New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani: Always in a Suit, No Matter the Occasion

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has earned a reputation as a politician who rarely removes his suit. Whether he is playing football, swimming in the ocean, or dancing with Alicia Keys and the entire New York Knicks roster, Mamdani is consistently seen in formal attire—typically a dark suit from Suit Supply, paired with a tie and black boots.

His dedication to the suit has led to unusual moments. On New Year's Day 2025, while still a mayoral candidate, Mamdani wore a suit to participate in the Polar Bear Plunge, swimming in the frigid Atlantic Ocean. In June, he attended a beach event with children in a navy suit and striped tie. Last month, he jumped fully suited into a Harlem swimming pool to announce the opening of city pools, even though the New York Post noted he broke rules requiring swimsuits.

Experts say Mamdani uses his wardrobe to project an image of a hardworking mayor. Fashion commentator Ella Devi, a fellow Democratic Socialists of America member, suggests he wants to appear always on the job. Devi also points out that as a young Muslim socialist, Mamdani may feel extra pressure to dress formally to gain credibility with conservative audiences.

Leftist politicians are not typically known for formal wear—Senator John Fetterman often wears shorts, and former Mayor Bill de Blasio was mocked for cargo shorts. But Mamdani seems to be taking the opposite approach. Nathan Robinson, editor of Current Affairs, wrote that socialists are often seen as fringe figures, and wearing a suit is a way to assert legitimacy and authority.

Mamdani himself admitted he "misunderstood the term swimsuit" and that the suit he used for the pool dive cost only $30 from Goodwill to avoid ruining his other suits. Although he acknowledges that dressing differently in 100-degree weather might be wise, Devi believes the mayor is now trapped in his own image—if he ever wore jeans, the tabloids would write about it for weeks.

For now, Mamdani remains stuck in his suit, though fashion advice includes Thom Browne suit shorts for heatwaves, priced at around $1,300—a sum that might raise eyebrows given his socialist credentials.