Angela Merkel’s style evolution as one of the world’s most powerful women

Not one to experiment with different silhouettes or adventurous outfits, Merkel has always liked to project a very low-key and practical image

As she gets ready to end her 16-year tenure at the top of the German government, we glance back at some her most well-known looks over the years

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German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the Bayreuth Festival 2019 State Reception at Neues Schloss on July 25, 2019 in Bayreuth, Germany. Photo: Getty Images

Published: 6:15pm, 15 Jul 2021Updated: 6:15pm, 15 Jul 2021

Back in 2013, the late Karl Lagerfeld, creative director of Chanel and Fendi and one of fashion’s most recognisable figures, criticised the dress sense of Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel.

When asked by German magazine Focus about Merkel’s personal style, the German-born, Paris-based Lagerfeld said, “Miss Merkel [should dress] according to her special proportions. The proportions were bad, like the cut. The pants were too long.” Lagerfeld was referring to an outfit Merkel wore to greet then US President Barack Obama in Berlin that same year.

Germany’s first female chancellor, 66-year-old Merkel has been at the helm of the country since 2005, which makes her the longest-serving chancellor after Helmut Kohl.

Late last year, Merkel confirmed that she wouldn’t be seeking another term at Germany’s general election in September, ending her 16-year tenure as one of the most powerful leaders in the world.

Merkel’s no-nonsense approach to governing, which has generally been praised both at home and globally, has reflected her practical take on fashion.

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