In the lexicon of dress codes, few wardrobe stipulations strike as much fear into a middle-aged woman's heart as 'occasionwear'.

Whether for a wedding, graduation ceremony or day at the races, by July, most of us have eyed up so many summer dresses with modest hemlines, muted prints and arm-camouflaging sleeves that we'd be happy never to set eyes on this genre of garment again.

But even the smartest wedding is a cinch to dress for compared to the wardrobe dilemma presented by your husband's first day in No.10.

As the wife of Britain's next Prime Minister, your choice of outfit is destined to be scrutinised far more assiduously than that of any mother of the bride.

We don't know much about Andy Burnham's wife, Marie-France van Heel, the 56 year-old Dutch-born marketing executive to whom he's been married for 25 years.

But when it comes to dressing for big occasions, she seems to be just like the rest of us: prone to flinging money at a problem in the hope that it will go away. Which is presumably why she spent £850 on an ice blue dress by Victoria Beckham.

On the hanger, Van Heel's dress, the 'Edith', is the quintessence of what a modern Prime Minister's wife should wear. It's smart but safe, stylish but simple.

Rather than cheesily wearing 'Labour red', she chose a blue shade that flattered her complexion and blonde hair. Most importantly, she picked a brand that flies the flag for British fashion.

Andy Burnham's wife, Marie-France van Heel, wore an £850 ice blue dress by Victoria Beckham on the new PM's first day in office

Rather than cheesily wearing 'Labour red', she chose a blue shade that flattered her complexion and blonde hair

Yesterday, Victoria Starmer left Downing Street in a navy blue shirt dress from Karen Millen, reduced from £159 to £79

Still, it's significant that of all the labels Van Heel could have gone for, she opted for Victoria Beckham, a designer whose multi-millionaire status will surely chafe with the Red Wall.

As will the price tag. Some Labour voters will doubtlessly opine that a dress costing almost £900 is a rum choice when, in your husband's first Downing Street speech, he singled out homelessness as a first priority, promising to 'end rough sleeping'.

Van Heel seems a strong-minded woman and I hope she continues to wear the clothes she likes - as opposed to the clothes she feels she should like.

But she wouldn't be the first PM's wife to have her wardrobe choices sacrificed at the altar of her husband's reputation.

When Victoria Starmer became First Lady in July 2024, she was criticised in some quarters for wearing a £275 red dress by Me+Em.

Two months later, she was pilloried for attending Edeline Lee's show at London Fashion Week wearing a £2,200 polkadot outfit borrowed from the designer rather than bought.

Following on the heels of news that she had been given high end clothes from Labour donor Lord Ali that her husband had failed to declare, the optics didn't look good.

Before you could say 'bargain bucket', Lady Starmer had cut her cloth considerably, swapping mid-market Me+Em for high street favourites.

Yesterday, she left Downing Street in a navy blue shirt dress from Karen Millen, reduced from £159 to £79.