The Glamorous Years
The beginning of the 80s brought a younger generation of royals into the spotlight – and a new fashion icon, Princess
Diana, whose 1981 wedding dress caused a media frenzy. It epitomised the romantic side of 80s style – think Laura Ashley’s flowers and frills, pretty prairie dresses, the overblown blouses beloved by the New Romantics. On the other side of the coin the influence of menswear continued, with oversized blazers, sharp tailoring, padded shoulders and “power dressing”. Britain had its first female Prime Minister and it was the age of the career-woman, reflected in TV and film with Dynasty and Working Girl. It was a decade of contradictions: excess and poverty, froufrou looks and hard-edged glamour.
Throughout it all, the Queen carried out her schedule of engagements home and abroad. Foreign visits continued to boost international relationships, including a visit with the Reagans in California in 1983. The state’s sunshine was notably absent, the Queen’s wardrobe subject to mixed reviews. However a romantic white gown featuring Californian poppies by Amies that the designer, “had always hoped the Queen would choose to wear,” struck the right note.
Ronald and Nancy Reagan had previously visited the Queen at Windsor Castle, where the Queen and President went horse riding. A 1982 photo of Her Majesty and Reagan on horseback shows them looking relaxed. Bethan Holt describes the Queen’s timeless equestrian look in TheQueen:70years of Majestic Style as “traditional beige jodhpurs, a tweed jacket and chestnut leather riding boots... Her Majesty usually chooses to eschew a riding hat in favour of a silk headscar f.” She never looks more at ease.
“A decade of contradictions: excess and poverty, froufrou looks and hard-edged glamour”
LIKE PRIME MINISTER THATCHER WAS THROUGHOUT THE 80S, THE QUEEN IS NEVER WITHOUT HER HANDBAG – MADE BY LAUNER TO SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
THE QUEEN’S SIGNATURE COUNTRY LOOK, OF CARDIGANS, KILTS, TWEEDS, WAXED JACKETS AND SILK HEADSCARVES, INSPIRED MAX MARA’S 2021-22 FALL/WINTER COLLECTION