Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe

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Absolutely worth the read if you are interested in dressmaking/millinery/costume design, the logistics of the Queen's wardrobe, gorgeous jewelry with pictures that does it justice, etc.

Keeping in mind that there hadn't been a Diamond Jubilee since 1897 for Queen Victoria, and add the fact that in 2012 London was also hosting the Olympics, and you can see that the pressure was definitely more than "on" for the talented people in charge of her wardrobe.

This book not only had fantastic pictures, it had really interesting information regarding construction of the Queen's dresses, and how the seamstresses and designers decide what type of dress/outfit needs to be designed for each appearance.

It was accentuated by unique embellished shapes and tiny jewels in colors to match the fabric throughout. Of course, no outfit is complete without the perfect hat, and a chapter of the book is devoted entirely to their intricate and highly detailed creation. In June 1977, during her Silver Jubilee — her first jubilee, commemorating 25 years behind the throne — she celebrated with a royal procession to St.The original, which had been commissioned by Queen Victoria for the christening of her first child, Victoria, Princess Royal, was retired in 2004 by Elizabeth II for conservation purposes. According to the Royal Collection Trust, top couturier Norman Hartnell's design for Elizabeth's wedding dress was approved in August of 1947, just three months before the wedding took place.

Angela Kelly serves as the queen's personal assistant, advisor and curator of the personal jewel collection. Ms Kelly wrote: "I had a meeting with the owner of Paddy Power at which we agreed that betting on the colour of the Queen's hat would be closed at a certain time to avoid any cheating, but allowed people to carry on guessing the colour of the Queen's hat and perhaps even win a bit of money. Not knowing anything about the book it seems colourful and very well presented which should make it an excellent present for my wife. Whether the day holds a historic state visit or an afternoon at Royal Ascot, the Queen commands attention wherever she appears.Equally surprising, since Queen Elizabeth is one of the most photographed people on Earth, is that she does her own makeup except once a year for her televised Christmas speech, when a professional is hired to do it. Clothing at this time passed down from wearer to wearer – so an elite lady would often give her dresses to her lady’s maid, and there are funny accounts of people being unable to tell the difference between a lady’s maid and a grand lady,” she said. On certain occasions, Queen Elizabeth swaps out the pearls for her great-grandmother's emeralds, but she appears to have opted for classic pearls for the 1958 banquet. What I wouldn't give to have heard [the] conversations between The Queen and Anna Wintour," wrote Laura Benjamin of Hello!

The queen met with James Bond and then "helicoptered and parachuted into the arena" for the opening ceremonies. The dress was immortalized later that year when Australian artist William Dargie was commissioned to paint a portrait of the queen wearing it, which became known as the "wattle painting. In addition to a simple, long-sleeved, white dress and her typical silver heeled shoes and white gloves, Her Majesty wore striking royal regalia: ceremonial gold tassels, a diamond tiara from the Crown Amethyst Suite of Jewels, and a ruby-red velvet cape decorated with two traditional white shoulder bows. According to WWD, the queen had the tiara made in 1973 using 96 rare rubies she received as a wedding gift from the people of Myanmar nearly three decades prior.According to Kelly, the Queen's annual appearance at Royal Ascot, a much-watched affair, is not just about the competing horses as it is about the betting on the color of the monarch's hats. Australia's national flower is the golden wattle, so the dress was recognized as "unambiguously patriotic," per the National Museum of Australia. In 1963, Queen Elizabeth II appeared to adopt a glamorous evening uniform: bejewelled metallic Norman Hartnell gowns, white fur stoles, delicate evening purses with chain straps and clasp closures, and, of course, royal jewels. A must read for anyone who loves everything Royal, or history buffs, and even home sewers who can marvel as I did at the spectacular one-of-a-kind creations.