Queen of style: an overview of the outfits of Elizabeth II. Royal style: wardrobe of Elizabeth II

On April 21, 2016, Queen Elizabeth II of England turned 90 years old. Today, Elizabeth is the longest-reigning Queen of Great Britain and the longest-reigning monarch in history. Elizabeth assumed the British throne in 1952, following the death of her father. Since that time, her life has attracted the close attention of millions of citizens.

Queen Elizabeth demonstrates to the whole world fortitude, love of life, a subtle sense of humor and style. She follows the fashion industry, but does not chase trends, but remains true to her conservative style. Critics have never accused Elizabeth of bad taste: on the contrary, almost every appearance of her was accompanied by rave reviews.

Let's figure out what the secret of the style of the main fashionista of Great Britain is.

Elizabeth was born in London on April 21, 1926, in the family of the younger brother of the heir to the throne, George. The future queen received an excellent education at home with a humanitarian bias. Since childhood, she loved equestrianism and, unlike her younger sister Margaret, had a real royal character. Elizabeth was a serious child, did not allow herself to scatter things. She retained these qualities for the rest of her life: already as Queen Elizabeth, she independently turned off the lights in the palace in the evenings.

When Elizabeth was 10 years old, her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated in order to marry an American divorcee for love. In 1936, Elizabeth's father became king, and she, as the eldest daughter, became the heir to the throne.

As a princess, Elizabeth was not a victim of fashion, although she independently chose the colors and styles of outfits, and participated in the development of silhouettes. Before the coronation, she preferred light colors and flying textures for balls, and on business trips and travels she wore discreet tweed suits. Although Elizabeth's favorite colors are bright, she had to keep her face and only occasionally replaced white satin and gray tweed with pink tulle or light violet silk.

In 1947, when Elizabeth was 21, she married the 26-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, Philip Mountbatten, a member of the Danish and Greek royal families. The wedding dress of the future queen, made of ivory Scottish silk, was included in the list of the most beautiful and famous wedding dresses of the 20th century. It was created by designer and close friend of Elizabeth Norman Hartnell, who has been the royal tailor since 1938.

A source of inspiration for Hartnell were the canvases of Renaissance artists. And although there was a post-war shortage in England at that time, Hartnell ensured that more than 10,000 natural river pearls were delivered to the country to decorate the princess's wedding dress. Embroidery ran all over the bodice and hem, so with any movement of Elizabeth, the dress began to sparkle and shimmer.

Rich décor Hartnell combined with a modest A-line cut: discreet neckline, long sleeves, crinoline. It was a classic and very modern dress. Until now, it travels to world museums as one of the best examples of wedding fashion.

In February 1952, after the sudden death of her father, King George VI, Elizabeth II becomes Queen of Great Britain. At that time she was only 26 years old. The coronation took place on June 2 of the same year. The dress for the ceremony was again sewn by designer Norman Hartnell, in whose stylish outfits Elizabeth has already appeared in public many times.

The coronation outfit was another Hartnell masterpiece. He created a puffy dress from heavy satin with a crinoline. The decor of the dress was even richer than on the wedding dress. The designer decorated the bodice and the entire hem of the dress with emerald embroidery. He completed the set with long white gloves and a diamond tiara. The ceremony was televised all over the world.

Immediately after the coronation, Elizabeth and her husband Philip went on a 6-month journey through the countries of the Commonwealth of the British Nation. They visited more than 20 states. During the journey, the Queen showed off 100 suits made by the same Hartnell. Even then, the main features of her unique style stood out: elongated jackets and coats, color monochrome, elegant matching hats and black low-heeled shoes.

The style of Elizabeth II is divided into two periods: the style of a young and mature queen. In the 50s, Elizabeth wore elegant suits and evening dresses (dresses with tight bodices and wide skirts, small hats and handbags). During this period, the queen's wardrobe included satin, tulle, fine white wool, all kinds of embroidery, brooches and tiaras.

In the mid-50s and all of the 60s, Elizabeth's outfits were made by designer Hardy Amis. It was he who gave the queen's style special features: simplicity, behind which, however, there was a complex cut, elegance and restraint. He began to sew unique dresses, coats and jackets for the young queen.

In the early 60s, Elizabeth already had three children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew. He began to visit fewer official receptions, and silhouettes with a tightened waist gave way to a straight cut: sheath dresses, square coats, jackets with short sleeves.

In the 70s, when the bohemian and hippie style captured the world, another designer began to sew outfits for Elizabeth II - Ian Thomas, Hartnell's successor. He was sensitive to changes in the fashion world and caught the trend towards a softer, more natural style. Thanks to him, flying chiffon dresses, pleated skirts, silk trousers and dresses with flared sleeves appeared in the Queen's wardrobe. During this period, the queen showed her love for bright colors and chose coral, yellow and green sets for receptions.

When Elizabeth II became a grandmother, her style changed. More bright colors and unusual accessories appeared in her wardrobe. AT
In the 1980s, the queen was nicknamed the "grandmother of the nation". In this decade, she still wore pantsuits and wasn't afraid to look un-royal (with glasses, no makeup). An important place in the Queen's wardrobe was occupied by elaborate hats with flowers and plain tweed sets.

In the 90s, the queen began to appear more often in public in simple outfits, and sometimes her hat was replaced by a scarf, tied like the heroines of Russian folk tales. This image fell in love with the people, although the favorite at that time was Princess Diana.

In the 2000s, the canonical style of the Queen was formed, which she still prefers. This is the image of an elegant and eccentric lady. Designers Stuart Parvin and Angella Kelly helped to boldly modify the style of Elizabeth. Color remained the main fashionable tool in Elizabeth's wardrobe. The queen's outfits have become even brighter: turquoise, crimson, red, yellow, and purple. Over the past decade, observers have not noticed a single gray or black exit.

The canonical image of Elizabeth was a monochrome set (dress, coat) with a matching hat, an elegant clutch, a veil, short gloves, discreet jewelry and shoes with steady heels. It is surprising that with such conservatism, the 90-year-old queen conquers the public with exceptionally stylish outfits that are copied by other monarchs.

Over the past 20 years, the queen has mastered the combination of shades to perfection, and the color details in her sets perfectly echo each other.

On the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, we consider how she dresses

Perfect fit

The outfits of Elizabeth II are traditionally taken care of by a personal tailor. In the 1940s and 1950s, Norman Hartnell sewed the princess's wardrobe - at that time she appeared in public in dresses with puffy skirts made of duchess satin or silk. The design of her ivory wedding dress with silver threads, as well as the design of the coronation dress, is also by Hartnell. For the next decade, Hardy Amis sews for the Queen. It was he who brought a sense of lightness to the queen's outfits - they appeared a lot of lace, flowing fabrics and complex cuts.

Since the 1970s Ian Thomas, Maureen Rose, John Anderson, Carl Ludwig Rese and Stuart Parvin have been sewing for the Queen. In 2002, Angela Kelly, Her Majesty's current dressmaker, became the latter's assistant.

For each dress, Angela creates four sketches, of which Elizabeth approves one. Then a team of 12 people begins to work on the future costume. Designers pay special attention to details: when choosing fabrics and finishes, they take into account, for example, whether the queen will sit in this dress for a long time, with whom she will communicate, in what conditions, etc.

The perfect outfit for a queen is a sheath dress just below the knee with a jacket, three-quarter sleeves and no deep cuts.

Color

Royal clothes, of course, differ from ordinary ones, primarily in color. For example, in black, the British monarch can only appear during mourning. This tradition began during World War II, when the Queen Mother chose colored outfits to add joy and optimism to the British.

When choosing a color for a dress, the Queen's dresser takes into account how it suits Elizabeth II herself, how much it makes her visible and in harmony with the event at which Her Majesty will appear. Most often for special occasions, she chooses red, white and gold.

In addition, the Queen's personal cloakroom attendants maintain a detailed catalog of the looks used. Repetitions in colors and materials in the outfits of Elizabeth II are avoided for several months.

Shoes

According to the protocol, shoes should be inconspicuous, classic with a closed toe. There are no high heels in the Queen's wardrobe - only Kate Middleton sometimes allows herself such liberties. Elizabeth II, meanwhile, prefers classic pumps with thick heels five centimeters high or brogues without heels.

Gloves, bags and umbrellas

According to the rules of etiquette during the day, short silk, cloth or kid gloves can be worn with a coat or jacket. Gloves made of more refined fabrics are suitable for an evening dress, and the shorter the sleeve of the dress, the longer the gloves, and vice versa. The bag should be small so as not to take up both hands - Elizabeth prefers Launer's Diva or Traviata bags. Since 1968, the company has provided the Queen with four new handbags each year, made especially for her. And Her Majesty's umbrellas are always transparent, so that subjects can see the Queen's face, even when she is hiding from the rain.

Hats

If the Queen of Britain shows a certain courage in choosing the color and style of costumes, then with regard to headdresses she is much more conservative: her hats certainly have not too wide brim, crowns of medium height and moderate decor.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary ascended the throne in 1952. She was 25 years old. For the seventh decade, she remains one of the most famous people in the world - millions of people follow her every step. Her royally impeccable wardrobe is a whole institution, over which a huge team is working. We have identified its key points.

COUTURIER QUEEN

NORMAN HARTNELL

British designer Norman Hartnell became the official tailor of the royal family in 1938, that is, even under King George VI, the father of Elizabeth, and worked in this honorary position until the early fifties. He sewed a wedding dress for the wedding of Elizabeth and Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, and later, in 1953, he designed the famous dress for the coronation of Elizabeth - from cream silk, with complex embroidery, the motifs of which referred to the coats of arms of the counties of Great Britain.

Hartnell was a fan of femininity in its classical sense and actively used crinolines in his works - there is a version that, among other things, under his influence, a new look of Christian Dior appeared in Paris. In addition to the wardrobe of the royal court, the designer was engaged in his own clothing line, which was sold in department stores from the beginning of the forties.

HARDY AMIS

Hardy Amis did not immediately decide to become a designer, but after the war he returned to London and still opened his own fashion house. In 1950, he received his first order from Elizabeth, then a princess, who needed a wardrobe for an official visit to Canada. She liked the images proposed by Amis, they continued to cooperate, and already in 1952 the designer became the first official costume designer for Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain. It was on the shoulders of Amis that the formation of the image of the young Elizabeth in the eyes of the newfound subjects fell.

The designer skillfully balanced between fashion trends (and the images of the queen were always created with trends in mind) and the requirements of etiquette. In 1989, Hardy Amis was knighted, for another year he supervised the fittings at Buckingham Palace, and then retired and started producing men's suits to order.

Jan Thomas & Maureen Rose

Ian Thomas was an assistant to Hardy Amis, and then opened his own fashion house and, in parallel with his former boss, dressed the queen. His calling card was light chiffon dresses, which Elizabeth liked so much that the house continued to supply them to her after Thomas' death until the late 1980s, when Maureen Rose took over the brand.

JOHN ANDERSON

John Anderson succeeded Hardy Amis as the Queen's official tailor. His outfits were not distinguished by boldness, innovative forms or catchy cut, however, it was from his suggestion that multi-colored two-piece suits began to appear especially often in the wardrobe of Elizabeth II, which over the years turned into her favorite style of clothing.

CARL LUDWIG RESE

Rése was Anderson's business partner and accepted the post of tailor to the Queen after his death. Strictly speaking, he had been in Her Majesty's wardrobe for more than ten years, because he and John shared all the work. Carl Ludwig continued the aesthetic vector chosen by the partner without any innovation. It is noteworthy that, unlike all past and future fashion designers of Elizabeth II, Rese was not a British, but a German.

STUART PARVIN

Stewart is Her Majesty's youngest tailor in history, taking office when he was only 33 years old. A graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art, Parvin began helping with dresses for the royal family in 1995, but in 2000, Angela Kelly, then the personal assistant to Elizabeth II, came into his shop.

She looked at things from the inside out, then asked for a few sketches, and then she already told who Parvin's client would be. He needed to rethink the queen's wardrobe, which at the turn of the century was constantly criticized - but within the limits of what was permitted. The very first exit of Elizabeth II in a shimmering evening dress was a huge success, and since then Parvin has been responsible for all her images. Since 2002, Kelly has become his right hand.

ANGELA KELLY

Kelly is not just a dressmaker and Parvin's right hand. She is the thunderstorm of Buckingham Palace, the shadow of Her Majesty and an absolutely indispensable employee. In 1992, she took a job as a housekeeper for Sir Christopher Mallaby, the British ambassador to Germany. During the official visit of Elizabeth II to the ambassador's residence, she and Kelly met, and she said that she plans to return to the UK. Already in 1993, she received an offer to join the team of people who are responsible for the Queen's wardrobe (now it is 12 people).

Kelly quickly became a confidant of Elizabeth II, found Stuart Parvin to replace Carl Ludwig Rese, and in 2002 became the Queen's new tailor's chief assistant. It was Kelly who came up with the yellow crepe suit that Her Majesty wore to the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William. For the 60th anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II - the diamond jubilee - in 2012, Kelly wrote the book Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe.

ACCESSORIES

GLOVES

Short silk, kid or cotton - during the day, long satin - in the evening (the shorter the sleeve of the dress, the longer the gloves).

UMBRELLA

The queen wears only transparent umbrellas so that her subjects can see her face, even when she is hiding from the rain. The edging is selected according to the color of the outfit.)

kerchief

They say that the Balenciaga and Céline teams were inspired by the images of Elizabeth II, under the impression of which they included scarves in their latest collections.

HAT

Not too wide brim (so as not to be blown away by the wind), crowns of medium height (so as not to interfere with getting out of the car) and moderate decor. The Somerville brand is responsible for them - they say the collection of royal hats consists of 5000 pieces.

SHOES

With a low, stable heel or without it at all, so that it is comfortable to walk and stand for a long time at ceremonies. The Queen loves Rayne, Anello & Davide and Stuart Weitzman.

BAG

Each year, the Launer brand supplies Elizabeth II with four new bags. The Queen loves the Diva and Traviata models.

DECORATIONS

The queen often complements the indispensable pearl earrings and necklaces with precious brooches, which she pins on jackets and coats.

FUR

The Queen's evening dress code for important events and trips to the theater is strictly regulated: high gloves, dresses of complex cut or rich decor, a diadem or crown, and, if the weather requires it, a fur cape. From the first years of her reign to this day, Elizabeth II prefers capes made of white fox or mink fur with a silk lining.

COLOR

MAKEUP

Much of what is connected with the queen is the fruit of myth-making. If rumors are to be believed, Elizabeth II always does her own make-up: Elizabeth Arden eyeshadows and lipstick of the same brand in Balmoral, which was created for her coronation in 1952, and from nail polishes she prefers the classic Essie in soft pink shade Ballet Slippers.

FOUR NO'S TO THE ROYAL WARDROBE

Black color (an exception is the period of mourning).

Skirts above the knee.

Deep neckline.

MAC

A loose raincoat made of rubberized waterproof cotton with a turn-down collar from the Mackintosh brand is one of the symbols of rainy Britain (as are the Hunter boots). The queen also wears a Macintosh throughout her life. Hunters, by the way, too.

HER MAJESTY'S MAIN EXITS

CROWN AND TIAR

Of course, dogs are not part of the wardrobe, but they have become the most striking visual symbol associated with Elizabeth II. The queen's favorite corgis take part in her shooting for gloss, and after the release of Vanity Fair in the summer of 2016, for the cover of which the queen posed with four dogs, the Internet was filled with materials “corgis eclipsed Her Majesty.”

The style of Elizabeth II originates in 1947 on - the day she put on her wedding dress, which is still considered one of.

PHOTO: WEDDING DRESS OF ELIZABETH II, 1947

Since the wedding took place two years after the end of World War II, the fabric for the wedding dress of the future Queen Elizabeth was bought with coupons that brides from all over the UK sent her as a gift. The veil was made of plain silk tulle and was held on the head with the tiara of Elizabeth II's mother, Elizabeth I. Despite her fondness for bright, pure colors, Elizabeth I's wedding dress was understandably a subdued cream hue.

PHOTO: WEDDING CEREMONY OF ELIZABETH II, 1947

The real heyday of Elizabeth's style happened after the coronation in 1953 - and this event became one of the most spectacular shows of the post-war period, designed to become the most memorable event in the history of the country and a symbol of hope for a brighter future.

PHOTO: CORONATION DRESS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II

Despite the difficult financial situation that Britain was in after the war, about one and a half million pounds sterling (almost £36 million in today's equivalent) was allocated from the state treasury for the festive decoration of the streets of London, and the coronation outfit was created by the royal family's favorite fashion designer Norman Hartnell who also created Elizabeth's wedding dress.

PHOTO: QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN A CORONATION DRESS

The white satin gown was adorned with hand-embroidered flowers and plants, the national emblems of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries, including the English rose, Scottish thistle, Irish clover, Canadian maple leaf and other symbols. It took Norman Hartnell's atelier six months to sew and completely finish the festive attire, which, for a minute, the queen wore six more times after the coronation ceremony. Apparently, not just like that - the British royal family, it turns out, is accepted.

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BRITISH COURT ETIQUET FORBIDDEN WEARING THE SAME HAT TWICE, SO THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HAS A COLLECTION OF MORE THAN 3 THOUSAND HATS TODAY
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After the official change of the monarch, there was also a change in the court fashion designer: the place of Norman Hartnell was taken by Hardy Amis, who had been creating royal outfits for social events for more than 15 years. It was at this time that Queen Elizabeth prefers dresses in pastel shades. During this period, her outfits emphasize the feminine outlines of the figure. Increasingly, the Queen appears in plaid suits and printed blouses.

PHOTO: QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN HARDY AMIS'S TOILET DURING TOUR TO INDIA, 1961

PHOTO: QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN HARDY AMISS'S TOILET

In the 60s, cooperation with Hardy Amis reached its peak. Silk and chiffon dresses with a brightly defined waist increasingly had a fashionable A-line or bell-shaped skirt at that time, preference was given to lavender, pale yellow and cream shades. In addition, a new detail appeared in Elizabeth's wardrobe - a stole, which placed a soft emphasis on the line of the shoulders.

PHOTO: QUEEN ELIZABETH II IN THE TOILETS OF HARDY AMIS

In the second half of the 60s, the style of the queen changes again. She returns to her favorite bright monochromatic outfits in her youth. In 1965, Elizabeth visited the Isle of Wight in a bright coral suit, and in 1971, in a yellow dress and a perforated hat, she went to the Seychelles. This is how the main distinguishing feature of the style of Queen Elizabeth II was born - images built on the basis of costumes and a combination of plain and monochrome things, the so-called color total look.

PHOTO: QUEEN ELIZABETH, 1989

In the 80s, Elizabeth II again changed the court fashion designer - the famous tailor Karl-Ludwig Rehse became him. It was he who made the two-piece business suit (also a kind of symbol of the 80s with their aggressive feminism, the fashion for broad "male" shoulders, working women and cultural rebellion) an integral part of the image of the queen that we know today.

PHOTO: QUEEN ELIZABETH, 1990

Rehse struck the perfect balance between function and elegance, with most cuts made from mid-weight jersey fabrics that look great in red, yellow, black and blue-grey. Buttons, collars and, of course, hats became the subject of fashionable self-expression.

PHOTO: QUEEN ELIZABETH WITHOUT A HAT, 1999

However, in 1999, the queen, probably for the first time in a long half century of reign, appeared in society without a headdress. At the Royal Variety Performance show, the Queen showed up in a shimmering gold dress, with neatly styled hair.

Touching upon the topic of royal style in the UK, it is customary to mention the wife of Prince William Kate Middleton, or to remember the bright beauty, the Queen's sister, Princess Margaret. But the style of Elizabeth II herself was not always the way we know it now. In her youth, the queen looked no worse than the beauties of the "golden age of Hollywood"! We invite you to evaluate the outfits of young Elizabeth on your own.

Restrained shades

Young Elizabeth never chased trends. While her little sister was simply obsessed with fashion and the desire to attract attention, the future queen preferred the proven classics. Perhaps this was not dictated by personal taste: Elizabeth was preparing for the role of queen, so she strictly adhered to the protocol and tried her best to comply. For balls, the girl chose light flowing fabrics, for official visits - discreet tweed suits.

The favorite shades of the future queen were violet and pale pink, but in her youth she rarely allowed herself to wear colors so bright for a royal person. But now, as we know, Elizabeth has fulfilled her need for bright colors!

wedding dress

The wedding dress of Elizabeth II is a real work of art! Delicate, but incredibly luxurious dress in the spirit of Botticelli has become one of the most beautiful wedding dresses in history. And this is taking into account the fact that the wedding of the future queen came at a rather difficult time for Great Britain: the country, weakened by the war, experienced a shortage, which also affected the royal family.

The wedding dress, in a rare peach shade, was made from Chinese silk by designer Norman Hartnell. The fabric was generously embroidered with pearls, and the four-meter veil was decorated with spring flower buds. The fashion designer kept the design of the dress a secret for a long time, repeating to Elizabeth that it would be his best work.

Formal Dresses

Norman Hartnell was a court tailor for a long time. The best formal dresses of Elizabeth II were created by his hands.

Coronation dress.

The luxurious beige dress for the coronation of the couturier was decorated with symbolic embroidery: the rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the shamrock of Northern Ireland and the Welsh daffodil.

Coronation dress, 1952

Dress for an official visit to the USA.

In 1957, United States President David Eisenhower invited the Queen to visit the White House. For the visit, the court tailor made a pale green gown with a crinoline. An outfit made of lace, silk and chiffon was decorated with many rhinestones, pearls, beads and even diamonds. The Queen wore it with a fur cape.

Elizabeth II style now

The modern wardrobe of the queen is not distinguished by a variety of styles. The woman strictly adheres to the formed personal style: conservative dresses, classic coats, tweed suits, intricate matching hats, white gloves, laconic shoes. The only thing that compensates for the monotony of the cut is the unexpectedly bright shades of things from the royal wardrobe.

Elizabeth II is personally involved in the development of sketches of her outfits. Royal tailors note that the woman is very fastidious, but her remarks are always well-aimed and accurate.