As Rishi Sunak delivered his resignation speech outside 10 Downing Street after his general election defeat, his wife, Akshata Murty, captured everyone’s attention with her striking attire. Akshata wore a dress from the Indian fashion label Ka-Sha, which cost a little over ₹42,000. The high-neck dress featured blue, red, and white stripes, echoing the colours of Britain’s national flag.
The Dress and Its Symbolism
The dress, which featured arrows pointing down and a red bottom section, quickly became a topic of online humor. Many internet users saw it as a metaphor for the Conservative Party’s loss in the election. Comments on social media included quips about the dress resembling an American flag and pointing out the downward arrows as symbolic of the party’s defeat.
Social Media Reactions
Metaphor for Election: One user commented that the arrows pointing down were indicative of how the election had gone for the Conservative Party.
Even Rishi Sunaks wife's dress says you're going down !! #Rishi_Sunak #AkshataMurty pic.twitter.com/vsxgAxoMx3
— Becky Chanceux (@beckychanceux) July 5, 2024
American Flag Joke: Another user noted the dress’s resemblance to the American flag, humorously suggesting it hinted at a future move to the USA.
Nice to see Mrs Sunak wore an American flag style dress to help her guy hand his resignation to the King
Getting ready to hop on the private jet for the new life in the US as planned#ToriesAreOut #ElectionResults pic.twitter.com/LfarKhvKzB
— kerry ✊💙Save Our NHS (@hewitson10) July 5, 2024
Skeleton Comparison: Some users joked that the expensive dress reminded them of a “skeleton.”
Watching Rishi Sunak give his farewell speech at Downing Street his wife’s dress reminds me of a skeleton 🤪 pic.twitter.com/phDhIBa2gt
— Frank the Tank (@sabre1951) July 5, 2024
Million Memes: Many saw the dress as “the stuff of a million memes,” with one user stating, “Even Rishi Sunak’s wife’s dress says you’re going down!”.
Akshata Murty (serious face) standing behind her husband @RishiSunak in a red, white & blue dress holding an umbrella as he weasels his way out of Downing Street is the stuff of a million memes. pic.twitter.com/7EaIUyucWT
— JJ Hunsecker (@tvproduceruk) July 5, 2024
Akshata Murty’s Style and Recognition
Known for her love of statement pieces from high-end designers, Akshata Murty has been recognized for her fashion choices. She topped Tatler magazine’s best-dressed list for Britain in 2023. Her appearance at the resignation speech was another instance of her making a bold fashion statement
