Love or loathe the monarchy, there’s no denying Queen Elizabeth was universally loved, if not admired.
A large part of that was the image she presented to the world. No matter what the occasion, she was calm, unflappable and conducted herself with dignity.
And a big part of that image was her fashion style. Once upon a time, she was regarded as hopelessly old-fashioned, with frumpy coats, ‘sensible’ choices that aged her and a carousel of routine looks.
But do we want a queen showing skin or being a slave to the latest trends? Try to imagine Her Maj rocking a miniskirt back in the 1960s. I don’t know about you, but my mind won’t even go there.
However, somewhere along the line in the past few decades of her life QEII became a fashion icon. Here’s how.
Be colourful
The Queen’s outfits for public appearances or when greeting crowds were usually bright or monochrome colour schemes. This was designed to make her stand out. Think about it, how many octogenarians do you know who like to hit the town in head-to-toe aquamarine? Not enough in my opinion.
This effect was particularly striking in a room full of men wearing suits, but the visibility must have been a security nightmare for her personal guard. What a sniper’s delight.
The hat has it
The Queen must have been one of the last women in the world who regularly wore hats. Hard choice when your other option for head covering is a crown.
However, she didn’t just cram whatever was the latest fashion on her head. They were all designed to have smaller brims that were often upturned, all the better for the crowds to see her face. The few exceptions were hats for official mourning and some military events.
A shoe in
Sensible is the best descriptor for the Queen’s shoes, and fair enough. It would have been tough standing all day in high heels paying heed to attending dignitaries.
And when she was on a good thing, she stuck to it. She wore the same style of ‘work’ shoe for public appearances for 50 years. That’s not a typo, that’s five decades of the same style. Now that’s dedication.
If you are wondering, they were an open court shoe made of calf leather with a two-and-a-quarter inch heel. The standard was black or patent, but she had many matching colourways.
Her dresser wore them in for her before they made a public debut.
“As has been reported a lot in the press, a flunky wears in Her Majesty’s shoes to ensure that they are comfortable and that she is always good to go,” Angela Kelly wrote in The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen. “And yes, I am that flunky.”
Bags of style
Much like her shoes, the Queen was a creature of habit when it came to her handbags. They were almost always from UK luxury brand Launer London.
There are very few photos in existence of her without a handbag. Even in her last official picture, meeting the ill-fated Liz Truss, she had one tucked on her arm.
“She once told me that she doesn’t feel dressed without a bag,” Launer’s CEO, Gerald Bodmer, told Vogue. “And I completely agree, of course.”
And if you think you might fancy a bag just like the Queen, start saving. Prices on the Launer website start at almost $4500. If you feel like economising, clutches start at $3000.
And as for what was in there, it’s been rumoured that it was just standard stuff such as lipstick, handkerchief, a pen and reading glasses. What she didn’t carry was money, unless it was Sunday when she took a few pounds to add to the collection plate at church.
What was your favourite thing about the Queen? Why not share your opinion in the comments section below?
Also read: A personal reflection on the life of Queen Elizabeth
