For the past two decades the Queen’s senior dresser, Angela Kelly, saw to it that Elizabeth presented herself — and represented the United Kingdom — well in every situation. This included not just understanding the Queen’s preferences, but curating her looks, selecting fabrics, and packing and prepping garments for wear. As someone who’s intrigued by and studies the dress habits of the royals and other icons, I found the Queen a wonderful study. She has several lessons to share on why her look was so critical to her leadership. Consider how you can apply them to your own dress and quest to lead.

• • Ensemble Dressing – This is a coordinated outfit. In many of the Queen’s looks it was literally from head to toe, including coordinating hats. You might not have realized it, but for many years you’ve probably worn ensemble dress in matched suited looks, with skirts/pants or dresses and matching jacket. The look can also be created by pairing separates that coordinate as a matched look, typically in block colors or in head-to-toe prints. Ensemble dressing creates a powerfully consistent look.
• • Vertical Design – Color-blocked ensemble dressing gains power with the vertical presence it creates in the look. We think of a solid column dress or a jacketed look in black as slimming. It’s the vertical column of a dark color that creates this effect. In any other dark color (e.g., charcoal, navy, chocolate brown) the same is true. Strengthen the vertical design in a look and you’ll portray power, strength and authority. Diminish it by adding a contrasting-colored blouse, sweater or jacket and you have a softer, more approachable, friendly presence.
• • The Magic “Y” – When speaking, particularly in business, you want the attention of those you’re communicating with to focus on your face and eyes. It’s called the Magic “Y,” and the details of your garments help make this occur. The layering of a jacket, a button-front shirt or a V-neck all create a visual “Y” from the mid-waist up. This magically leads others’ eyes up to your face.
• • The Power of Three – Another silent, yet powerful, tool in focusing people on the task at hand is the Power of Three. Queen Elizabeth did this well. It included her 1) dress; 2) jacket; and 3) a necklace (sometimes substantial), broach and her famous hats. You can do the same in casual to formal dress with a pant/skirt/dress; a layering piece; and a coordinating necklace, scarf or broach. The third piece leads the eye up to your face and completes your look. Even though they’re no longer daily wear, consider using a hat for special occasions.
• • Strength in Color – A final lesson in dressing for leadership includes more about color. The darker the color, the more authority and credibility. The brighter the color, the more energy, excitement and potential power. In many photos of the Queen you not only see and feel the strength that the vertical design element creates in her dress, you also see and feel the energy of her personal presence with the bright tones that many of her ensembles were curated in. She knew that people wanted to see her and that she needed to stand out in a crowd. She used color strategically to achieve this goal.

A key to enhancing your own leadership is to use these design principles of line and color in your dress. Discover a color palette that compliments your own natural coloring (i.e., color analysis), then reassess this occasionally as you transition through life. (Photos of Elizabeth show that her color palette in garments softened as her own coloring softened.)

Take the time to learn lessons in dress that work for you. This will add tools to your leadership toolbox, power up your communication, and help to grow confidence not only in yourself but in those you lead.