Michael Gove isn’t exactly known as a style icon. But when the Education Secretary takes to the stage at the Tory party conference tomorrow, one sartorial choice will be almost as closely watched as his stance on school reform: will he be sporting his new, wide-rimmed glasses?
In the past, Gove has been likened to Pob from the children’s TV show, Pob’s Programme. But these Clark Kent-esque specs almost take the goof out of Gove. Has his wife — Times beauty writer Sarah Vine — given him a makeover?
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Mayor Bloomberg last week donned the black, round-rimmed frames loved by New York hipsters to discuss how to make New York a better city for start-ups. And his Warby Parkers were prescription-free, so it appears Bloomie was donning them to seem “down with the kids”.
But are he and Gove onto a vote-winner? According to a survey of, ahem, glasses wearers, specs appeal may help at the polls. More than a third of those surveyed before the 2010 general election thought the right pair of frames can make their wearer appear more intelligent, serious and genuine. So perhaps to win the public’s favour, MPs should just take a trip to Specsavers.
