Britain celebrates late Queen Elizabeth II as style icon with unique fashion exhibition; check details

The late Queen Elizabeth II believed the monarch had to be seen to be believed And she made sure that was true even when Britains famously changeable weather intervened pioneering the use of a clear plastic raincoat so that a stodgy black umbrella didnt obscure her from public viewThat raincoat is one of some 300 garments and other fashion artifacts that go on display Friday at the Kings Gallery at Buckingham Palace in an exhibit that celebrates the late queens life and reign as Britain prepares to mark the centenary of her birthThe most comprehensive exhibition of her style choices ever mounted the show charts Elizabeths story and her impact on British fashionI think she had a definite sense of what suited her exhibition curator Caroline de Guitaut said She absolutely knew how she wanted to appearAn Olympian momentSome of the items are easily recognisable since Elizabeth was one of the most photographed people ever But the ball gowns tweed suits and trademark headscarves are sometimes strange to see on museum mannequins instead of the queen herself And then there are the items that are truly oneoffsLike the dress complete with bloomers that Elizabeths stunt double wore during the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics when the then86yearold queen appeared to parachute into the stadium alongside Daniel Craig in his James Bond persona To complete the illusion the queen soon emerged in the stands identically attiredBoth dresses designed by Elizabeths longtime dressmaker Angela Kelly are displayed side by side though the stunt doubles version has large zipper in back to accommodate the parachuteFashion connection to the publicThe exhibition drawn from some 4000 items once owned by the queen explores how fashion became one of her most powerful tools of communication as she evolved from a young princess into Britains longestreigning monarchThat could often be seen in her choice of colour and decorative detail as in the green and white Norman Hartnell gown she chose to wear for the state banquet during her 1961 visit to Pakistan honouring her hosts by donning their national coloursThe queen had an intimate understanding of how fashion could lend itself to diplomacy a trait which while its origins certainly lay in earlier reigns the queen developed into nothing short of an art form de Guitaut said Colour or embellishment communicated messages of respect to her host nation before she had even uttered a word in her speechParticularly as she got older Elizabeth opted to wear bright or distinctive shades during large public events so she could be easily spotted and visitors could say they had seen the queenThe exhibit also explores the queens offduty wardrobe The tweed suits she wore at Balmoral Castle the royal familys summer retreat in Scotland are on display alongside clothes for riding hiking and other outdoor pursuitsTheres a thick woolen coat Kelly designed during Elizabeths later years alongside items by Burberry and British designer Hardy AmiesBig occasions big statement gownsClothes worn during the many milestones of the queens long life are also on display from her christening robe commissioned by Queen Victoria for the baptism of the future King Edward VII to dresses she wore for her wedding and coronationThe exhibit also includes sketches and notes that show just how involved the queen was in designing her wardrobeNaomi Pike commissioning editor for Elle UK said the collection finally recognises Elizabeths status as a fashion icon even though other royals including her younger sister the late Princess Margaret and her daughterinlaw the late Princess Diana stole the spotlight during her lifetimeI think were very quick in this day and age to afford people icon status acirciquestbrvbar Its thrown around so easily Pike said But I think in the case of the queen she was an icon and so much of that comes down to having a very strong sense of personal styleOn fairy wingsWhile the gowns may be the exhibits biggest draw the show also provides a few surprises With the task of showing us what the monarch wore the curators conjured up a somewhat battered fairy outfit made from a tutu with wings on the backThe piece is a favourite of Cecilia Oliver a textile conservator at the Kings Gallery who described it as the cutest thing in the worldI think what I love most about it is that it was bought for Elizabeth as a child and to think of her as this tiny little girl that then grew up into this magnificent woman with all this weight of responsibility on her shoulders it just feels very sort of sentimental Oliver saidOliver grew almost wistful as she described the months of work on the exhibit and the privilege of handling so many things connected to a person familiar to so many but truly known by so fewAs a conservator I have a really intimate knowledge of these pieces Ive been able to touch them Ive been able to smell them Ive been able to understand them she said And through that I felt really close to herQueen Elizabeth II Her Life in Style runs until October 18 at the Kings Gallery Buckingham PalaceThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever