The Real Reason Queen Elizabeth Chooses To Wear Such Bright Colors
Queen Elizabeth has her look down to a science. She's rarely spotted without her signature Launer handbags, which she allegedly uses to subtly send messages to her team (via Reader's Digest). For over 50 years, she's turned to Anello & Davide for comfortable, practical shoes that work with her wardrobe (via Today). And that wardrobe is all about color.
Her monochromatic, bright outfit choices have long been noted for their individuality. After all, it's not every day you see a monarch in a neon green outfit. But there's a method to the apparent madness regarding the queen's penchant for bright threads. In fact, it may not even be a personal style preference — although there's certainly a practical reason why she dresses in such striking colors.
Sali Hughes, a U.K.-based journalist, took a deep dive into the queen's closet in Our Rainbow Queen: A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and Her Colorful Wardrobe. "So much thought goes into it and nothing is an accident," Hughes told Good Morning America. "If anyone thinks they're overthinking the queen's fashion, they're not, because they would never be able to think about more than the queen and [royal dressmaker] Angela Kelly."
Bright colors make a big difference in a big crowd
Countess of Wessex and wife of Queen Elizabeth's youngest son Prince Edward, Sophie, has spoken to the reason behind the monarch's vibrant wardrobe. "She needs to stand out for people to be able to say 'I saw the queen,'" she explained in the BBC documentary The Queen At 90. "Don't forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the queen's hat as she went past."
If you're wondering about the queen's favorite color to wear, you're not alone. In 2012, Vogue analyzed Queen Elizabeth's wardrobe choices for one solid year. They found she wore blue to 29 percent of her engagements that year (via Daily Mail). Florals were the next most popular, making up 13 percent of the queen's outfits. Green and cream tied for third, with 11 percent each.