While Denmark’s former Queen Margrethe II was famous for her eccentric taste, new Queen Mary is all about elegance.
Margrethe, a queen who enjoyed wearing neon bright clothes for every occasion, took inspiration from the world of art to design her own jazzy raincoat. In contrast, her daughter-in-law is naive and a typical Scandinavian minimalist.
That’s not to say her wardrobe is boring, though. Australian-born Queen Mary, 51, is widely regarded as the ultimate royal influencer and leader of the modern generation that is now gradually taking over Europe’s thrones. Her style treads the line between traditional protocol and current fashion in a way that has perhaps been used as a template by others, from Queen Letizia of Spain to Princess of Wales.
“Queen Mary’s style is simple, very Scandinavian and elegant,” says the Danish designer who created the white dress worn by Queen Mary for her husband’s coronation (Danish equivalent of coronation) on Sunday. , says Soren Le Schmidt (35). There have been several others in the past. “When I design for her, it’s often very graphic and architectural. I think that style suits her very well.”
Le Schmidt had 14 days to complete the bespoke costume, which was ordered after President Margrethe’s abdication on New Year’s Eve. “I’m very grateful. It’s a great honor,” he added.
Le Schmidt is just one of the young Copenhagen-based designers the new queen relies on. But she’s not a shopaholic and since her marriage in 2004, she has consistently worked with her stylist Anja Kamila Alazidi on re-wearing her clothes in new ways. I did.
According to royal fashion tracking website UFO No More, she added 70 new items to her public wardrobe in 2023, almost half as many as the Prince of Wales.
Now that Mary is queen, there was hope that she might pick up the pace a bit, but for her first outing of the year she switched to a Birgit Hallstein creation.
“Repurposing and reimagining are important concepts in Scandinavian fashion, so the fact that she has worn the same style in various public appearances over the years also feels very contemporary and relatable.” says Thora Valdimars, co-founder of the Copenhagen label Rotate.
After the then Crown Princess attended the brand’s second annual fashion show in Copenhagen in 2019 to show her support, Valdimars and her business partner Janet Madsen announced that they would I thought it was a fan. They are selling her “Mary Dress” in her honor.
“What I like about her is that she’s always pushing [the types of fashion] You can expect that from the royal family,” Madsen added. “She has an incredibly elegant take on emerging Danish designers, and every time I see her re-wear Rotate, I feel like a dream come true of hers.”
Here are seven style tips everyone can learn from Queen Mary.
make use of the basics
Queen Mary has an extensive collection of black knit polo necks and classic white shirts, and you’ll never be bored wearing them. Her trick is to use them as a layering tool, adding extra dimension (and all-important warmth) to her outfits, especially during the winter months. The first thing you notice is the gray Mark Kenley vest, but this look works thanks to the black-based knit.
Elegance comes from accessories
The Queen is rarely seen without sharp, high pumps on her feet. Her collection includes Blahnik styles from Prada, Jimmy Choo, and Manolo. This style elevates every outfit she wears, which is why she rarely deviates from it. Mary’s other tricks include adding a shiny leather belt to accentuate her waist and carrying only top-handle bags and box bags that have a clean shape. Her favorites include her Bottega Veneta Intrecciato her Knot clutch and Karlend her Copenhagen Envelope bag.
Inject newness into the look
Queen Mary usually values style over trends, but she always tries to pay attention to what’s new. There are very few designer brands in Copenhagen that she hasn’t tried yet (and she proudly attends the city’s Fashion Week shows). She clearly likes to support and promote her country’s talent on the world stage, but in doing so she also embraces new ideas, prints and cuts. Rotate was established in her 2018, and the Queen bought this dress in 2019, and the last time she was seen wearing it was in April 2023.
Can make shopping on the high street seem expensive
Much of the tailoring in Queen Mary’s wardrobe actually comes from the high street. She’s a fan of Massimo Dutti and Zara, but she shops and styles them using strategies that make her hit products look more expensive. First of all, color selection is everything. The Queen chose pantsuits in rich tones such as dark green, burgundy and navy, which never looked cheap or flashy. Next, she always combines inexpensive items with expensive ones to elevate her look. Things like snakeskin Gianvito her Rossi heels and heirloom brooches.
no need to wear jeans
Mary is the queen of alternative casual wear. She is rarely seen wearing blue jeans. When leading a more casual engagement, she sometimes wears a palette of khaki and brown tones, but it feels a little unremarkable. Either that, or she’ll wear a Ralph Lauren denim shirt and black bootcut pants for a change with a more “casual” element to the top.
Shop Occasion Wear Separates
Queen Mary is known for wearing (and wearing) separates for formal occasions, rather than always wearing new dresses. Case in point, on January 4, she wore a black velvet jacket by Jesper Hobling, last seen in public 10 years ago, and a satin jacket by Rachel Gilbert that she had previously worn. It was paired with a skirt.
Here’s a tip that anyone shopping for wedding guest fashion this spring could adopt. Separates can be mixed and matched as many times as you like. Mary could also dress down that velvet jacket with black pants.
When in doubt, add statement earrings
Almost all of Queen Mary’s outfits are completed with the addition of drop earrings. Depending on how loud the rest of the look is, they can be as big as a chandelier or just cute little pearls. Either way, you can easily try out any look at home, whether you’re heading out to a country dinner or a local dinner.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for one month, then enjoy a full year for just $9 with our exclusive US offer.