On Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee, REISS reflects on her example of style based on purpose.
This year we celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 70 years of service to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. At REISS, we salute Her Majesty for a lifetime of dressing with purpose, discernment, and timelessness – values that inspire our fashion and our quest for evergreen elegance.
Integrity, trust, having a moral compass, longevity, respect – the British public really appreciates those things, and the queen displays all of them. It’s difficult to do something so well for such a long period. It’s an incredible feat, REISS CEO Christos Angelides reflects on the queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Elizabeth II was a young princess during World War II – a time of rationing and struggles when style was not at the forefront of societal interests. For context, the silk-Duchesse-satin used to make her bridal gown was bought with ration vouchers – like many brides in the post-war period.
By the time she became Queen, Elizabeth II had established a distinctive duty-first style: minimal frills, function at heart, consistency, and timelessness – values synonymous with British style that REISS endeavours to translate to audiences in the UK and abroad.
Her Majesty’s uniforms (we call them such because they are created and chosen to enable her to deliver her work) are often structured, tailored garments with military-inspired details, controlled femininity, and imperative modesty.
While her role demands utter neutrality, the Queen has shrewdly used her wardrobe to communicate – from diplomatic colour choices to jewellery selected for their history (which would define the look rather than the other way around).
Colour, used confidently and distinctively, has never been there for the sheer sake of fashion. The Monarch dresses in bold shades to make sure to grace the public with a view of her - from up-close or spotted from afar.
Her Majesty is the queen of style consistency, with codes and recognisable items universally attributed to her. An out-of-a-hat list includes the printed silk-twill headscarf, the court shoe, heirloom brooches, and the omnipresent handbag.
On the latter, Queen Elizabeth II elevated the handbag from an accessory to a powerful reigning tool. While no one will know what is inside her structured leather bags (with bespoke elongated handles for ease), according to experts and insiders, how Her Majesty carries (or places it) sends signals to her entourage to help her manage her meetings. Such signals can mean anything from wanting to stay a little longer to “get me out of this one!
Dressing for duty has also meant dressing for the circumstances. Therefore, the queen’s style has discreetly evolved and adapted to the times and state of the world. At the height of the pandemic, as the world dressed down for a life in lockdown, Her Majesty flexed her distinctive style to accommodate Zoom calls. Not an entirely new task for the woman who, since 1957, has dressed for the camera to deliver a yearly televised Christmas message to comfort and inspire her subjects.
To REISS, a London house grounded on principles of dressing with poise to help deliver the best version of ourselves, Her Majesty’s example is a source of inspiration.
We’re proud to feature in the official book published for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, Her Majesty The Queen. The Official Platinum Jubilee Pageant Commemorative Album will be launched on 5 June 2022 as part of the UK’s unique four-day bank holiday weekend of jubilee celebrations of The Queen’s extraordinary 70-year reign.