For Her First Public Outing In Months, The Queen Proves That Bright Colours Are A Mood-Booster

Her Majesty's pink ensemble certainly cheered us up.

The Queen

by Natalie Hammond |
Updated on

You might not think a political firebrand has much in common with the Queen, but evidence this week points to the contrary. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, who has been using her platform to champion designers like Teflar Clemens, as well as perform her civic duties during a pandemic, revealed the secret source of her indefatigable optimism. ‘Times have been intense lately. I’ve been cheering myself up by wearing colors that make me happy,’ she posted on Instagram, sharing a photo of herself wearing an aqua-coloured trouser suit to ascend the steps of the Capitol. At the end of last month, she also wore a pale pink skirt suit, proving that it's something of a repeat strategy.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ©Getty

One woman who needs no encouragement to dress colourfully is the Queen - and today’s outing was no exception. Arriving at the Energetics Analysis Centre’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury, she chose a rose pink coat and matching hat for the occasion, accessorising with gloves, pumps and a handbag all in black. Of course, her reasoning for wearing colour, which she does resplendently for all public outings, is rather different to AOC’s. It’s because, were she to wear say beige or grey, her adoring public wouldn’t be able to easily pick her out. She would, in other words, get lost in the crowd.

The Queen
The Queen ©Getty

If you're currently eyeing your carefully curated autumn wardrobe of pared-back neutrals - lots of beige, cream, navy and more beige - now might be the time to mix things up. Times, if anything, are about to get even more intense. If a cherry red or sunflower yellow can lift your mood - and that of others around you - why not give it a go?

Gallery

SEE: The Queen Of Style

Queen in Anello and Davide1 of 26

A

London-based footwear brand Anello and Davide is where the Queen purchases some of her favourite shoes. And it was recently revealed that Her Majesty has hired someone to break in her block heels... If that's not goals, then we don't know what is.

Queen with broaches2 of 26

B

The Queen's most cherished piece of jewellery? The brooch. Her Majesty is rarely seen without a bejewelled pin on the left of her jacket. She'll even go so far as to pesonalising her brooch depending on the country she is visiting.

Queen colour block3 of 26

C

The Queen of England? More like the Queen of colour-blocking. Her Majesty has a talent for making anything look brilliant whether its head-to-toe fuchsia or this season's 'It' hue, yellow.

Queen in jewels4 of 26

D

Diamonds are the Queen's best friend, after all.

Queen on tube5 of 26

E

Enjoy fashion. What inspires us the most about the Queen is the way in which she embraces fashion. She plays with the colour palette, experiments with hats and is never, ever short of Instagrammable accessorises. But the best part? She's always dressed for the day ahead. Whether she's travelling by horse-drawn carriage or, well, the tube...

Queen in flower crown6 of 26

F

Believe it or not, the Queen was the original festival girl. Just take a moment to appreciate the flower-embellished hats she donned in the late seventies.

Queen holding baby7 of 26

G

We can't help but wonder if the Queen inspired Princess Diana's love of colourful gloves?

Queen in headscarf8 of 26

H

We doubt the Queen ever has a bad hair day but if she does, she's got a failsafe plan. Whether she's out riding her horses or going on a state visit, Her Majesty is sure to don a fabulous headscarf. And of course, the accessory will always match her co-ords.

Queen in chic outfits9 of 26

I

Invest. The Queen rarely performs outfit repeats. So ensure you have a co-ord for every possible occasion. You never know who you might meet and quite frankly, it could be a little embarassing...

Queen in ceremonial gowns10 of 26

J

The Queen has reportedly never worn jeans. Or at least, she's never been spotted in public donning a pair.

Queen with corgis11 of 26

K

Keep your corgis close. The Queen's greatest accessories are of course her beloved pets. You cannot even begin to channel the Queen's majestic aesthetic without the help of the most quintessentially royal emblem there is.

Queen in sparkles12 of 26

L

Let loose on the sparkles. You needn't be a princess to don glitter. The Queen debuted one of our favourite looks to date back in 1964 when she attended a banquet at Claridge's in a gold dress and fur stole.

Queen with handbag13 of 26

M

The Queen has been carrying the miniature handbag before we even knew they were a trend.

Queen wedding day14 of 26

N

Queen Elizabeth II married Philip Mountbatten on 20 November, 1947. As the second world war had only just come to an end, Her Majesty had to purchase material for her wedding dress using ration coupons. The gown was designed by Norman Hartnell and was made from white satin.

Queen in furs15 of 26

O

Rule number one when it comes to royal protocall? One can never be overdressed. So don layers of pearls, faux-furs and always choose the sparkliest tiara.

Queen in pearls16 of 26

P

Well, you couldn't possibly rule as the Queen of England without pearls. Her Majesty is rarely spotted without a full set.

Queen in rainbow colors17 of 26

Q

Rainbow hues. There isn't a colour on the spectrum that the Queen cannot pull off. Whether it's primary red or sunny yellow. We challenge you to find someone who wears it better. Good luck.

Queen in royal farms on throne18 of 26

R

Rule the fashion scene. The Queen is never afraid to don the brightest colour in the crowd or debut the sparkliest tiara. Channel Her Majesty this season with similar flair and enthusiasm.

Queen with mum19 of 26

S

Seek sartorial inspiration from your mum. Her Majesty often co-ordinated with the late Queen Mother. The mother/daughter duo often sported similar hats, hairstyles and miniature handbags.

Queen in trousers20 of 26

T

The Queen has only ever been photographed in trousers once. Her Majesty was pictured in a suit by Ian Thomas during the 1970 Royal Canadian Tour.

Queen with matching umbrella21 of 26

U

The Queen is as dedicated to fashion as she is to her royal duties. And if she's going to colour-block her outfit, she isn't one to do it half-heartedly. Her Majesty even goes so far as to co-ordinate her umbrellas to her outfits.

Queen in maximalist clothing22 of 26

V

Veer away from monochrome. The Queen is no Scandi-wannabe. Want proof? We challenge you to find an ounce of minimalism in her wardrobe. So channel the rainbow and you'll soon bring a smile to your colleague's faces.

Queen on horseback23 of 26

W

Oh, one does love to go outdoors. The Queen is renowned for her adoration of horses and always dresses for the occasion. Her go-to outfit? Her Majesty often teams a waistcoat and waterproof with a co-ordinating headscarf and wellies.

Queen Elizabeth as a young princess24 of 26

X

XCVI. The Queen has been reigning the style stakes for a grand 96 years. Impressive.

Queen in yellow25 of 26

Y

The Queen is undoubtedly able to pull of any hue but our favourite? It has to be yellow. The sunny shade is a failsafe and the Queen has been donning the look long before any of us declared it the colour of the season.

Queen in zipped jacket with queen mum26 of 26

Z

Zip up. Each of the Queen's outfits is fitted with a zip in preparation for endless outfit changes.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us