Bright and Bold: Colors That Defined Queen Elizabeth II’s Wardrobe
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II developed a unique style that was all her own. Her wardrobe, filled with iconic outfits from over 70 years, became easily recognizable. In her later years, she often wore bright, bold colors, creating a lasting image of a modern queen who loved to stand out in vibrant shades.
In the documentary 'The Queen at 90', Sophie, Countess of Wessex explained her mother-in-law's penchant for rainbow shades. "She needs to stand out for people to be able to say 'I saw the Queen,'" she said."Don't forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, ten, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the Queen's hat as she went past."
Queen Elizabeth II.
Other sources explain why Queen Elizabeth's color choices matter so much. Caroline de Guitaut, the curator at the Royal Collection Trust, told the 'New York Times' in 2016, “The queen has always been aware that she needs to stand out from the crowd, and it is for this reason that millinery has always played an important role in her wardrobe.”
Queen Elizabeth II had a unique style. She loved wearing hats, always carried top-handle handbags that matched her practical shoes, and often wore gloves to events. But what stood out the most was her love for wearing bright, bold colors.
In recent years, the queen's colorful wardrobe has received praise from fashion critics. During her diamond jubilee year in 2012, British Vogue analyzed her outfits and discovered that blue was her most frequently worn color, making up 24% of her public appearances. In contrast, beige was the least worn color, representing only 1% of her 2012 wardrobe.
Designers like Norman Hartnell, Hardy Amies, Stewart Parvin, and Angela Kelly have helped shape her style, avoiding trends that come and go quickly. Angela Kelly explains in her 2019 memoir, 'The Other Side of the Coin', "Our role as her dressers is to ensure that Her Majesty is appropriately attired for each occasion."
Aside from her apparent dislike for beige, Queen Elizabeth II did not wear black for everyday occasions, reserving it strictly as a color for mourning. The queen reportedly never traveled without a black dress, ensuring she was prepared for any tragic emergencies that might occur while she was away from her wardrobe.
As per 'T&C', Robert Hardman, the Queen's biographer, once quoted her as saying, "I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am."
Neon colors weren't typical for Queen Elizabeth II, but she occasionally wore vibrant shades for special events.
The queen has been quoted as saying "I need to be seen to be believed" and her bold and bright color choices help her to achieve this goal.
