IS ROYAL CLOTHING THE SAME OR HAS IT CHANGED OVER TIME??

- ANUPRIYA MUNDRA

Over the decades and centuries, a lot many things have changed in the world and especially in the fashion world. It evolved from nothing and today everything revolves around it. Before the origin of the word fashion, it was not like people didn’t know what clothing was, or what new can be done in it. People were very well aware of it. It was just that they didn’t call it trends, rather it was a modification for them in the existing clothing at that time.

As we go back in time, we see that the clothing was different for different classes. People were identified based on their clothing but now all this have changed. We no longer judge or identify people due to their clothing. Imagine in a crowd there are a lot of people gathered all wearing casual dressings and you are asked to identify the princess of a country; you would not even know that the lady you were talking a few minutes back is a princess or a queen.

With growing time, each class clothing has changed from the royal family to the middle class to the peasants. Now they no longer wear dresses which they used to wear two centuries back. You will find everyone dolled up in the present-day fashion.

Let’s take a look at the evolution of dressing in some of the present-day royal families.

United Kingdom

It is believed that the modern-day fashion started in England from Queen Victoria’s reign. At that time, hoop skirts, crinoline cages for skirts, etc. was very much in fashion. You will find the elite and royal family draped in the softest fabric like velvet and satin. But as time passed all these things came to standby. Over the past century during Queen Elizabeth II reign, all this was not in fashion. Who would have thought that someday you will find the royal family dressed up in pants, jeans or shorts? They were always decked up in knee-length dresses or gowns.

PHOTO CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES

When we think about royalty, we think of a princess and prince. We think of what they wear, about their clothing, their accessories, etc. In earlier times, what you wear matter, what type it is that also mattered but today that is not important. Suppose the Queen is wearing a cotton dress, whereas a normal person is wearing a silk dress, this doesn’t change anything. Today, the royals can wear anything they like but have to keep in mind some basic royal etiquettes regarding clothing like the royal women have to wear a very light skin color stockings which a normal eye wouldn’t recognize.

PHOTO CREDITS: PRINCESS DIANA ARCHIVES/GETTY IMAGES

Many times the dressing rules have been broken by many members like Princess Diana’s famous little black dress which had a plunging neckline. Some people named it as “The Revenge Dress”. Off- shoulders or extra revealing dresses are not to be worn by the ladies of the royal family. I liked the dress and the princess carried it very well. Jeans are not preferred to be worn in the public by the members of the royal family but it seems to be broken by the newest member of the family, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex. She was also spotted wearing a dark color nail paint during an award show. Well, rules are made to be broken, isn’t it?

PHOTO CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES

According to me, my favorite British royal would Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. In today’s time, she is the most fashionable one. In the previous decades, it would be Princess of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer. It looks like Kate is very much inspired by her mother in law and tries to follow her footsteps in the fashion field. Be it a morning trip to one of her patronages or any evening event or a state dinner, Kate dresses to impress people. 

PHOTO CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES

I like her royal blue gown which she wore for an event held in Mumbai in the honor of the royal couple when they visited India back in 2016. It was a Jenny Packham gown with matching cape which was hand-beaded in India itself along with gorgeous earrings by Amrapali. Also, I have seen this that she dresses according to the event or what type it is or where it is. From nude, off white color to bright red color, she has donned almost all colors.

PHOTO CREDITS: CHRIS JACKSON/GETTY IMAGES

India

When the monarchy was still present in India, that time also the royal ladies were always decked up in heavy zardozi sarees or paithani or kanjeevaram sarees. The young princess was seen in lehenga and cholis. On top of that, lot many heavy pieces of jewelry were adorned on their bodies from head to toe. After independence, there were no monarchies as such but royal families were there. They didn’t have power but still, they had the name and people respect them. Today also, in any event, they will be dressed in the Indian way that is in saree with pallu on their head. Rajmata Gayatri Devi is the epitome of beauty and fashion in India.

Jordan

A country which is situated somewhere in the middle east where there are very strict rules regarding the dressing of the women, Queen Rania of Jordan is the most fashionable queen in the world. I like her style statement. 

 PHOTO CREDITS: PETER DEJONG (FOR THE LEFT IMAGE) AND GETTY IMAGES (FOR THE RIGHT IMAGE)

You can see her in pants, long shirts, dresses, midi skirts, pleated skirts, gowns, etc. She is more into the chic style fashion. For some royal event, she wears the traditional dress. Whatever she wears, she carries it with a lot of grace and elegance. She is the epitome of beauty. Be it state visit or dinner or be it the Met Gala, she has the best wardrobe for everything.

Met Gala Look

PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

Being royal doesn’t mean that you can’t be a normal person, it is just that they have some extra responsibility. They also go on vacations, plan picnics, wear brands like H&M, Zara, Gucci, etc or maybe some local designers, they also repeat there dress many times just like normal people do.