Revealed: The Style Secrets of Queen Elizabeth II’s Wardrobe

Queen Elizabeth II is known for her impeccable sense of fashion and style.

Recently, she presented the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to Richard Quinn, a Central St Martin's fashion graduate.

Despite being undeterred by the event, the Queen viewed Quinn's collection avidly.

The award was organized by her dresser, Angela Kelly, and the British Fashion Council.

During the event, Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the BFC, paid tribute to the Queen, stating that she is undoubtedly a fashion icon.

But what are the secrets behind the Queen's wardrobe?

Here are some things you might not know:

1.

Gloves: The Queen favors brushed cotton gloves that are 15 centimeters in length.

These gloves are supplied by Cornelia James Limited and are washable.

She changes them several times a day, and for evening wear, she wears lighter nylon ones.

2.

Skirt length: Her hems fall below her knee and include tiny lead curtain weights sold by department stores to avoid any Marilyn moments.

3.

No wrinkles: Her clothes have to be crease and breeze-resistant to allow her to climb in and out of cars without a hitch.

They must also be roomy enough for regular arm waving.

4.

Storage: All clothes and accessories are kept for posterity at Buckingham Palace in boxes and cotton bags.

They are inside mahogany wardrobes with airtight doors, and everything is archived.

Some of her evening gowns from the last 60 years are periodically on display.

5.

Standing out in a crowd: The Queen is particularly keen to adopt outrageous designs and bright colors when standing out in a crowd.

She favors block colors that elongate her tiny frame, and offer maximum visibility.

6.

Dressmaker: Sir Norman Hartnell and Sir Hardy Amies designed for her in the past.

Today, many of her clothes are designed and made at the palace by senior dresser Angela Kelly and her team.

Kelly sketches at least four different designs for a particular piece of fabric, from which the Queen can choose.

After initial discussions, she produces a technical drawing from which the pattern is cut.

Everything is cut and shaped to match a mannequin made to the Queen's size, details which have always been kept top secret.

7.

Bags of style: The Queen owns more than 200 Launer bags and favors the Royal and the Black Patent Traviata, which has a longer handle to ease the process of handshaking.

8.

Recycling: The Queen tends to switch between new items and pieces she has worn before.

The use of recycled items is staggered strategically throughout the year.

Wearing the same color again in close succession is also carefully managed to ensure that no outfit appears in public too many times or in the same company.

Each outfit is recorded on a spreadsheet with the time and date it was worn.

9.

Eats yes to the dress: Her practical nature means she favors dresses rather than skirts.

She gets out of a car and is ready, explains Stuart Parvin.

10.

A secret shoulder pad: As one of the Queen's shoulders is higher than the other, she always wears an extra shoulder pad.

11.

Her most royal accessory: The Queen opts for headscarves for sporting and outdoor events and seems to have one to match every outfit.

She favors silk scarves by Hermes.

12.

Heels: Her heel height is always a practical two and one-quarter inches, and inner shoes are re-heeled when necessary.

Each of her black patent work shoes has an added insole for comfort.

13.

Forget blisters: An assistant with the same sized feet wears her shoes in for her first.

14.

A practical approach: Her Majesty prefers three-quarter length sleeves to ensure they cannot trail in soup.

Zips are used whenever possible as they enable her to make several changes in one day without disturbing her hair or risking makeup smudges.

15.

Hats: Her hat brims must be small so the Queen can be easily seen, and a hat's crown must never be so tall that it creates problems exiting a vehicle.

Rachel Trevor Morgan is the Queen's favorite milliner.

He once explained, “People say, what does she do with all those hats, wear them out?

I say, she'd possibly wear hats at least ten times.”

16.

Bespoke Bralies: The Queen commissions transparent 16lbs umbrellas from Fulton with a natty twist.

The handles and edge trim are cunningly color-matched to her clothes.

Queen Elizabeth II's wardrobe is an embodiment of style, elegance, and practicality.

Her fashion choices are carefully crafted to reflect her personality, and she has a team of experts who work tirelessly to ensure that she always looks her best.

Her style secrets are nothing short of fascinating, and they provide a glimpse into the life of one of the world's most iconic figures.