10 interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth’s wardrobe (2024)

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10 interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth’s wardrobe? ›

Elizabeth's dress evolved throughout her reign, from the fairly restrained graceful lines fashionable in her youth, to the narrow-waisted, puffy-sleeved, large-ruffed, full-skirted styles worn in her later years.

Elizabeth's dress evolved throughout her reign, from the fairly restrained graceful lines fashionable in her youth, to the narrow-waisted, puffy-sleeved, large-ruffed, full-skirted styles worn in her later years.

The sheer expense of Elizabeth's wardrobe meant that little has survived. Gowns and accessories were recycled, reused, given away as gifts and sometimes used as payment to those in her service.

According to Brian Hoey, author of Not In Front of the Corgis, the queen regularly gave her old clothes to her dressers. From there, they could either keep the pieces, wear them, or sell them. Hoey notes that if pieces were sold, buyers couldn't know that the clothes came from Her Majesty.

Throughout her reign, the queen could be seen reusing and re-wearing important dresses, though perhaps not as extensively as her granddaughter-in-law. Royal fans have pointed out a number of these instances on social media in the days since Kate's recent BAFTA appearance.

Queen Elizabeth II, who died Sept. 8 at 96, was in the public eye her entire life and wanted to make sure her subjects saw her — literally. That's partly why she long wore festive, bright colors for her public appearances, according to royal expert Daisy McAndrew.

At her death, over 2000 gowns were recorded in Elizabeth's wardrobe.

Who Is Angela Kelly, Queen Elizabeth's Personal Wardrobe Advisor? Kelly is responsible for maintaining, curating, and designing the Queen's wardrobe.

As he told Yahoo's Royal Box, "Her dresser will bring down two outfits in the morning, which are sketched with pieces of material clipped to them so that the Queen can remember whether it's silk or cotton or wool." Once she selected an option, it would be brought downstairs for her, meaning she never actually saw her ...

When anyone from the royal family travels, they must take a black ensemble with them in case someone in the family dies. With protocol such a big part of being a royal, having the correct mourning attire to hand ensures that they can appropriately catch the mood of the nation.

Why did Queen Elizabeth wear her hair like that? ›

Making herself instantly recognisable was also reportedly a factor in the Queen Elizabeth's choice to stick with the same hairstyle. According to some insiders, the monarch is believed to have insisted on her hair being entirely symmetrical, so that whatever side you saw her from, that iconic profile remained the same.

The Queen likes headscarves, and has worn them on informal occasions for most of her adult life. They're good for keeping your hair lightly protected from the wind, when you've just had it done, and don't crush a hairdo the way a hat can.

Because of this, she was free to buy her own clothes, but no doubt has a self-set clothing allowance as well. During her reign, she didn't loan clothing often, but rather commissioned tailors and milliners to make custom pieces for her, as her wardrobe was very specific.

The Woman of the Bedchamber helps the Queen to dress and undress, as well as helping her take a bath. It's a very private and personal role, that has been around for centuries.

Queen Elizabeth II's handbags served as both practical fashion statements and a means of communicating with her servants in secret about when she wanted conversations to finish, according to a number of Royal specialists. The Queen always carried a handbag on her arm to match her extravagant attire or the occasion.

And as to putting one's clothes on, contrary to popular belief the Queen actually dressed alone. The monarch also did her own make-up for most events, with the exception of her annual Christmas speech, for which a make-up artist was employed.

Queen Elizabeth II was spotted in countless colourful outfits and is known for her effervescent combinations throughout her reign.

According to former royal butler, Paul Burrell, the majesty's residence top floor was solely dedicated to storing her clothes. The outfits had to be brought down to her, so she didn't see her wardrobe with the clothes in it.