Leopard in kitten heels: the politics of Theresa May’s sartorial choices

Evans, R (2019) 'Leopard in kitten heels: the politics of Theresa May’s sartorial choices.' Clothing Cultures, 6 (2). pp. 199-213. ISSN 2050-0742

Text 13297.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only until 11 May 2021.

Abstract

This article discusses the clothing choices of Theresa May as a female Member of Parliament (MP) and as the second woman prime minister of Great Britain. A Conservative MP since 1997 with a conservative background growing up a Vicar’s daughter and grammar school education, Mrs May’s sartorial choices have evolved to conform with an understanding of female MP’s as proxy men and to reflect British national dress as defined by tradition. However, within this conservative persona, a discordant note is struck by her choice of shoes. Not always neutral, in this article, her choice of fabric is examined as a form of ‘everyday resistance’. Compromised as these choices are, her choice of leopard print kitten heels is suggested as a form of subaltern resistance.

Item Type:	Article
Note:	This article and the issue (6.2) it is contained within were first published on 11 May 2020. The journal has adjusted the publication date for this issue on their website to show as June 2019.
Keywords:	Theresa May; everyday resistance; gender politics; kitten heels; leopard print; nationhood; subaltern rebellion
Divisions:	Bath School of Design
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1386/cc_00012_1
Date Deposited:	30 Jun 2020 18:15
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2020 16:30

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