There are so many things about Queen Elizabeth that are unforgettable. The Queen has an eloquence about her speech. Her smile can warm even the coldest heart. Yet there's one thing about Britain's longest-reigning monarch that truly stands out above the rest: her colorful wardrobe.
Her Majesty is known for wearing iconic monochromatic outfits in all kinds of colors. The only items that don't match her colorful wardrobe are her shoes, gloves, and handbags. Her shoes are block heels that are usually black, white, or neutral. Her handbags follow the same palette. When wearing gloves, the Queen opts for black or white.
Despite her distinct style, the Queen is able to pull off wearing the same look more than once. After growing up during World War II, Elizabeth has kept her sense of minimizing, especially where her colorful wardrobe is concerned. Even when repeating outfits, Queen Elizabeth's looks are truly unforgettable.
Queen Elizabeth is a low-key fashion icon. The Queen's wardrobe may not necessarily start trends, but she's never too far from them either. She's the original monochromatic fashion influencer, with her unmistakable bright, single-colored outfits that even include matching umbrellas.
Sali Hughes, a UK-based journalist, dedicated a book to the phenomenon that is the Queen's wardrobe, Our Rainbow Queen: A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and Her Colorful Wardrobe. In conversation with Good Morning America, Sali revealed the reason why Her Majesty revolves her choices around bold, single colors.
"The Queen tends to always wear one color because she feels that if people are queuing for many hours just to see her, the courtesy she should show them is [to] make it so they can see her," she explained. "Those in the audience will be able to pick her out and say they saw the queen."
There's more to the Queen's choice in colors than standing out, however. She also considers what's diplomatically and culturally appropriate to the event she's attending.
"So much thought goes into it and nothing is an accident," Sali notes. "If anyone thinks they’re overthinking the queen's fashion, they’re not, because they would never be able to think about more than the queen and Angela Kelly."
Angela Kelly is the Queen's personal assistant and senior dresser. She recently wrote The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, The Dresser and the Wardrobe. Angela sees to it that every detail is to Her Majesty's liking. That means analyzing outfits for all possible issues, including wardrobe malfunctions. The Queen's hems are weighted and always below the knee to avoid any such issue.
One thing many people recognize is missing from the Queen's wardrobe is pants. She often opts for dresses and long skirts. Once in a while, she has been photographed wearing pants when she is horseback riding. Aside from that, there were very few occasions where she's been seen in them.
While Angela may have pull where the Queen's wardrobe is concerned, there's no wiggle room where her makeup is concerned. Queen Elizabeth does her makeup on her own almost every day of the year. The only exception is her Christmas address, when she allows a professional to do it.
The Queen is also loyal to a couple of brands. She only wears silk Hermès scarves. She's obsessed with Launer bags, particularly the Royale and Traviata. The bags by the British brand cost upward of $1,000.
That doesn't mean Elizabeth likes to spend a lot on her wardrobe. The Queen isn't opposed to repeating outfits. Every detail of every outfit she wears is documented to keep from repeating at the same annual event in different years, for example. Any outfit repeat has been carefully spaced out and is OK with the Queen. Sometimes, accessories will be switched to freshen up a look.
Queen Elizabeth entertained one other person's opinion on her wardrobe. Prince Philip was known to share his thoughts. Angela Kelly described one such occasion in her book.
"So, I waited for the Queen to come into the dressing room, took a deep breath, and said, 'Your Majesty, I don't think you should wear this hat. It is not the right design for you and it won't suit you.' A long silence followed before she eventually looked up and said, 'Well, it is a bit late now. What else can I wear? I must wear it,'" Angela recalled of a 1998 trip to Malaysia.
"Although I admired her pragmatic approach, I was insistent. I told her I had been examining the hat from all angles and that it would be better worn back to front."
When the Queen disagreed, Angela urged her to ask Philip, who was known for being brutally honest. "Before long, Her Majesty called me back," she wrote.
"She had consulted His Royal Highness and, after an amusing conversation, in which I imagine The Duke didn't hold back, The Queen had decided to wear the hat the wrong way around, as I had suggested."
As fashion journalist Elizabeth Holmes notes, the Queen is generally pretty confident in how she dresses. "She knows what works for her," she told GMA.
"There is something so refreshing in her color choices, especially as so much of fashion has veered towards neutral shades. The queen’s style is very much her own, and she wears it well."
The rest of the royal family adheres to the Queen's fashion decisions. "Whatever the queen is going to wear, everyone works around that, not because she rules with an iron fist but because the monarch has final say," Elizabeth explained.
"She wouldn’t approve their outfits but they would know what the queen will wear."
Even her casual style is classic and iconic. The Queen has been photographed wearing adorable cardigan sweaters that never go out of style. She often pairs them with long, knit skirts that look comfy but chic.
The Queen has proven that as times change and styles evolve, she continues to carve her own path. Whether her style is perfectly on trend or out of sync with what's popular, you can't deny it is uniquely Elizabeth. It's hard to keep making fashion headlines when you've been a public figure your entire life, but the Queen makes it look effortless.
