UK First Lady Akshata Murty makes a case for having fun with power-dressing at the G20 Summit

It seems all eyes are on the sartorial choices of Akshata Murty since her arrival in New Delhi for the G20 Summit. Right from the moment she stepped off the plane with husband and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak wearing a crisp white shirt with a billowing multi-coloured floral skirt, her wardrobe has been a big point of discussion, and for good reason.

While formal political events don’t leave room for much experimentation when it comes to fashion, Murty shows it is possible for leaders to give a nod to tradition, comfort, and style, all in one go. 

The long, brown floral skirt is just the right amount of playful with its bright print, which she balanced with a tucked in white button-down shirt, which is allegedly by female-founded sustainable brand With Nothing Underneath and is worth around ₹15,000. She completed her look with nude pumps.

She followed up the statement ensemble with multiple outfit changes as the day progressed. As she spent some time playing football with kids at the British Council, she swapped her airport outfit for another vibrant floral shirt and skirt combo by home-grown label Drawn, which she wore with matching pink pumps. Later in the night, as she headed to dinner in central Delhi with Sunak, she changed into a simple plain white tee paired with pink-and-white striped pants. 

Murty’s head-turning looks do not come as a surprise, as the entrepreneur and venture capitalist has always had a penchant for all things fashion. In 2011, she quit her finance career to establish her own short-lived eponymous fashion brand, through which she collaborated with Indian artisans to spotlight traditional motifs and crafts like Ikat, Chanderi, and Mysore silk that she would pair with tweed and wool. She also holds a diploma from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA.