How the catwalk fell in love with the Queen
EvEryoNE needs a piece of tweed. It’s the sartorial equivalent of the little black dress, it’s as useful as a pair of jeans and as reliable as a classic white T-shirt.
It’s ageless, understated and beyond the whims and crazy capriciousness of the catwalk trends. In short, it’s the perfect thing to wear now that the temperature has snapped back to freezing.
But it’s not only tweed under the spotlight here, it’s the whole country look, British through and through, that’s as enduring as, well, the Queen — and her wardrobe at Balmoral, the vast estate in the Scottish Highlands that is said to be her favourite home.
Why my obsession with all things Balmoral? Like you, most likely, I’ve been devouring The Crown, the Netflix series chronicling in sumptuous detail the reign of QEII.
Isn’t it brilliant? Not only for the gripping story-telling, the history, the cinematography and the acting, but for the wardrobe, which makes me want to pull on a pair of Hunter wellies and a Harris tweed jacket, tie on a silk scarf and head for the Highlands.
‘ Balmoral fashion is very important for the costume designers of The Crown,’ says my sister, Philippa, who, I’m very proud to say, directed two episodes of the second series. ‘ It creates an important contrast from the fashion of Buckingham Palace.’
She tells of taking the famous Caledonian sleeper train from Euston to Newtonmore, where there is an actual Harris Tweed shop, and filming in gale-force winds.
REmEmBErthe scene when the Queen retreats to Balmoral to escape the Press? She dons her plus fours, knitted socks, brogues, neat tweed jacket and head scarf to go deer stalking.
‘ The restful, unassuming colours of the tweed fused with the landscape,’ says Philippa. ‘It reminds us of the Queen’s relationship with nature and the earth.’
And don’t we all want to escape to the great outdoors? I know I do. The country is my happy place.
Soft, green gabardines remind me of sitting by fires, warming my feet on the dogs after a long day outside. Heritage tweeds are woven into the fabric of my family, with farmers on both my mum and dad’s sides — from Uncle Peter in his flat cap smelling of woodsmoke and straw, to Aunty Hilda’s jacket that seemed to mould itself to her shape over the years.
Did I mention how cuttingedge the Balmoral look has become? Elements of it have cropped up on catwalks all over the place, from Stella mcCartney’s quilted green jackets and headscarves to Burberry’s checked trenches.
Indeed, checks are all the rage for spring, so whatever you buy now will be the height of fashion until at least the end of summer. And what about sporting a full- on country look in the city? I know some of my family would roll their eyes at the sight of gabardines and wellies on London’s Hampstead Heath.
‘Not a speck of muck,’ they’d roar, laughing at the sight of these faux city squires. And it’s true, the more wear and tear, the more authentic — and better — you’ll look.
The check jacket from Zara (£39.99, zara.com) or the Joules tweed field coat (£229, joules.
com) are both ideal. Wear them with a polo-neck and a smart, tailored trouser or, better still, a pair of cords. As for shoes, go for a sleek, black loafer rather than a country brogue.
my favourite pieces are Balmoral-inspired, but not so literal as to require you to be tramping up glens or down dales to wear them.
Take mango’s fabulous check shirt with ties at the cuffs (£17.99, mango.com), which I’d wear with indigo jeans, or that great Prince of Wales check Zara dress (£19.99) and a stomping black boot.
Talking of stomping, it’s about time I went for a walk in my tattered old tweeds and mud-spattered boots. Rebecca LowthoRpe is Fashion Director of Grazia.