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Clothes that rallied a nation: Queen Elizabeth II’s fashion legacy
Over seven decades, the late Queen taught a masterclass in elegant, purposeful dressing.
One of the many legacies left by Queen Elizabeth II is an illustration of how clothes can rally a nation. Captured in motion by an army of lensmen and women throughout her 70-year reign, Britain’s longest-serving monarch displayed an innate and finely tuned understanding of visual branding.
The value of fashion and image-making had previously been explored with positive results by Elizabeth’s father, King George VI: In a mission to regain public trust after his brother Edward VIII abdicated to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson, he invited couturier Norman Hartnell to peruse the Buckingham Palace art collection for inspiration. While the sophisticated Simpson wore the latest fashions, the King commissioned gowns for his wife and daughters that underlined the traditions — and, consequently, the stability — of the Victorian era.
King George VI, Queen Elizabeth (better known as the Queen Mother) and then-Princess Elizabeth, circa late 1930s. Credit: UIG via Getty Images
Following the death of her father in 1952 , Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne brought with it the immediate need to calm her people once again. The spectacle of Elizabeth, a glamorous and charismatic royal, would now be fortified with gravity and authority to assure politicians, international heads of state and subjects of her intended long-game.
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Here, in a beautiful hat, the late Queen arrives at St Paul’s Cathedral in London for a service of thanksgiving held in honor of her 80th birthday on June 15, 2006. Credit:
Tim Graham/Getty ImagesIn a masterstroke of political know-how, and with the world’s press upon her, Elizabeth curated the greatest red-carpet moment of all. “Glorious” was reputedly her own word for the gown that captivated and delighted her subjects.
Such is the power of a garment or an outfit that this monarch learned quickly to avoid the novelty of fashion, exchanging the gimmickry of short-lived trends and loud statement silhouettes for a deliberate announcement at each appearance. Thus, Elizabeth never missed an opportunity to deliver a message of reliability, stability and steadfastness to her audience.
Queen Elizabeth II arriving at the Austrian Embassy in London bedecked in jewels. Credit: Reginald Davis/REX/Shutterstock/REX/Shutterstock
Of course, there were fashion top notes for daywear, but brought in as flourishes. Looking at archival photos from her reign, we see an effortless deployment of the decades’ trends, such as the nipped-in waists of the ’50s; the shorter skirt lengths, sleeveless dresses and pillbox hats of the ’60s; and the turbans and bold prints of the ’70s. And who could forget the Queen power-dressing in high-octane colors for the ’80s?
Later in life, Elizabeth established herself as master of the frock coat, dress and matching hat in colors as bold as purple, orange, red and fuchsia. Warmth and approachability — as well as the need to be easily spotted in a crowd at her diminutive height — meant the color beige rarely made the grade.
The Queen speaks with the Emir Of Bahrain in 1979. Credit: Tim Graham/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II with a group of children during her state visit to Mexico in 1975. Credit: Serge Lemoine/Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth ll arrives at Aberdeen Airport with her corgis ahead of a vacation in Balmoral, Scotland in 1974. Credit: Anwar Hussein/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
White gloves, always by Cornelia James, sometimes changed several times a day, and hats anchored with tonally matched hatpins were coordinated with a much-favored Rayne or Anello & Davide mid-heel shoe (broken in by staff, and regularly repaired). All would be finished with a modest-sized, oft-worn leather bag from Launer.
Queen Elizabeth II visiting the 5th Airbourne Brigade Regiment in 1970. Credit: Tim Graham/Getty Images
To know that denim was not a fabric to be entertained by the Queen is to know this was a woman who seemingly never took a day off from a continuous non-verbal conversation with her subjects: A chat for those in need of reassurance, a statement for those who sought her authority and a declaration for all who wished to connect on some human level with the woman who wore the crown.
This purposeful broadcast of the benefits of a reign born of subtle progress, not dramatic change to shock or destabilize, can be seen as a virtuoso performance in public appearance — and one this monarch no doubt took pains to pass on to younger members of her clan.
Top image: Queen Elizabeth and Anna Wintour on the front row of Richard Quinn’s fashion show during London Fashion Week in 2018.