New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made the suit his signature attire, wearing it to football matches, swimming pools, and even the beach. His unwavering commitment to formalwear, often purchased from Suit Supply and paired with black boots, sets him apart from predecessors like Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams, who favored shorts or polo shirts.
A Suit for Every Occasion
In June 2025, Mamdani wore a navy suit and striped tie at a beach press event with children. Earlier, he cheered the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in a dark suit and tie, later adding the team's jersey over his shirt but under his jacket. On New Year's Day 2025, he participated in the Polar Bear Club plunge—swimming in the frigid Atlantic—fully suited, quipping in a TikTok video, "I'm freezing … your rent as the next mayor of New York City." Last month, he leaped into a Harlem pool in his suit to announce the opening of city pools, breaking rules requiring swimwear, according to the New York Post.
Why the Suit?
Fashion commentator Ella Devi, a fellow Democratic Socialists of America member, told the Guardian: "I think Mamdani wants to double down on appearing as a working mayor, as someone who is always on the job and on the clock. … It's also that he's a young, Muslim, socialist." Mamdani faces heightened scrutiny from rightwing media, and leftwing streamer Hasan Piker noted that dressing smartly makes conservatives "more receptive to what I have to say."
In a CNN interview, Mamdani addressed his pool plunge: "I think I misunderstood the term swimsuit. … I got that suit for 30 bucks from Goodwill, because you can't go ruining the other suits that you have. But I'm clearly learning that there might be a different way to dress when it's 100-degree weather."
Leftist Fashion Evolution
Nathan Robinson, editor of Current Affairs, wrote: "If there's a visual language that connotes credibility and authority, why not take advantage of it? … Mamdani understands that socialists face a challenge: we're considered fringe. The suits are a subtle way of asserting the legitimacy and authority of socialist ideas."
Mamdani's suit-wearing extends to football. In July, he did keep-ups in a black suit and gray tie, and played a match with a football shirt over his suit (jacket off). A former teammate, speaking anonymously, said Mamdani always arrived in suit pants and boots, changing on the pitch. Asked if a suit is appropriate for football, the source listed drawbacks: "Limited stretch, restricted motion, sweat, dry-cleaning costs, grass stains, and excessive wear."
Trapped in the Suit
Devi believes Mamdani is now trapped: "He has to stick with the bit. If he wears jeans, the New York Post will write about that for three weeks." With New York hitting 38°C (100°F), she suggested Thom Browne's suit shorts—but noted they retail at about $1,300, potentially clashing with his socialist image. For now, Mamdani remains in the suit.
