Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced she will not be seeking re-election and will stand down by February 7.
Since she was sworn in on October 26, 2017, Ardern has achieved many milestones throughout her tenure. On June 21, 2018, she became only the second elected leader in the world to give birth while in office, after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto. At age 37, she became the world's youngest female head of Government, as well as Aotearoa's youngest Prime Minister in more than 150 years. She subsequently earned international acclaim for her response to the Christchurch terrorist attacks on March 15, 2019, and her Government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the October 2020 election, Ardern led the Labour Party to a landslide victory, gaining almost 50 percent of the vote – the first time any party had achieved this triumph since 1951 – and 65 out of 120 seats in the House of Representatives.
Throughout her years of leadership, Ardern has also cut a stylish figure with her smart-casual sartorial approach, garnering praise for her masterclasses in fashion diplomacy. Often opting for relaxed, classic silhouettes, such as demure blouses, coats, blazers and dresses, Ardern also has made statements in fun prints along with the occasional pops of colour. She has frequently championed local designers, favouring the likes of Emilia Wickstead, Kate Sylvester, Maaike, Karen Walker and Juliette Hogan, with accessories that give a nod to Aotearoa's rich cultural heritage: think the black feathered kākahu, custom-made by designer Kiri Nathan, she donned for Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral.
She also has cultivated a reputation for supporting small businesses, such as when she wore a pair of headline-grabbing feather earrings made by local artist Ronja Schipper during a COVID-19 briefing in 2020. In 2021, Ardern donned homemade earrings - a pair of Kawakawa leaves, made from silver clay - by Whangārei teen Twilight Edwards on Waitangi Day.
Following the news that Ardern will be stepping down from the helm of the New Zealand Government by February 7, let's take a look back at some of her best sartorial moments.
Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral
Ardern cut a stylish yet suitably sombre figure at Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral on September 19, 2022. Dressed appropriately in all-black attire, Ardern opted for a simple yet timeless silhouette; a tailored dress with long sleeves and a high neckline, the work of local fashion designer Juliette Hogan. She teamed the classic look with black tights, heeled pumps and matching black millinery by Pirongia-based designer Monika Neuhauser, while her hair was swept back in a sleek chignon. For her purse, Ardern opted for a simple clutch by Wellington designer Yu Mei. As a further nod to Aotearoa, she also paired the dress with a black feathered kākahu, custom-made by designer Kiri Nathan. Speaking to 1News, Ardern acknowledged the traditional Māori cloak brought a "piece of New Zealand" to the grand proceedings.
Downing Street meeting with Boris Johnson
During a meeting with the former UK Prime Minister in July 2022, Ardern channelled the much-adored style of Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton. She donned an Emilia Wickstead calf-length cream dress with a high, crisp collar, teaming the garment with nude heels and minimal jewellery, styling her hair in loose waves. The look was almost identical to an ensemble worn by Middleton during a royal tour of India and Bhutan in 2016. The duchess had donned a dress very similar in design while appearing at a UK government GREAT campaign event in Mumbai, pairing it with neutral heels and her signature blow-wave. The only visible difference between the two was the collar: Middleton's was round, while the updated design worn by Ardern was pointed. Known as the Alice Dress, the garment was described on Wickstead's website as a "classic short sleeved dress" made of double crepe, fitted through the bodice with a flared skirt. Meanwhile, the traditional collar and breast pocket details added an element of nostalgia that is still "modern and elegant".
Appearance at the 2022 World of Wearable Arts
Ardern delighted the audience at Wellington's World of Wearable Arts show on September 30, 2022, when she took part in the opening of the iconic event. Ardern stood centre-stage at TSB Arena while she modelled a garment that required two fittings, one of which was held on the day, to celebrate the return of the show for the first time in two years. The "specially commissioned piece" was the work of Kiwi-born industrial designer and 3D artist, Dylan Mulder. A spokesperson for WOW said the Mulder garment references the mountains of Aotearoa and the connection to the land. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's office said Ardern felt "privileged" to have met the designer and the outstanding WOW team, and was "more than happy to take part in an important recovery milestone for the arts sector, and will continue to be supportive of events that boost our regional tourism, and the economic recovery."
Feature on the cover of Meghan Markle's British Vogue issue
For its September 2019 edition, British Vogue revealed a landmark issue featuring Ardern on the cover, photographed by legendary photographer Peter Lindbergh. The issue had its first special guest editor: Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. Celebrating female changemakers selected by the Duchess and Vogue, the women featured were honoured for being at the frontline of fashion, film, tech, and wellness, described as 'Forces for Change', with other changemakers including LGBTQIA+ advocate and actor Laverne Cox, body positivity advocate and actor Jameela Jamil, and climate change campaigner and student Greta Thunberg. For her British Vogue debut, the Prime Minister was styled in garments by New Zealand designers Emilia Wickstead and Jessica McCormack.
Becoming the first PM to be featured in Vogue
In 2018, Ardern became the first female Prime Minister to be featured in US Vogue, with the fashion bible profiling the then-37-year-old for its March issue. Ardern was photographed for the piece on a windswept beach in the North Island in December 2017, wearing a pair of teal pants by then-fledgling New Zealand label Herriot and a classic beige trench coat by former local womenswear brand Harman Grubiša, which closed its doors in 2020. In the profile, the writer labelled Ardern as "young, forward-looking, and unabashedly liberal", dubbing her the "anti-Trump".
Those feather earrings
On April 14, 2020, Ardern sparked controversy - and headlines - when she donned a pair of long feather earrings to front a nationally broadcast COVID-19 briefing. The statement accessory was not universally well-received: commentary on social media varied, with some branding the earrings "inappropriate" to others applauding the Prime Minister for her bold look. Made from repurposed bicycle tires, the earrings were the work of Auckland-born artist Ronja Schipper and her fledgling upcycling business in the Far North, re:purpose. Following the frenzy, Schipper told RNZ she was considering hiring staff to meet the demand, as many fans of Ardern's feathery earrings hopped online to snag their own pair. The graphic designer said it was great to see Ardern making a statement championing a repurposed piece of art.
Appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on May 24, 2022, Ardern rocked a loosely tailored hot pink Juliette Hogan suit, the blazer open over a printed top also by the Auckland-based designer. She teamed the bold look with a matching bright pink lip and tousled hair. It was a statement, but simple all the same. She also wore an ensemble by Juliette Hogan for a prior appearance on the talk show in 2018: a silk dress called The Botanist Tunic, with a crew neck and leather trim.
