Theresa May has no influence on fashion, says ex-Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman

Since leaving British Vogue after 25 years as editor, Alexandra Shulman has made headlines on a number of occasions.

Most notably was her honest bikini selfie posted earlier this month which sparked a whole host of body positivity.

The 59-year-old has now appeared on BBC Radio 4, opening up about everything from Theresa May to body image.

The ex-editor was asked several hard-hitting questions about the fashion industry’s impact on young women.

Shulman admitted that designers “do like a thin person” but felt that society doesn’t view skinny as its ideal anymore.

“If you look at some of the style icons of our time (Rihanna, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian), they’re not that skinny. Skinny is not necessarily what people want to be now,” she commented.

“You don’t see that shape on the catwalk but that’s not the way most people want to look or dress. That’s to do with the way fashion designers want their clothes to be seen.”

When asked whether Vogue promotes a skinny body shape, Shulman responded: “Under my editorship, we did have quite a range [on the cover]. We’ve had the people I’ve spoken about, we had the Duchess of Cambridge, we had Adele. But models are thin – no question about it.”

She also moved onto prime minister Theresa May’s role in the fashion industry. But in a time where political leaders are becoming style icons, Shulman believes that May “isn’t having any fashion influence.”

Despite this sounding like a dig, the legendary editor went on to praise May, saying: “I think she’s got far more to worry about than what she’s telling young women to wear. I think she is really interested in clothes and hopefully she thinks that by being one of the most high-profile women in our society, she is able to show that you can be powerful and still be interested in fashion.”

“Because there is an issue – particularly in this country – which takes the view that if you are seen to be interested in fashion, there’s something lightweight about you.”

Shulman also referenced her recent bikini photo furore, stating that she wasn’t making any particular statement. “I’m a bit naive about these things. It never entered my head that the fact that I was wearing a bikini was going to be remarkable.”

“I wasn’t saying [you shouldn’t be skinny] or that you should look like me. But a certain amount got read into it.”

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