Home
+
Published : 26 Jul 2026, 09:28 PM
New York's Mayor Zohran Mamdani has turned formalwear into something of a personal trademark, sticking to his dark suit and tie in situations where most people would reach for shorts or swim trunks.
He has dived into a Harlem swimming pool fully dressed, braved the freezing Polar Bear Club plunge on New Year's Day, kicked a football around in a blazer, danced on stage with musician Alicia Keys and the Knicks basketball team, and posed for beach photos in a navy suit and striped tie.
His go-to look -- a Suit Supply blazer, formal tie and black boots -- rarely changes, whatever the setting.
Cheering on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden earlier this year, Mamdani stood out among the crowd in his dark suit.
After the team's win, he pulled a jersey over his shirt and tie, tucking it beneath his suit jacket rather than swapping the look entirely.
Speaking to CNN about his pool jump, Mamdani jokes that he "misunderstood the term swimsuit," noting he'd picked up the suit for just $30 at Goodwill so he wouldn't risk damaging pricier ones.
He admits, however, that he may be "learning that there might be a different way to dress" in extreme heat.
Fashion commentator Ella Devi believes the choice is calculated. She says Mamdani is using his clothing to project the image of a mayor who's constantly working, always on duty.
She adds that his background as "a young, Muslim, socialist" makes his image choices carry extra weight, with critics likely to scrutinise his style more closely than that of more conventional politicians.
Current Affairs Editor Nathan Robinson makes a similar point, arguing that suits lend an air of credibility to politicians often dismissed as fringe figures.
He suggests that for socialist politicians in particular, dressing formally can be a quiet tool for establishing legitimacy and authority in the eyes of sceptical audiences.
Others on the left have taken a more relaxed approach to their public image.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is known for his basketball shorts, while former New York mayor Bill de Blasio faced ridicule over his choice of cargo shorts.
Mamdani, by contrast, appears to have gone the opposite direction entirely.
According to Devi, Mamdani may now be locked into the routine, unable to easily change course.
She predicts tabloids would seize on any deviation, joking that switching to jeans would hand the New York Post weeks of material to work with.
For future heatwaves, she jokingly suggests Thom Browne's tailored suit shorts as a compromise -- though at roughly $1,300 a pair, she concedes it's a look unlikely to sit well with Mamdani's socialist image.
