Queen Elizabeth II : Her Life in Style, Part II

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Although most of Her Majesty's life has been in the public eye, even her off-duty outfits make a distinct fashion statement.

Off-Duty & Ready-to-Wear
Practical countryside attire included suede jackets, tweed skirts, knitwear, and headscarves — balanced function with understated elegance.

British Fashion on the Global Stage
Throughout her 70-year reign, the Queen’s overseas tours showcased British design while honoring host nations:
  • Cherry Blossom Evening Dress (1975, Japan) — Draped sleeves inspired by kimonos, embroidered with sakura (spring blossoms).
  • Evening Dress (2011, Ireland) — Silk gown adorned with shamrocks and a crystal harp.
  • Pink Peonies Evening Dress (1986, China) — Featuring beadwork forming peonies and vertical motifs.
Eveningwear: The Glamour of the Monarchy
As head of state, the Queen’s gowns for banquets and receptions were both elegant and highly visible, designed to stand out on camera. 

Two Dresses & Headpieces — In her final three decades, in-house designer Angela Kelly modernized Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe with more modern tailoring and brighter colors. She designed the evening dress for the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremony, along with an identical version worn by a stunt double who parachuted after meeting James Bond (Daniel Craig).
 

     
Queen Elizabeth II: A Fashion Legacy
Queen Elizabeth II’s style has long inspired contemporary designers. In 2018, she presented the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to Richard Quinn during London Fashion Week. His collection playfully referenced her signature off-duty look through the use of silk scarves.

 
After the Queen’s death on September 8, 2022, many designers honored her at London Fashion Week later that month. Among the most striking tributes — one that still resonates today — was Jonathan Anderson’s simple black T-shirt dress, printed with the words:

'HER MAJESTY The Queen 1926–2022 Thank you.'

Through fashion, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style shows the remarkable legacy the Queen built that will continue to influence designers and royal style for generations to come.

Queen Elizabeth II : Her Life in Style, Part I

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The exhibition Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style at Buckingham Palace opened on April 10 and is already sold out through its scheduled closing on October 18.  If you missed it — or want a reason to sign up in case an extension is announced — here’s a glimpse of the largest exhibition ever dedicated to Her Majesty’s fashion, featuring more than 200 garments and accessories, including many previously unseen archival pieces:

Childhood: The Beginning of British Couture
The Royal Christening Robe (1841) — Commissioned by Queen Victoria, this robe has been worn by royal babies for over 130 years.
Dresses & Bloomers (1935) — Simple cotton pieces, often in Liberty prints, formed part of the young princesses’ wardrobe.

Princess Elizabeth: Fashion Forward
Wedding Dress, Train & Veil (1947)
Ceremonial & Military: The Role of Duty
Coronation Dress (1953)
Both designed by Norman Hartnell, who created many of the Queen’s most important garments over four decades. 
   

Tailoring & Daywear: Style & Function
Skirt suits defined Queen Elizabeth II's 1950s wardrobe; from the 1960s onward, she favored day dresses with coordinating coats and accessories in bright, signature colors.
 

Millinery & Accessories: The Finishing Touch
Coordinated hats, coats, dresses, and suits highlight her polished, instantly recognizable style.


Queen Elizabeth II : Her Life in Style, Part II will trace looks from Off-Duty & Ready-to-Wear to Queen Elizabeth II: A Fashion Legacy.

Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition

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Best 300 images from around the world


Somerset House is hosting the 19th annual Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition through May 4th.

Free to enter, the Awards  attracted 430,000 submissions from 200 countries. This year’s exhibition explores the themes of:

  • Absence — photos of lost memories, unseen identities, gaps in history, and empty landscapes;
  • Humans in the Stories — both individuality and collectivity, and how being part of a group shapes who someone is; and
  • Conflicted Territories — looks at places marked by conflict and division, showing how people and wildlife adapt to life shaped by competition for land and resources.
The show spans architecture, documentary, portraiture, sport, still life, and wildlife highlighting core photographic elements — color, composition, light, shadow, shape, texture and tone that bring images to life.

Some standout images include Study on Flying by María Fernanda García Freire, Waving Squirrel by Stan Bouman;, Fairy Mushroom Sporulations by Benjamin Pawlica, and Buzkashi by Todd Anthony.

Ticket Prices:
Adult: £18
Student: £12

Opening Hours:
10 am – 7 pm

Advance booking is recommended.

Sony World Photography Awards
✆ +44 3333 202836 Strand, London WC2R 1LA

Bluebells in Bloom

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The UK is home to nearly half of the world's bluebells. They are an ancient woodland indicator — and often thriving in British woodlands over 400 years old.

Historically, sap from their bulbs was used as glue for bookbinding and when crushed, provided the starch to stiffen Elizabethan collars and sleeves.

For a few weeks each spring, Chalet Wood in Epping Forest — less than 40 minutes from Waterloo Station — transforms into a sea of bluebells.  However, native bluebells are under threat due to habitat loss and climate change.

English bluebells are easily to spot: deep violet color, strongly scented, with flowers that droop to one side of the stem.  In contrast, the non-native Spanish bluebells are upright, scentless; and threaten native species through cross-breeding and competition.

Though primarily pollinated by bees, some 'steal' nectar by biting a hole in the base of the flower, avoiding pollination.

Bluebells are fragile and can take up to seven years to bloom from a seed.  Even a single footstep can crush their leaves, preventing preventing photosynthesis and killing the plant.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great photo spots along the winding marked pathways.

Bonus : The walk from Wanstead Station is picturesque too with front gardens of camellias, cherry blossoms, hyacinth, poppies, and wisteria.

Note : No bluebells were harmed in taking these photos :)

Visit Japan . . .

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. . . without leaving London

Nestled in Holland Park, the Kyoto Garden is a an oasis away from the city’s bustle.  It was opened in 1991 by His Majesty King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and the Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, as a gift from Kyoto celebrating the friendship between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Designed by respected Japanese landscape architect Shoji Nakahara — known for his deep understanding of traditional Japanese garden aesthetics and principles and the Kyoto Garden Association.  Every stone, plant, and water feature is carefully placed to create harmony, balance, and a sense of nature in miniature.

Though relatively small, the space feels expansive — with every view resembling a living painting — a hallmark of Japanese garden design.

Today, the Kyoto Garden remains one of the finest examples of authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan — an elegant blend of tradition, artistry, and nature.

Tip : Plan your visit now until mid-April to see the cherry blossoms 
— Japan’s national flower — in bloom.

Whether you visit for spring cherry blossoms, autumn color, or simply a quiet moment, the Kyoto Garden provides a welcome retreat and invitation to slow down.

Mother’s Day : Treats for Every Sense

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Under £50

Mother’s Day Sunday, March 15th is the perfect time to treat Mum and the mother figures in your life to something memorable. Here are options to delight every sense:

SEE
Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition — For a visual treat, book tickets to the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition. The 19th annual exhibit April 17—May 4 will feature a selection of images from over 430,000 entries from 200+ countries submitted.
Standard tickets £18
BONUS : Use promo code MOTHERS26 for 2 for £30
www.www.worldphoto.org ✆ +44 2073 060055
 SMELL
The Perfume Studio — For a truly unique gift, purchase a voucher for a bespoke fragrance experience at The Perfume Studio. After an introduction to perfume blends created by their Master Perfumer, you’ll sample, test and combine them to design your own signature scent to take home. The fragrance formulas are officially registered to make it possible to order in the future — a thoughtful and personal keepsake.
Starting from £49
www.theperfumestudio.com

TASTE
EL&N Floral Afternoon Tea — Treat Mum to afternoon tea at EL&N's Lowndes location.  The floral afternoon tea ncludes savoury bites, delicate cakes, and scones complete with unlimited EL&N tea or barista-made house coffee.
Afternoon Tea for 2 for £44.99
Tip : Request one of the Insta-worthy booths downstairs
www.elnlondon.co.uk✆ +44 2073 060055
TOUCH
LEGO Store — For something playful, visit a LEGO store this weekend where kids can build a pink LEGO rose to take home as a handmade Mother’s Day gift. Workshops run Saturday 14 March (10am–12pm) and Sunday 15 March (12–2pm).
£13
Note : First come, first served basis, while stocks last.
 Screenshot by Author
TodayTix — Gift an unforgettable afternoon or evening with tickets to hit musicals like Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Six, and Wicked . Use the TodayTix app to locate and book discounted tickets.
As low as £17
www.todaytix.com

However you celebrate, the best gift is simply spending time together!

V&A Storehouse : A Museum Like No Other

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A treasure-filled warehouse

Opened in May 2025 in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, East London, V&A Storehouse gives public free access to the V&A’s vast working collection. 
  
Home to more than 250,000 objects, 350,000 library books, and 1,000 archives, it houses the national collection of art, design, fashion, and performance.  Displays are organized around three themes: 
  1. Collecting Stories —V&A’s role as a national collector
  2. Sourcebook for Design — how the collection inspires designers and communities
  3. Working Museum — how the museum operates behind the scenes 
Highlights include:        
  • David Bowie Centre — Dedicated to Bowie’s archive, including costumes, lyrics, photographs, and stage
  • Torrijos Ceiling — A 15th-century Spanish ceiling displayed overhead
  • Frankfurt Kitchen — Modern domestic design by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky
  • Kaufmann Office — A mid-century interior by Frank Lloyd Wright
  • Conservation Overlook — Watch specialists examine and preserve objects
  • Study Centre — Students, researchers and visitors 'Order an Object’ to view and handle — first in the world of its kind
The V&A Storehouse turns museum storage into an engaging public experience. 
www.vam.ac.uk ✆ +44 2079 422000