul is showing could have ramifications for how we see politicians dress in the future. Don’t forget Suella Braverman in her catchy British sweater or her modern Thatcher with Penny Mourdaunt flowing dry, ” the interest in Owusu-Nepaul’s wardrobe underscores the desire of many for political candidates to look like character and authenticity reflect a certain personal,” explains Dr. Wild. “This could be something Owusu-Nepaul boss Keir Starmer, who was recently compared to a robot in a live TV interview, could take advantage of.”
How do they measure up?
