It’s fair to say that Princess Beatrice’s fashion low point was the hat that was compared to a toilet seat, a pretzel and even a Turkey Twizzler.
To make things worse, the royal wore the Philip Treacy headpiece to the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, so millions were watching on TV.
But last month, more than 13 years on from that sartorial faux pas, Beatrice was crowned the best-dressed person of 2024 by Tatler.
The dramatic turnaround for the Princess, who turns 38 today, is at least partly down to celebrity stylist Olivia Buckingham, who introduced Beatrice to haute couture fashion.
Olivia is also the brains behind the style of actress Carey Mulligan, model Poppy Delevingne, and socialite Nicky Hilton.
Celebrity stylist Olivia Buckingham introduced Princess Beatrice to haute couture fashion. Beatrice wore a lavish dress by Lebanese designer Reem Acra to the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan last year
The royal’s style has evolved significantly since the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, where she famously wore a Philip Treacy hat that was compared to a toilet seat, a pretzel and even a Turkey Twizzler
Last year, Beatrice wowed in an exquisite satin gown by Lebanese designer Reem Acra at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan.
Paired with the glittering York Tiara, it was one of the royal’s finest looks to date.
Beatrice’s current, refined style marks a departure from her earlier, more eclectic choices that comprised colour clashes and quirky headpieces.
Unlike the late Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton, renowned for their rainbow wardrobes, Beatrice favours soft, muted tones and delicate floral prints.
Dr Carolyn Mair, cognitive psychologist and fashion business consultant, and author of The Psychology of Fashion, told Mail Online of the importance of colour choices.
‘Colour plays a significant role in how we perceive and express ourselves.
‘Different colours evoke different emotions and moods, allowing us to communicate our individuality and preferences.
‘For example, vibrant and warm colours like red and yellow are often associated with energy, positivity and stimulation, while cooler tones like blue and green are linked, mainly through sociocultural associations, to calmness, tranquility and relaxation.’
Indeed, Beatrice has donned blue, sage, cream, powder pink and beige on a number of occasions – and appears particularly comfortable in these subtle hues.
Beatrice has donned blue on a number of occasions – and appears particularly comfortable in the toned-down hue. Above: Beatrice in a dazzling Needle & Thread gown (left) while in Jordan for the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa last year; in an ice blue Self-Portrait dress at the Art of Wishes gala dinner at Raffles London last October
Princess Beatrice chose a striking Roksanda dress for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 2018
Beatrice is a fan of sage green, which is linked to calmness, tranquillity and relaxation, according to Dr Carolyn Mair. Above: Beatrice almost experienced a wardrobe malfunction at Swarovski Fashion Rocks 2007 (left). In 2022 though, her style had improved. She wore Markarian’s ‘Dana’ sequin gown with a Tyler Ellis ‘Lee’ pouchet at the Alchemist’s Feast in London
An ice blue Self-Portrait dress, worn to the Art of Wishes Gala Dinner at Raffles London last October, was a standout look.
Crafted from guipure lace, the demure mid-length design boasted a flattering peplum hem and ribbon belt.
The muted hue complemented the royal’s sun-kissed complexion, while promoting a calm and confident visual.
‘Biologically, there is evidence to suggest that certain colours can elicit physiological responses,’ Dr Mair explained.
‘For instance, exposure to the colour red has been shown to increase heart rate and stimulate appetite and has been found to be associated with the perception of danger, sexiness and power.
‘Meanwhile, blue has been found to have a calming effect and lower blood pressure and is associated with confidence and competence.
‘These biological responses to colour can influence our mood and well-being.’
When Beatrice does opt for bold colours, they are teamed with ditsy patterns and structured silhouettes.
However, this has not always been the case.
Beatrice raised eyebrows when she wore an emerald green mini dress, complete with an elasticated belt, gold clutch and patent black heels, to Royal Ascot in 2009 (left). The royal sported almost identical colours at this year’s races, yet the outfit had a remarkably different feel
The princess has now mastered the art of selecting flattering shapes for her figure, favouring fit-and-flare or belted dresses that accentuate her slender waist. Above: At Royal Ascot in 2012, Beatrice wore an ill-fitting Erdem dress (left). This year, she stunned in a floral dress by Zimmermann
Beatrice raised eyebrows when she wore an emerald green mini dress, complete with an elasticated belt, gold clutch and patent black heels, to Royal Ascot in 2009.
The royal sported almost identical colours at this year’s races, yet the outfit had a remarkably different feel.
Beatrice’s Emilia Wickstead floral dress featured a corsetry-inspired waist and flared skirt that fell to the shin, perfectly encapsulating her newfound elegant style.
Keeping focus on her frock, she chose coordinating cream-coloured accessories.
Olivia Buckingham has introduced the princess to sought-after labels, such as The Vampire’s Wife (which recently went into liquidation), Saloni, Beulah and Monique Lhuillier, complemented by luxurious accessories from Manolo Blahnik and Roger Vivier.
Beatrice has mastered the art of selecting flattering shapes for her figure, favouring fit-and-flare or belted dresses that accentuate her slender waist.
She has also focused more on styling her tresses, transforming her previously unstyled hairdos into glossy Hollywood-style waves and sleek ponytails.
Princess Beatrice was immaculately clad in a Sandro dress and Pretty Ballerina shoes for a discussion about emotional intelligence in the age of artificial intelligence with Spotify in June
Olivia Buckingham has introduced the princess to sought-after labels, such as Gucci (left) and The Vampire’s Wife (right)
The royal appeared resplendent at Vogue World: London 2023 in a floral cape dress by Richard Quinn, elevated by Paris Texas slingback shoes
Since 2014, Beatrice has steadily adopted longer and more streamlined silhouettes for a suitably sophisticated look.
She appeared resplendent at Vogue World: London 2023 in a floral cape dress by Richard Quinn, elevated by Paris Texas slingback shoes.
Hot off the catwalk, the striking pleated dress was completed with full length gloves.
The radical evolution of the Princess’s style might all be part of a plan to shift the public perception of her.
‘Famous people understand the significant impact of their public image and so they use clothing to shape perceptions, create narratives, and reinforce their personal brand or the image associated with their profession or projects. This is known as impression management,’ Dr Mair explained.
‘Done correctly, it can ensure that they leave a lasting and impactful impression on their audience.’
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