The Queen At 90: Most Beloved Fashion Icon Of The Last 100 Years
Queen Elizabeth celebrates 90 years.
Queen Elizabeth II has spent a lifetime in the public eye, been photographed countless times and over the years has probably shaken hands with upwards of 3 million people.
Today the longest reigning British monarch celebrates her 90th birthday and while on the surface she might look like any other grandmother with her signature curls, pearls and boxy jackets, she’s far from it.
Fashion trends have come and gone throughout her historic reign, now in its seventh decade, but she has remained true to her signature style. And after 64 years on the throne, she’s arguably become one of the most culturally significant fashion muses of the past 100 years.
E! News can now unveil her style secrets and reveal how the queen has put together a silhouette that’s almost as recognizable as Big Ben—but quite a bit more tailored.
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- She was the original fan girl: Before she was queen, little princess Lilibet, as her father called her, was a girl who loved fashion so much she would sneak in and out of Buckingham Palace to go on secret shopping trips with her sister. She loved to watch Hollywood movies, Gone with the Wind being her favorite, and as a result would try to copy Scarlett O’Hara’s look with cinched waists and flowing hemlines.
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- She’s in love with polka dots: Amid the bold block colors that she is famous for are the frocks with different patterns on them. From paisley to florals, her talent for mixing clashing colors is clear. And among them are her favorite design of all, spots. It’s estimated 20 percent of her wardrobe is made up of dotty clothes in various shades.
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- She’s knows all the secret stylist tricks: Proportion matters when you are constantly being photographed and so the Queen is rumored to sometimes wear just one shoulder pad at a time. Apparently her left shoulder is slightly higher than the right one and so extra padding helps to balance her out and give her more symmetry. (Talk about being red carpet ready).
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- Clothes help her convey her power: The girl who would be queen wasn’t always meant to be. Once her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry American divorcée Wallace Simpson, Elizabeth’s father ascended instead. When King George VI died of thrombosis, she found herself on the throne when she was only 25.
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- She’s weatherproof: Come rain or shine, aside from carrying the perfect umbrella, the Queen ensures she is never left left red-faced by an unexpected gust of wind. Her longtime dressmaker, Angela Kelly, sews discrete curtain weights in her hemline so it can’t accidentally blow up in the wind (it’s rumored that palace staff test new outfits by using electric fans to mimic breezy weather).
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- Wrinkles are a big no-no: The Queen and her glam squad make sure to pick fabrics that don’t crumple or lose their shape even if she has to sit down halfway through an appearance. That way she is never faced with unsightly creases (and an unflattering photo) as she moves from one appearance to another.
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- She isn’t afraid to recycle: Kate Middleton’s penchant for recycling and repeating outfits isn’t a new trend among the inner royal circle: frugal Liz has been doing it for decades, even collecting clothing coupons to acquire her wedding dress in 1947.
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- Good hair is a must: Her Majesty’s iconic hairstyle is plastered on banknotes and coins throughout the land. She never seems to have a lock out of place. Palace insiders say she uses a mystery gel, which they jokingly call “liquid concrete” to sculpt her waves. Whatever her secret weapon consists of, we may never know, but her hairdresser of almost 20 years is obviously doing a good job—he was awarded a Royal Warrant recently as a thank you.
