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FASHION

The Effect of Queen Elizabeth’s Death on the Fashion Industry
By: Stella Ringblom

Earlier this month, the world was shocked by the news of Queen Elizabeth’s death. Though her jurisdiction encompassed a single country, the whole world has been affected by her legacy and her death. The queen’s death disturbed not only the state of politics within Britain, but also the state of the fashion industry at large.  

 

Major fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and the Business of Fashion wrote various articles paying tribute to the queen by analyzing her style, and well-known fashion designers shared their condolences throughout social media.

 

 

When thinking of style icons, one may not immediately think of Queen Elizabeth II. However, just like Hailey Bieber has become known for her street style, Queen Elizabeth has become widely known for her classy and sophisticated style. The queen was commonly spotted wearing suits, brimmed hats, patent pumps, top-handle Launer handbags, and decorated pearls dangling around her neck. She often chose a bright color and centered her outfit around it. 

 

For example, she has been spotted in exclusively pink, green, or purple. Her style implied not only wealth but also femininity, creating an ideal image of a British Royal woman. Even though the queen gravitated towards a wealthy appearance, unlike her sister, Princess Margaret, she never opted for the “flashier brands” such as Christian Dior. The way women dress contributes to how they are respected in their place of work; as a woman in power, Queen Elizabeth made sure to wear outfits that forced others in power to respect her. 

 

The way designers like Stella McCartney and Donatella Versace reacted to the news emphasized the impact the queen had on the industry. Versace wrote, “We have lost one of the greatest women in the world. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II showed us how to live our lives. She lived with grace, fortitude, hard work, loyalty and kindness. She was an inspiration to us all. I send my deep and personal condolences to King Charles III and all of the royal family.”   

 

McCartney, a London-based fashion designer, commented, “It is with great sadness that we mourn today the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. On behalf of the Stella McCartney team, I would like to express my sincerest condolences to the royal family.” 

 

Burberry’s new chief executive, Jonathan Akeroyd, also declared that the company is “deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty the Queen. Queen Elizabeth II will forever be remembered with deep admiration, respect, and affection by everyone at Burberry. We join the royal family in mourning her loss.” Burberry has been a chosen supplier of goods to both the queen and her family since the 1950s, which is why the association between beige Burberry trench coats and the royal family is so strong. As the monarchy continues to pay tribute to its queen, the fashion industry across the world continues to do the same. We will undoubtedly carry on remembering the queen for her big hats and color-coded outfits and honoring her by recreating her looks in modified, contemporary ways. 

 

Sources: 

Hikmat Mohammed, Tianwei Zhang, et al. “Fashion Industry Pays Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II during National Mourning in U.K.” WWD, 17 Sept. 2022, https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/fashion-industry-pays-tribute-to-queen-elizabeth-1235315736/?sub_action=logged_in. 

Pike, Naomi. “The Queen Was a Fashion Icon and This Is Her Legacy to the Industry.” ELLE, 12 Sept. 2022, https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/a41116824/queen-fashion-legacy/. 

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