British Prime Minister Tony Blair seen here on 17 October 2006.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair strutted¹ into the fashion world on Tuesday -- then revealed that his attempts to cut a dash in the beachwear range proved a disaster.

Blair, normally a man for a sober suit-and-tie combination, lifted the lid on his fashion hell as he attended the opening of the Fashion Retail² Academy's new home in London.

"I have to say that when I told my wife and 18-year-old daughter about coming to the opening of this fashion academy, they fell about laughing," he said.

"I am not known for my fashion sense. When I wore a particular brand of swimming trunks one year, the sales then collapsed³."

Blair's style notions were put to the test when he was asked to choose a pair of women's shoes to match grey shorts and a woolly jumper.

"I'm absolutely the worst with this", he said before reluctantly plumping for a shiny grey pair.

Taking colour co-ordination tips on board, he pointed⁴ to his own black suit and red tie and said: "I haven't learned it before but I will do my best to learn it in the future."

Sir Philip Green, owner of the Arcadia group which includes British high street giants such as Topshop, reckoned Blair had some talent for a novice⁵ and offered him a job once he quits office next year.

"You could have missed your vocation⁶ in life. If you are looking for something new to do afterwards we could help," Green said to Blair.

The prime minister replied: "You would have to start me right at the bottom."