7 spectacular vintage looks from The Queen's wardrobe which could be worn again now
Now that Princess Beatrice has borrowed one of The Queen’s Sixties Norman Hartnell gowns for her wedding day, does this mean that the royal archives might be open for more special-occasion loans? Of course, Bea’s nuptials were an extraordinary case, and many of Her Majesty’s vintage pieces are delicate and must be preserved for posterity, but equally many have only been worn a handful of times and would still look modern now.
There are dozens of looks to choose from, but scouring Her Majesty’s '50s, '60s and '70s repertoire, these are the designs which would be a style hit now as much as they were the first time…
The jewelled ballgown
The most famous dress worn during The Queen’s State Visit to France in 1957 was the ‘Flowers of the Fields of France’ gown by Norman Hartnell which incorporated bees (as a nod to Napoleon), wild flowers and wheat in a gesture of sartorial diplomacy. That creation is now stored at the V&A, but another evening look from the trip still looks beautifully right-for-now; a silk turquoise gown embellished with dusky pink roses and glass crystals. Oh, to see this again at another state banquet.
The tulle New York gown
If The Queen’s '50s look was mostly synonymous with voluminous confections, then the style she chose for the Commonwealth Ball on the final night of her visit to New York in 1957 was a sophisticated antidote to that aesthetic; her sleek brocade column dress was given swoosh and oomph via an extravagant tulle bustle. It’s a winning look for, say, the Duchess of Cambridge at the BAFTAs.
The velvet ballgown
How luxuriously sumptuous does this velvet concoction, worn during a visit to the Netherlands in 1958, look? Its clean lines and vibrant colour make it a timelessly elegant dress, and it offsets diamonds magnificently. Princess Diana famously wore navy velvet to dance with John Travolta at the White House in 1985, but this star from the past possesses equal power to wow once more.
The ochre day look
You may notice that this ensemble, worn in West Germany in 1965, is not so wildly different to an outfit The Queen might wear today; the jolly hat, the sleek shift and a tailored coat, all in the same hue. Her Majesty is one of the foremost proponents of finding a look which works for you and running with it. This exuberant colour and neat silhouette would look fabulous on the Duchess of Sussex if she ever returns to royal duties.
The fuchsia cocktail frock
Her Majesty gave her pearl necklace and ladylike handbag a subtly offbeat spin by choosing a bright pink shift for her meeting with US President Richard Nixon in 1969. It’s another example of how deftly the Queen’s clothes transcend the decades because this wouldn’t look out of place on the Net-a-Porter ‘new in’ page now.
The exaggerated collar coat
This grass green coat, worn by The Queen for a Sandhurst passing out parade, could be a sample straight from the Gucci catwalk. The exaggerated collar detail is also on-point for now as it’s a trend which dominates in Instagram selfies. On a more regal note, it would be an excellent addition to any tour wardrobe today.
The delicate floral dress
Is this a design from the latest Emilia Wickstead capsule collection or The Queen flying the flag for Liberty florals during a visit to Nigeria in 1956? With this summer’s trend for whimsical, feminine dresses showing no signs of abating, now would be an impeccable time for this pretty frock to stage a comeback - perhaps in Beatrice’s honeymoon pictures?
For more news, analysis and advice from The Telegraph's fashion desk, click here to sign up to get our weekly newsletter, straight to your inbox every Friday. Follow our Instagram @Telegraphfashion
