British Prime Minister Tony Blair strutted into the fashion world on
Tuesday -- then revealed that his attempts to cut a dash in the beachwear range
proved a disaster.
Blair, normally a man for a sober suit-and-tie combination, lifted the
lid on his fashion hell as he attended the opening of the Fashion Retail
Academy's new home in London.
"I have to say that when I told my wife and 18-year-old daughter about
coming to the opening of this fashion academy, they fell about laughing," he said.
"I am not known for my fashion sense. When I wore a particular brand of
swimming trunks one year, the sales then collapsed."
Blair's style notions were put to the test when he was asked to choose
a pair of women's shoes to match grey shorts and a woolly jumper.
"I'm absolutely the worst with this", he said before reluctantly
plumping for a shiny grey pair.
Taking colour co-ordination
tips on board, he pointed to his own black suit and red
tie and said: "I haven't learned it before but I will do my best to learn
it in the future."
Sir Philip Green, owner of the Arcadia group which includes British
high street giants such as Topshop, reckoned Blair had some talent for a
novice and offered him a job once he quits office next year.
"You could have missed your vocation in life. If you are looking for
something new to do afterwards we could help," Green said to Blair.
The prime minister replied: "You would have to start me right at the
bottom."
