Who would have thought we’d all be dressing like Queen Elizabeth II in SS26? While the late monarch might not seem like the most obvious runway muse, echoes of her signature looks were undeniably woven throughout the new-season collections – from the skirt-suits at Jonathan Anderson’s Dior debut to Simone Rocha’s tiaras and Demna’s new look at Gucci, where the designer styled a bright-red car coat with a silk headscarf.
At Chanel, a stately pillar-box red look was finished with pearls, while Celine jodhpurs and Givenchy trench-coats evoked her countryside-casual style. And then, of course, there were Prada’s gloves and top-handle bag combinations.
Dior SS26.
Queen Elizabeth in Balmoral in 1952.
Burberry, to coincide with what would have been her 100th birthday, took it a step further by working with the Royal Collection to design four pieces that honour the relationship she held with the British fashion house. The Queen wore Burberry often, awarding it a Royal Warrant in 1955.
Burberry x Royal Collection Trust Check Cashmere Scarf
Burberry x Royal Collection Trust Long Gabardine Car Coat
Perhaps it’s no coincidence that a new exhibition at Buckingham Palace is putting the late royal’s wardrobe choices firmly in the spotlight too. Opening in April, ‘Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life In Style’ will celebrate her fashion legacy, with more than 200 pieces from throughout her lifetime on show. Alongside grandiose gowns such as her coronation dress and never-before-seen off-duty outfits, there will also be contributions from some of Britain’s fashion power players, including Erdem and Christopher Kane. ‘I loved the Queen’s style in every setting, from state occasions to walking at Balmoral, but what I admired most were her neon choices,’ Kane says, pointing to the ‘unapologetic green suit’ that she wore for her 90th birthday. ‘There was the Queen in one of the most debated colours. It quietly put the whole good-taste, bad-taste argument to bed.’
The Queen on the occasion of her 90th birthday in 2016.
Feeling inspired? Replicate Queen Elizabeth II’s love of bold shades, embrace her dignified sartorial reserve with an Hermès silk scarf – and throw on a Simone Rocha tiara for good measure.
Balenciaga Long Leather Gloves
Simone Rocha Crystal-Embellished Headband
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