Pastel hues dominated the spring/summer 2024 runways, with designers such as Tom Ford, Michael Kors and Alaïa showcasing this charming trend.
As we move into the new season, brands like Miu Miu, Preen and Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini continue the pastel movement.
However, it was Queen Elizabeth II who first championed these soft icy tones on a global scale.
Known for her eye-catching ensembles, the Queen’s outfits were carefully chosen to ensure she stood out from the crowd, creating an iconic and colorful image that defined her as a modern monarch.
However, she rarely deviated from a tailored dress and matching shin-length coat.
Cotton candy pink, buttercup yellow, lilac, lime; There wasn’t a tone the Queen didn’t use.
In recent years we can see that Catherine, Princess of Wales, has followed in the sartorial footsteps of Queen Elizabeth, sporting a varied range of shades.
Kate often selects a color that Elizabeth wore and cleverly presents it in an updated silhouette, such as a pantsuit.
Queen Elizabeth’s outfits were carefully considered to ensure she stood out from a crowd of well-wishers, despite her modest height of 5ft 3in. Above: The Queen attends a parade in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on June 28, 2022.
In 2019, Queen Elizabeth wore a pink cotton candy coat when she arrived at Sandringham, her estate in Norfolk. Kate later reinterpreted the color with a pink Alexander McQueen suit in 2022.
In 2022, she chose a pink Alexander McQueen two-piece suit for a business meeting in London.
Queen Elizabeth previously wore the lovely shade on a visit to Sandringham in 2019.
Queen Camilla has also shown a preference for this soft tone.
She recently wore a custom-made Anna Valentine coat dress to a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
Her Majesty paired the soft-hued outfit with the Williamson pink diamond brooch, a standout piece from Queen Elizabeth’s collection.
This brooch has a special story: its central pink diamond was given to Elizabeth in 1947 by Canadian geologist John Thoburn Williamson as a wedding gift.
Under Queen Mary’s direction, Elizabeth had the rare diamond set as the focal point of a modern brooch, making it one of her most prized pieces.
Queen Camilla has also shown a preference for this soft pink hue and recently wore a custom-made wrap dress by Anna Valentine to a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
In 2012, the year of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee, Vogue published a color review of her outfits from the past 12 months.
The magazine found that 29 percent of dresses, suits and hats were created in shades of blue, from icy tones to rich cobalt.
Additionally, the publication found that beige was the color least worn by the Queen, accounting for just one percent of the total.
On the contrary, Meghan Markle dressed, almost exclusively, in shades of beige, camel and white, during her time as an active member of the Royal Family.
The former Suits actress claimed her neutral wardrobe was a result of not being allowed to wear colours.
“Most of the time I was in the UK, I rarely wore color,” the duchess said in the 2022 Netflix series Harry and Meghan.
She continued: “I used a lot of muted tones, but it was also so I could go unnoticed.”
“There was no version of me that was going to join this family and try not to do everything I could to fit in. I don’t want to embarrass the family.”
Since stepping back from public duties, Meghan has continued to opt for a predominantly neutral wardrobe, although she now has full control over her wardrobe.
Her sartorial excellence was particularly notable at the 2023 Invictus Games, when she sported a variety of understated ensembles from Celine, Zara, Gabriela Hearst and Cuyana.
Beige was the color least used by the Queen, unlike Meghan Markle who dresses, almost exclusively, in shades of beige, camel and white.
Princess Eugenie appeared to take inspiration from her late grandmother’s style when she attended Royal Ascot in June.
The princess’s refined Diane von Furstenberg dress was made in the same soft mint hue as one of Queen Elizabeth’s outfits from the previous year.
The delicate hue was equally flattering on both women, showcasing their timeless fashion sense.
Eugenie chose bold accessories: an Emily London hat, an Anya Hindmarch clutch and Aquazzura’s popular ‘Bow-Tie’ pumps.
Appearing to take inspiration from the coat the late monarch wore to Royal Ascot in 2023, Princess Eugenie showed off a dress in the same shade at the June event.
Zara Tindall also appeared to channel her late grandmother at the famous racing event.
The Olympic equestrian wore a cornflower blue dress by Rebecca Vallance, with a fit and flare silhouette, braided neckline and puffed sleeves, in a delicious light blue hue.
Zara elevated her ensemble with Dune pumps, a custom-made hat from Sarah Cant and a ‘Hettie’ bag from Tusting.
This sartorial nod echoed Queen Elizabeth’s outfit from two years earlier, when she donned an almost identical shade to the Royal Company of Archers’ Reddendo Parade in June 2022.
Zara Tindall also appeared to channel her late grandmother at the famous racing event, wearing a cornflower blue Rebecca Vallance dress. This sartorial nod echoed Queen Elizabeth’s outfit from two years earlier, when she donned a nearly identical shade at the Royal Company of Archers’ Reddendo Parade in June 2022.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh was said to share a close bond with Queen Elizabeth, even referring to her mother-in-law as “mum”.
It appears that the Duchess has been affected by the late monarch in several ways, including her fashion choices.
Attending King Charles’ garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Sophie paid a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law by wearing a grey-blue Roland Mouret dress and Jimmy Choo heels.
The tone of her outfit echoed a coat Queen Elizabeth wore five years earlier, which featured gold floral embroidery and her signature structured cut.
The Queen accessorized with a matching hat, her beloved Launer bag and Anello & Davide loafers.
Attending King Charles’ garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Sophie paid a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law by wearing a grey-blue Roland Mouret dress and Jimmy Choo heels. The tone of her outfit echoed a coat Queen Elizabeth wore five years earlier, which featured gold floral embroidery and her signature structured cut.