It's hardcore countrycore! Why top fashion houses say that frugal PRINCESS ANNE is a true fashionista whose chic styles never go out of style!
When you shake off a cold and can finally breathe through your nose again… Snickers… Princess Anne's style…
What do these three things have in common? They are all completely underrated.
Say the word 'royal style icon' and your thoughts immediately go to Princess Diana or the Princess of Wales.
But Silvia Venturini Fendi, the matriarch at the helm of the respected Italian fashion house Fendi, believes there should be someone else on the list: Princess Anne.
Princess Snne looking well covered up in 1984. Little did she know it would inspire a whole look for the 2024 Fendi fashion show
The Fendi catwalk in January 2024 – with Princess Royal influence!
Princess Anne shows off a kilt in Scotland in 1988
A kilted Claudia Winkelman, presenter of Traitors. She has described herself as 'a sea monster meets Princess Anne'
Claudia's barbour and chunky knit green and brown shades wouldn't look out of place on Anne
“I fell in love with the style of Princess Anne, who in my opinion is the most elegant woman in the world,” Fendi said.
'When I saw the coronation last year with Princess Anne in her uniform, I thought she looked beautiful.
So I said: 'let's get inspired for a men's collection'.
At Fendi's AW24 men's show – held in Milan late last week – models stormed the catwalk in wax jackets, wellies and plenty of tartan in a love letter to the countrycore aesthetic that Anne has championed since the '70s.
Anne's fashion fan club has slowly grown in recent years and the Fendi show can be seen as the culmination of this.
It's also part of a broader obsession in current high fashion with British countrycore: Barbour recently collaborated with Gucci, no less.
Anne's style specifically re-entered the public consciousness when series 3 of The Crown was released in November 2019, with actor of the moment Erin O'Connor playing a young Anne.
And recently it's gained even more traction thanks to a little thing called The Traitors. Presenter Claudia Winkleman's style in the BBC reality series (one of last week's episodes attracted a record 3.8 million viewers) has been described by Claudia herself as 'a sea monster meets Princess Anne, and then they go to a golf sale and nods to Jane McDonald'.
What makes Anne's style so attractive?
She knows the power of a 'less is more' uniform – Barbour, rain boots, jeans – but also how and when to go all out. Quiet luxury with a touch of occasional loud luxury, if you like.
She's never been afraid of a bright colour: the carnation yellow mini-coat dress and matching hat (the latter, of course, complete with giant bow) she wore to the Bath and West Agricultural Show in 1969 wouldn't look out of place on an Emilia Wickstead catwalk today .
Anne and husband Tim Laurence in matching waxed jackets at Badminton Horse Trials in 2010
Princess Anne with Zara in 1983 in corduroy trousers – which will be available on the high street in these colors in 2024
It's the ultimate Barbour family with Anne, Peter and Zara all matching in coats and boots
A dress with high neckline, long sleeves and colorful floral print from 1973 – very Alessandro Michele for Gucci
Princess Anne in 1982 wore one of the big trends of 2024: Adidas Samba sneakers
Princess Anne in a full-length cloak – a cape in regimental colors of the 8th Canadian Hussars
Princess Anne in a Breton top and white jeans in 1970 – a fashionable look today
Then there is a dress with a high neckline and long sleeves and a colorful floral print from 1973 – very Alessandro Michele for Gucci.
Although Anne, like the Princess of Wales, is a fan of 'literal' clothing – a Breton on a boat, a kilt in Scotland, a royal cape for state occasions – her appearance never becomes predictable or cliché.
That's because even seemingly 'twee' looks are peppered with unusual touches.
In the '80s, jeans were paired with sneakers that resembled the Adidas Sambas, for which every influencer is still on the waiting list.
(We can't forget that a royal in sneakers was quite revolutionary in the 80s).
There's a knit tank top from 1985 with a sheep and tree pattern that Harry Styles would step into today. And that's before we even get to the sunglasses.
The life-size tortoise shell shades she's favored since the '70s fit right into the “mafia woman” aesthetic currently viral on TikTok.
These are glasses that say: 'Do I look like I'm flying economy?', but Anne makes them unpretentious by combining them with denim.
She is the master of high-low dressing. The hearts of Generation Z were conquered again when Anne wore frameless Adidas sports sunglasses in addition to formal clothing at many anniversary events in 2022.
Balenciaga launched a nearly identical pair shortly afterwards. The internet went crazy.
The scarf and floppy hat combination will be seen on the beaches this year
Anne wore frameless Adidas sports sunglasses in Sri Lanka last week alongside formal wear at many an anniversary event in 2022. Balenciaga launched a nearly identical pair shortly afterwards. The internet went crazy
Balenciaga's frameless sunglasses, based on Anne's, sent the internet wild
This diplomatic, high-low approach to clothing is symptomatic of the equally diplomatic way Anne has lived her life and career – can you name a royal scandal involving Anne?
No. She is widely known as one of the hardest working royals. In 1974, a man tried to kidnap her from her car on the way back to Buckingham Palace after a trip to the cinema.
“Not very likely,” she told him.
Rather.