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Fashion History Uncategorized Vintage

The Queen’s Summer Wardrobe 1954

April 28, 2015

One of the things that made me start writing this blog was my love of fashion history, I absolutely adore looking back at the past and seeing what people were wearing, what they wore it for and the social reasons behind fashions. One of my favourite things to do is to look through vintage magazines and admire the beautiful clothes. I definitely with I could just pop to a shop and buy some of the dresses I see advertised.

One of my favourite style icons of the 1950s is the Queen. We see her as an old lady now, but when she became Queen she was a woman in her early twenties with a young family. She must have been someone that young women of the time looked up to and admired, definitely a style icon of her time.

Picture Post 1954

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I recently acquired a whole stack of Picture Post magazines from the late 40s and early 50s. Having started to read through them I’ve noticed so many issues have features on the Queen and her choices of outfits. I thought it would be great to share some of her beautiful dresses on here as a little fashion inspiration for glamorous 1950s loving ladies.

The Queens Sunshine Wardrobe 1954

I found this particular article from an issue from February 1954, which features some of the dresses worn by the queen on her Royal Tour. I particularly like the yellow Horrockses dress, as this was also available off the peg, so anyone could have bought it.

The Queens Royal Tour 1954

The Queen 1950s dresses

How beautiful is the yellow and floral print on the Horrockses dress, I’d love to own one like this!

The Queen's Horrockses Dress Print

The Queen Yellow Horrockses Dress 1954

And something a little more glamorous for the evening…

The Queen Evening fashion 1954

The Hardie Amies and Norman Hartnell dresses about are simply beautiful! I also have another issue of the magazine which features some of the dresses which Norman Hartnell designed for the Coronation in 1953 which I will try and share with you soon.

What is your favourite dress from the ones above?

Click on the images to enlarge.


  • Reply
    Nicole Wilson
    April 28, 2015 at 9:23 am

    Aww love this post! She was such a style icon, I love the Horrockses dresses they are beautiful xx

    • Reply
      vintagefrills
      April 29, 2015 at 8:40 pm

      You really can’t beat Horrockses for the perfect 50s dress.

  • Reply
    Mim
    April 28, 2015 at 9:25 am

    The Queen is one of my icons too – all matchy-matchy with a fab brooch, what’s not to love? I also love the way the dresses diplomatically, with a colour or motif or piece of jewellery to compliment the people she’s meeting.

    They had an exhibition of her dresses at Bath Fashion Museum some years back and her waist in the 50s was *tiny*. My favourite dress isn’t up there, it’s a full-length white satin one with a waterfall of emerald green down the back that she wore on a state visit to Pakistan (diplomatic dressing again – the colours are those of the Pakistani flag). She teamed it with her amazing emeralds.

    • Reply
      vintagefrills
      April 29, 2015 at 8:41 pm

      Yes! I love all the matching and colour coordination and the diplomatic aspect are really interesting too. I have so many articles on the Queens fashion so watch this space! xxx

      • vintagefrills
        April 29, 2015 at 8:45 pm

        I think the white and green satin one is on display at Kensington Palace at the moment so I definitely have to go and see it!

  • Reply
    Hayley Ann
    April 28, 2015 at 10:53 am

    I love looking at pictures or drawings of fashion history. The illustrations on vintage sewing patterns are lovely. The shapes and styles of the dresses are to die for! I think my favourite dress from above is the Horrockses one. Yellow is such a lovely colour for summer and I love the fact that anyone could buy this dress, I’m sure young ladies at the time did too. The fact that they could wear the same dress as the Queen, how great! Thanks for sharing these photos with us. x

    http://www.pearlsandpurlsvintage.blogspot.com

    • Reply
      vintagefrills
      April 29, 2015 at 8:42 pm

      I love vintage sewing pattern pictures too, I have some in frames round my house as they are too pretty to keep in a drawer!

  • Reply
    Jessica Cangiano
    April 28, 2015 at 5:47 pm

    Awesome post! I think that both the Queen and her sister had great sense of fashion back in the day. I can only imagine how incredible it would have been to peek inside their closest in the 40s or 50s!

    ♥ Jessica

    • Reply
      vintagefrills
      April 29, 2015 at 8:43 pm

      Absolutely, Princess Margaret was so beautiful as well. Would love to have tried on all their clothes and jewellery.

  • Reply
    Porcelina
    May 1, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    It’s such a treat seeing articles like this! She was indeed a very stylish lady, and you can imagine lots of women across the country using her as a reference point in their own stye. I think she’s still very stylish today, always has nice colours and I would love to rummage in her handbag collection!!

    • Reply
      vintagefrills
      May 1, 2015 at 11:40 pm

      So would I. I read this amazing article all about her wardrobe staff last year, its amazing how everything is planned and coordinated.

  • Reply
    invintagedmiss
    May 9, 2015 at 3:14 am

    I couldn’t agree more, it is more so to do with the history behind a certain style or person or item that draws me in. I have had a love affair with history (and therefore vintage) ever since I can remember! Hence my becoming a history teacher! It was interesting to read about the Horrockses dress the Queen wore, I might be wrong but I believe Kate Middleton does the same thing, often wears ‘pret a porta’ items accessible to anyone? Any way thank you for sharing these treasured finds!

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