British Monarchy’s Fashion Mantle Passes to Younger Generation

Britain's Catherine, the Princess of Wales on her way to the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London, Britain, 19 September 2022. (EPA)
Britain's Catherine, the Princess of Wales on her way to the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London, Britain, 19 September 2022. (EPA)
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British Monarchy’s Fashion Mantle Passes to Younger Generation

Britain's Catherine, the Princess of Wales on her way to the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London, Britain, 19 September 2022. (EPA)
Britain's Catherine, the Princess of Wales on her way to the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London, Britain, 19 September 2022. (EPA)

The death of Queen Elizabeth II marks a shift in the relationship between fashion and the British monarchy, with younger members of the royal family, notably Catherine, Princess of Wales, likely taking on a greater public role.

The late queen had a precise fashion formula - elegant coats, trim hats and square-heeled shoes shaped her familiar silhouette, as well as her handbag, which became a symbol of stability.

"The Queen was aware of how useful a tool style was to help convey her image as monarch," said Alicia Healey, who worked in the Queen's household for four years and has since written a book called "Wardrobe Wisdom from a Royal Lady's Maid: how to dress and take care of your clothes".

"I think, to a certain extent, her clothes were a uniform for her."

While the fashion choices of the new monarch, King Charles III and his wife Queen Consort Camilla, will inevitably attract attention, they are both in their seventies, meaning camera lenses will be focused more on Charles' children, William and Harry - and their wives.

That could see a shift in the royals' association with fashion from formal structures to more relatable - if restrained - styles.

With Harry and wife Meghan now based in California, William's wife Catherine, popularly known as Kate, is set to hold the public's sartorial gaze, recalling the era of William's late mother Diana when she was Princess of Wales.

"I think, really, people are interested in the younger members of the family and what they are wearing because they relate much more to us, to what we wear to parties or to work," said fashion critic and historian Suzy Menkes.

Tricky for Kate

Styles worn by Kate, 40, have been known to spark buying frenzies. The polka dotted dress by Jenny Packham she wore in 2013 after the birth of eldest child Prince George subsequently sold out. It was seen as an homage to Diana, also photographed in polka dots when returning home with baby Prince William.

Kate's style is usually understated but when she dresses up it generates excitement, fashion experts say.

"Whenever the future queen wears something that is a little bit sexy and glamorous, people get very excited about it because Kate isn't really someone who dresses like that," said Menkes, who describes her style as casual but smart.

"It's interesting to see how that's going to change and whether she is going to go up a notch and look slightly more glamorous," she said.

But doing so could be at odds with King Charles' sustainability messaging.

"Charles' sustainability push calls for a little bit more conscientious fashion," said Jennifer Castro, a West Palm, Florida-based digital marketer, whose fashion blog RoyalStyleWatch has more than 67,000 Instagram followers.

"Charles is someone that has had the same camel coat for 25 years - he's very much about purchasing quality items that will last," Castro said.

Never missed the mark

Gerald Bodmer has lost count of the glossy Launer handbags Queen Elizabeth II bought from his company through her seven-decade reign, but the classic, hand-stitched accessories have been part of her wardrobe since the 1950s and 60s.

He estimates she ordered around a dozen over the past 40 years, sticking to only a handful of models, such as the top-handled Traviata, in a subtle trapezoid shape, which sells for around 2,090 pounds ($2,390).

In her last public photo, with Britain's new Prime Minister Liz Truss, she carried a pre-1980s Launer bag, while the creamy vanilla-colored bespoke Lisa hybrid model she sported at William and Kate's wedding in 2011 sparked such a flurry of interest the company's website crashed, according to the label.

For many, the accessory will be forever linked to the Queen.

"I never noticed any handbags except those worn by Her Majesty," said Menkes. "Other people, of course, must have handbags, but they haven’t quite entered my soul."

The Queen set a high bar when it came to striking the right tone, said Elizabeth Holmes, author of 'HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style'.

"It's incredibly savvy of her to have recognized the power of clothes and harness that to promote sort of the monarchy and support her royal duties," Holmes said.

"There was never a moment where the Queen missed the mark - where she was dressed inappropriately, where her wardrobe failed in some way. And for 70 years to be that consistent? I think we take it for granted."



Fashion Commission, Saudi Retail Academy to Develop National Talent 

Fashion Commission, Saudi Retail Academy to Develop National Talent 
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Fashion Commission, Saudi Retail Academy to Develop National Talent 

Fashion Commission, Saudi Retail Academy to Develop National Talent 

The Saudi Fashion Commission signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Retail Academy to develop national capabilities and boosting specialized skills in the fashion and retail sectors, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The MoU aims to support local talent and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities in this vital industry. It stems from the two sides’ keenness to cooperate in the fields of training and professional development.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony of the academy’s first cohort.

The Fashion Commission focuses on developing local talent, transferring global expertise, and advancing the fashion sector in the Kingdom, while the Saudi Retail Academy is a non-profit institute and a specialized entity in training and development in the retail field and in building professional competencies and skills related to retail and sales.

The MoU aims to establish a framework for cooperation to design and implement specialized training programs that boost the readiness of national cadres and qualify them according to the highest professional standards, with a focus on developing skills in sales, customer experience, and store management to meet labor market requirement and the needs of the growing fashion sector.

Fashion Commission chief executive Burak Cakmak said that developing human capital is a fundamental pillar for the long-term growth of the Kingdom’s fashion sector.

The partnership reflects the commitment to strengthening the capabilities that form the foundation of a competitive and sustainable industry through investment in specialized skills within retail and customer experience, enabling brands to grow and supporting the sector’s confident evolution, he added.

Saudi Retail Academy chief executive Hend Al-Dhaban stressed that the partnership embodies a shared vision to empower national talent and elevate professionalism in the retail sector.

The agreement will help channel training expertise to meet the specialized needs of the fashion sector and equip young men and women with the practical skills required to succeed in the labor market, thereby boosting service quality and supporting localization targets and economic growth, she explained.

This cooperation is part of the Fashion Commission’s ongoing efforts to develop the fashion value chain through building strategic partnerships with specialized training and education entities, expanding professional opportunities for national talent, and linking education and training outputs with labor-market needs.

Through their partnership, the commission and the academy will help in building an integrated ecosystem that connects education, vocational qualification, and employment, bolstering the competitiveness of the fashion and retail sectors and supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in empowering national cadres, localizing jobs, and improving quality of life.


Saudi 100 Brands Debuts Landmark Fashion Presentation at Saudi Cup 2026

The experience introduced global audiences to Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and growing fashion ecosystem - SPA
The experience introduced global audiences to Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and growing fashion ecosystem - SPA
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Saudi 100 Brands Debuts Landmark Fashion Presentation at Saudi Cup 2026

The experience introduced global audiences to Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and growing fashion ecosystem - SPA
The experience introduced global audiences to Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and growing fashion ecosystem - SPA

The Fashion Commission launched its Saudi 100 Brands showcase at the Saudi Cup 2026, marking a historic milestone for the world-renowned equestrian event at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
The collections celebrate Saudi heritage by blending traditional and contemporary design. Jewelry and accessory brands also exhibited throughout, providing Saudi designers with a platform to reach a broader global audience. These showcases emphasize the fusion of heritage and modern design, offering a new perspective on the Kingdom's creative identity.
The Saudi 100 Brands program, a flagship initiative of the Fashion Commission, supports emerging designers by providing tools, expertise, and platforms to grow their global presence. This collaboration with the Saudi Cup underscores the importance of celebrating cultural heritage while advancing design innovation.

Each piece in the exhibition incorporates heritage motifs, textiles, and storytelling, reimagined through innovative design to appeal to modern and international audiences.

The exhibition aims to celebrate national identity, highlight local creative talent, and present the evolving direction of Saudi fashion, SPA reported.

Visitors explored the intersection of craftsmanship and cultural expression, discovering how designers honor tradition while advancing fashion design.

The experience also introduced global audiences to Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and growing fashion ecosystem.

This participation reflects the Fashion Commission’s vision to develop a thriving fashion sector rooted in cultural heritage and global ambition. By combining cultural narratives with innovative design, the commission enables Saudi fashion to contribute to global creative industries, nurture talent, and position Saudi brands for sustained success.


L’Oreal Shares Sink as Sales Miss Forecasts 

This photo taken on February 16, 2018 shows a board with the L'Oreal logo outside of the L'Oreal plant, in Lassigny. (AFP)
This photo taken on February 16, 2018 shows a board with the L'Oreal logo outside of the L'Oreal plant, in Lassigny. (AFP)
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L’Oreal Shares Sink as Sales Miss Forecasts 

This photo taken on February 16, 2018 shows a board with the L'Oreal logo outside of the L'Oreal plant, in Lassigny. (AFP)
This photo taken on February 16, 2018 shows a board with the L'Oreal logo outside of the L'Oreal plant, in Lassigny. (AFP)

L'Oreal shares fell heavily on the Paris stock market on Friday after the cosmetics giant posted sales that fell short of analyst expectations, stoking fears of weakness for its luxury brands and in the key Chinese market.

While revenues rose seven percent in the fourth quarter in Europe -- still the company's biggest market -- they edged up just 0.7 percent in North America and fell five percent in North Asia, which includes China.

Overall, sales were up 1.5 percent to 11.2 billion euros ($13.3 billion) in the final quarter of 2025 -- usually when the company benefits from strong holiday-fueled buying.

This was a marked slowdown from the 4.5-percent growth seen the previous year.

On a like-for-like comparison that excludes the impact of currency fluctuations, sales rose six percent, whereas the consensus forecast was around eight percent, analysts said.

The luxury division (Luxe) in particular, which includes high-end perfumes and make-up and is L'Oreal's biggest by revenue, saw a 0.5-percent sales slide in the fourth quarter, to 4.2 billion euros.

"We think the miss, led by North Asia and Luxe, will be a concern amid a vague outlook," said David Hayes, an analyst at investment bank Jefferies.

L'Oreal's stock was down 3.2 percent in morning trading, partly recovering from a drop of more than six percent at the open.

Net profit for the full year was down 4.4 percent to 6.1 billion euros.

Chief executive Nicolas Hieronimus said when he presented the results on Thursday that L'Oreal had achieved a "solid" performance "despite a context that was at the very least volatile and unfavorable".

For 2026, he said the company had to be "cautious and humble", although he expected "the beauty market to continue its acceleration" unless there was "a new surprise".

"We're going to have to intensify our efforts in terms of innovation to energize the market and win over customers," he added.