Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee: 7 iconic fashion moments
For 70 years the Queen has rarely had a fashion misstep, sticking to a failsafe formula that has made her a style icon. See her best looks.
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“Queen Elizabeth of England is the real fashion icon of the century,” fashion designer Carolina Herrera once remarked.
She wasn’t wrong. From the Queen’s signature bright coat dresses and matching hats to her favourite three-strand pearl necklace, her style over the years has remained as steadfast as her devotion to service.
As the Queen celebrates 70 years on the throne with her Platinum Jubilee celebrations taking place in June, take a look at some of her most memorable fashion moments.
Sydney, 1954
Even at the start of her reign the Queen knew the power of a chic and simple outfit.
At a garden party in Sydney in 1954 she wore a white lace dress that would not have looked out of place on 1950s style leaders Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly.
Yet she has never followed trends, instead sticking to her classic working wardrobe style that has served her well.
“The style is something that is very unique to her,” granddaughter Princess Eugenie says.
London, 1961
Over the years the Queen has met other style icons including Kylie Minogue, Madonna and US First Lady Jackie Kennedy.
For a banquet dinner at Buckingham Palace with Jackie Kennedy and US President John F. Kennedy, the Queen donned a full ballgown adorned with one of her signature brooches and white gloves, ensuring she more than held her own in the fashion stakes.
Windsor, 1988
Even when she is off-duty the Queen sticks to a tried and tested dress code.
Her favourite leisure style is country chic – think tweed, sturdy boots and satin scarves.
At the Windsor Horse Show in 1988 she exuded class and practicality with a crisp tweed jacket and riding gloves.
Sydney, 2000
Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend, but the Queen has always had a soft spot for pearls.
During a visit to the Sydney Opera House in 2000 she wore her signature three-strand pearl necklace and a diamond wattle brooch – in a nod to her time on Australian soil.
London, 2011
The Queen often honours the country she is visiting or the guests she is meeting with elements of her outfit.
From green and gold in Australia to vivid red in Canada to match a country’s national colours.
When former US President Barack Obama hosted the Queen for a dinner in London she wore a moss agate brooch the Obamas had gifted to her during their visit.
London, 2018
Proving her fashion credentials are impeccable, the Queen sat front row of a fashion show in London alongside US Vogue heavyweight Anna Wintour.
It was the first time the Queen had attended London Fashion Week – at the stately age of 91.
While she didn’t don sunglasses like Wintour, the Queen ensured her style was on point by wearing one of her go-to pale suits with black gloves and handbag.
Ascot, 2018
Who can blame the Queen for picking yellow as one of her favourite go-to tones?
A joyous and uplifting shade, she regularly wears the tone head-to-toe, including at Ascot in 2018.
It has also become tradition at Royal Ascot to bet on the colour of the Queen’s hat, with her personal Adviser and dressmaker Angela Kelly revealing they now make decoy hats for the annual event to reduce the chance of her chosen outfits being leaked ahead of time.
Get an in-depth look at the Queen’s life and reign — as well as more on her fashion icon status — in the 124-page Platinum Jubilee commemorative keepsake magazine out Saturday, May 28.
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