LONDON, April 8, 2026 — A clear plastic raincoat designed for Queen Elizabeth II in the 1960s, created by royal couturier Hardy Amies, offers a fascinating glimpse into how the monarch strategically used fashion to remain visible to the public adn in step with a changing world.
A Reign in technicolor: How the queen Mastered Visibility
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The Queen’s wardrobe wasn’t just about style; it was a carefully considered tool for connecting with the public and reflecting the times.
- The Queen’s clothing choices were designed to ensure she was visible even in large crowds.
- She embraced fashion trends throughout her reign, from Dior’s New Look to 1970s silhouettes.
- Despite trends, her style remained consistently elegant, British, and restrained.
- Hardy Amies, one of her couturiers, also designed costumes for Stanley Kubrick’s “A Space Odyssey.”
The raincoat, currently featured in “Queen Elizabeth II: her Life in Style†at the King’s Gallery, exemplifies this approach. Like the obvious umbrellas that became a signature accessory during public appearances, the plastic raincoat allowed onlookers to see the Queen’s brightly coloured dresses, even in inclement weather. “So even if you’re 10 deep in the crowd, you can see a figure in a luminous yellow coat or whatever it happens to be… You’ve seen the Queen,†explains curator de Guitaut.
what was the Queen’s strategy for ensuring she was seen by crowds? She utilized brightly coloured clothing and transparent accessories like plastic raincoats and umbrellas, allowing her outfits to remain visible even from a distance.
Embracing the Era
The futuristic design of the coat itself—considered “modish†for the 1960s—highlights the Queen’s ability to stay current. While she “didn’t want to be known as a fashion icon,†according to Kwei, de Guitaut notes that trends played a significant role in her younger years.
In the 1940s,the influence of Christian Dior’s “New Look,†with its cinched waists,was apparent in her attire. The 1950s saw references to the voluminous styles of Spanish fashion house Balenciaga. By the 1960s, she was sporting shorter hemlines and tailored suits, fully embracing the era’s vibrant colours. Even in the 1970s, the Queen adopted looser-fitting evening gowns with flowing sleeves and “swirly whirly†patterns.
A Consistently Regal Style
Despite incorporating these trends,the Queen’s style remained consistently “very elegant,quintessentially British and restrained.†De Guitaut emphasizes that she “always made the right choice,†ensuring her outfits were appropriate for every occasion. For a monarch on the world stage for 70 years,that sartorial consistency is,as de Guitaut puts it,“quite extraordinary.â€
“Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in style†is on display at the King’s Gallery from April 10, 2026.
