Unique, colorful, considered and inimitable. These are some terms that could be used to describe the fashion style of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on Thursday, September 8, at her Balmoral residence in Scotland.
In seven decades on the throne, the Queen always maintained the very particular style that characterised her, composed of intentionally colorful dresses -- almost never pants -- paired with hats, pearls and her trusty patent leather handbag.
Since her accession to the throne in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II made the skirt suit her go-to outfit for daily outings and engagements, while opting for more sophisticated gowns for her banquets, dinners and various other receptions in the United Kingdom and overseas. Her style varied very little over the decades, right up to her death at the age of 96, and had many specificities, starting with her unwavering loyalty to her trusty and ever-present handbag, not to mention her taste for -- or her choice to wear -- very colorful outfits.
Blue, a color of choice
Did Elizabeth II have a taste for bright colors, or did she choose them for purely strategic reasons? Probably both, according to some members of the British royal family, including Sophie Rhys-Jones, the Countess of Wessex, and the biographer Robert Hardman in his book "Our Queen." Her Majesty chose yellow, pink, mauve, green, orange or purple outfits with matching hats to make herself as visible as possible to her followers. It was a strategy that was always perfectly thought out and applied wherever she went. So green, for example, was banned for engagements taking place amid nature or in a park.
But it is the blue that appeared to be her favorite color, a hue she wore in all its shades over the decades. It is precisely this color of outfit that the Queen chose for her last official portrait by photographer Ranald Mackechnie, unveiled for her Platinum Jubilee. This portrait shows the Queen sitting in a light blue ensemble, paired with a double strand of pearls -- an accessory of which she was also fond. Symbolic of peace, wisdom, calm and confidence, blue has accompanied the Queen throughout her 70-year reign as a regular choice, demonstrating her affection for this color that will forever be associated with the first monarch in British history to have celebrated a Platinum Jubilee.
Always with her handbag
If Queen Elizabeth II's style was frequently watched and studied -- regularly sending bookmakers into a frenzy -- little was ever really known about her personal fancies or preferences. In her book "The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe," Angela Kelly, Her Majesty's assistant and style advisor, reveals some of her secrets, starting with her unwavering loyalty to her legendary handbag, of which there were several hundred versions over the decades.
A model from the London leather goods house Launer, this smooth patent leather bag apparently even underwent some modifications to make it unique in the world, and even more suited to the Queen's outings. Without any shoulder strap, the said model is adorned with handles larger than the original bags to allow Elizabeth II to wear it on her wrist. Upon making an unexpected appearance at the fashion show of the designer Richard Quinn, and taking a seat on the front row next to Anna Wintour, Royal watchers may remember that the Queen delicately removed her bag from her wrist to place it at her feet.
And if you're wondering how the Queen managed to avoid the effects of the elements -- especially the wind -- while out and about, it's simple: weights were slipped into the hems and seams of her clothes and accessories, including her hats, to prevent them from blowing away. Her style was certainly unique, as was the reign of this sovereign, today mourned by many around the world.
ETX Studio
Sat Sep 10 2022
In seven decades on the throne, the Queen always maintained the very particular style that characterised her, composed of intentionally colorful dresses - almost never pants - paired with hats, pearls and her trusty patent leather handbag -ETX Studio
Lelaki tolak isteri jatuh gaung didakwa esok
Suspek kes pukul dan tolak isteri ke dalam gaung di Kilometer 31.2 Jalan Raya Timur Barat (JRTB) Gerik-Jeli dekat Gerik, Julai lalu akan didakwa di mahkamah pada Jumaat.
KDNK suku kedua dijangka lebih baik, hasil positif ekonomi MADANI - Ahli ekonomi
Prestasi paling penting ialah peningkatan perbelanjaan isi rumah, disebabkan oleh keyakinan isi rumah yang semakin baik.
Jenazah Nidza Afham dikebumi di Puncak Alam
Solat jenazah akan diadakan di Masjid Puncak Alam sebelum dikebumikan di Tapak Perkuburan Felda Bukit Cherakah selepas solat Zohor hari ini.
Ibu Menteri Besar Kedah meninggal dunia
Allahyarham Meriam Ahmad menghembuskan nafas terakhir pada usia 74 tahun di Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar.
Skuad bola tampar pantai Pulau Pinang berlatih di Songkhla
Pasukan bola tampar pantai Pulau Pinang di Pantai Samila, Songkhla selama lima hari sebagai persediaan menggalas cabaran membawa pulang pingat pada SUKMA 2024.
Pemandu treler maut, nahas lima kenderaan di PLUS arah utara
Kemalangan melibatkan lima buah kenderaan termasuk tiga buah treler, sebuah lori satu tan dan sebuah MPV Toyota Vellfire.
Niaga AWANI: Jiwa SME: Kuih tradisonal sejuk beku 'diterbangkan' ke Tanah Suci
Inovasi pembuatan makanan sejuk beku, terutama kuih muih tradisional telah berjaya membawa produk itu ke peringkat global, terutama dalam memenuhi citarasa jemaah haji dan umrah rakyat Malaysia di Tanah Suci Mekah dan Madinah.
Global Financial Shifts: What emerging economies need to know
We're looking at recent shifts in the global financial scene. Today, we'll talk about how lower inflation and possible Fed rate cuts could impact investor confidence, global stability, and important sectors like tech and real estate. We'll also see how these changes might affect emerging economies like Malaysia, a key player in global trade. Let's break down these topics to understand what they mean for the future.
MyJPJ rekod lebih RM28 juta transaksi dalam tempoh sebulan
JPJ merekodkan kutipan lebih RM28 juta menerusi aplikasi MyJPJ bulan lepas iaitu sebulan selepas transaksi dalam talian diperkenalkan pada Jun.
Urban Redevelopment Act: A comprehensive solution or a temporary fix?
Datuk Chang Kim Loong, Secretary-General of the National House Buyers Association (HBA), will speak about tackling one of the most pressing urban issues of our time: the Urban Redevelopment Act. Is this legislation the comprehensive solution we’ve been waiting for to eradicate urban slums, or is it merely a temporary fix?
Mohamad Sabu ucap takziah, jangan buat spekulasi tragedi Mejar Mohd Zahir
Menteri Pertahanan, Mohamad Sabu merakam ucapan simpati berhubung pemergian Allahyarham Mejar Mohd Zahir Armaya.
Lip Eng disaran hayati sejarah tulisan Jawi - Mujahid
Ahli Parlimen Kepong, Lim Lip Eng disaran menghayati sejarah serta penggunaan tulisan Jawi di negara ini terutama melibatkan urusan Raja-raja Melayu sendiri.
Dua rakyat Malaysia terima anugerah daripada Ratu Elizabeth
Dua rakyat Malaysia menerima Anugerah Pemimpin Muda Ratu (Queens Young Leaders Awards) daripada Ratu Elizabeth dalam satu majlis khas di Istana Buckingham, London.
Ulang tahun ke-92 Ratu Elizabeth II, Twitter diraja muatnaik foto 'throwback'
Ratu Elizabeth II, raja paling lama memerintah Britain, menyambut ulangtahunnya yang ke-92 pada Sabtu.
Istana kutuk tabloid siar video Ratu Elizabeth tabik Nazi
Istana Buckingham mengutuk akhbar tabloid UK yang menyiarkan video Ratu Elizabeth memberikan tabik gaya Nazi.
Kate hadiri upacara terakhir sebelum bersalin
Isteri Putera William, Catherine pada Sabtu, menghadiri upacara rasmi hari lahir Ratu Elizabeth II yang ke 87, iaitu acara terakhirnya sebelum melahirkan anak.