PARIS/LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) – The death of Queen Elizabeth II has highlighted the relationship between fashion and the British monarchy, with younger members of the royal family, particularly Catherine, Princess of Wales, perhaps taking a more public relations role.
The late queen had the perfect fashion formula – elegant coats, cropped hats and stilettos, her iconic silhouette, and her handbag became a symbol of serenity.
She worked in the Queen’s household for four years and has since become a member of the Royal Lady’s Staff, “Wardrobe Art: How to Wear and Care for Your Clothes”.
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“I think, to some extent, her clothes were a uniform for her.”
While the fashion choices of the new monarch, King Charles III and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, are bound to attract attention, they are both in their seventies, meaning camera lenses will focus more on Charles’ sons, William and Harry – and their wives. .
That relationship with fashion within the royal family can change from formal structures to more relevant – if restrained – styles.
Currently in California with Harry and his wife Meghan, William’s wife Catherine, popularly known as Kate, is set to capture the public’s sartorial gaze by reminiscing about her days as Princess of Wales.
“I think really people are interested in the younger members of the family and what they wear because they relate to us, to what we wear to parties or work,” said fashion critic and historian Susie Menks.
Tricky for Kate
Kate, 40, is known for shopping for stylish fringes. In the year The polka-dot dress she wore after the birth of her first child, Prince George, in 2013 has been sold by Jenny Packham. It was seen as a tribute to Diana as she returned home with her son Prince William, also photographed in polka dots.
Kate’s style is often understated but exudes excitement when she wears it, say fashion experts.
“Every time the future queen wears something a little bit more glamorous, Kate’s not the kind of person to dress like that because people get excited,” Style said, describing it as casual but smart.
“It’s interesting to see how that changes and she steps up and looks a little bit more attractive,” she said.
But doing so may be at odds with King Charles’ message of permanence.
“Charles’ push for sustainability requires a bit of conscious fashion,” says Jennifer Castro, a West Palm, Florida-based digital marketer whose fashion blog RoyalStyleWatch has more than 67,000 Instagram followers.
“Charles is a guy who’s had the same camel dress for 25 years — he’s all about buying quality items that last a long time,” Castro said.
He never missed the mark.
Gerald Bodmer has lost many of the glittering Lanner handbags that Queen Elizabeth II bought from the company during her seven-decade reign, but the classic, hand-stitched accessories have been part of her wardrobe since the 1950s and ’60s.
She estimates she’s ordered about a dozen over the past 40 years, sticking to just a few models like the high-handled Traviata, an abstract trapezoid that retails for around £2,090 ($2,390).
In her last official photo, with Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss, she was carrying a Lanter bag in the early 1980s. According to the account, the website is down.
For many, the accessory will forever be associated with the queen.
“I did not notice any handbags except the one worn by Her Majesty,” said the monk. “Other people must have handbags, but they didn’t enter my soul.”
Elizabeth Holmes, author of ‘HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style’, puts the Queen on top when it comes to striking the right tone.
“Her understanding of the power of dress and armor is incredibly insightful to promote royalty and support her royal duties,” Holmes said.
“There hasn’t been a time when the Queen has missed the mark – dressed inappropriately, her wardrobe somehow failed. And for 70 years to be so consistent? I think we take it for granted.”
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Reporting by Mimosa Spencer and Richa Naidu; Editing by Vanessa O’Connell, Matt Scoffham and Mark Potter
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