The Queen And Her Tailor

The economic crises has begun to affect Queen Elizabeth the second of England as well now. But no need to worry, she doesn't need to sell the crown jewels or the Royal Castle of Balmoral. Only that a while ago her personal dress designer for more than 4 decades is going bankrupt.

Just like investment banks, her tailoring firm, Hardy Amies of Savile Road was over ambitious with imprudent expansion in Britain and Japan, stretching their arm more than the sleeve was tailored for, and now found itself facing a problem of shortage of ready funds. The situation might have to end in suspension of payments and bankruptcy.

The long established and prestigious firm has been sliding downhill since the retirement then the death of it's creator Hardy Amies. The news didn't surprise the high fashion world of Britain. Their designs are considered by many to be too conservative which, while correct, exquisitely tailored and finished, do not go down well with the new age mature ladies any more. Today the ladies in their 60's or 70'd have discarded the former dress-codes, and adopted fashions for the younger women. They do not want to dress to look like the Queen, but more incline to follow models worn by women shown in 'Sex in New York'. Or is it 'Sex in Manhattan'? The 21st century is not a world for the old, at least not in their appearances or actions.

Hardy Amies worked as a British spy in the 2nd World War and helped to organize the resistance in Europe. In 1946 founded the firm in Savile Road, for men at first but later expanded the horizon. Six years later The Queen gave her first order and this led to over 4o years of patronage as her principal dress designer. This of course added greatly to his prestige and fame. He soon became a much sought after designer for the British elite, the noble, the aristocratic and the high society, including many overseas celebrities.

His creations called up images of Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Onassis and for the past half a century he boasted amongst his clientèle: Lady Heseltine, Lady Parkinson, the famous film director Stanley Kubrick and other Hollywood giants. He had also designed uniforms for the British rowing team of Oxford University, as well as the British football team who won the World Cup in 1966.

The economic crisis worldwide doesn't seem to have affected Her Majesty much, although her recent request to the Treasury to increase the Royal housekeeping had been turned down. The Queen had, for the first time 4 years ago, bought a private plane, costing 8.8 million €. for the exclusive use of the royal family. It's equipped with every detail of comfort and elegance, with capacity for 13 people. Where do her dogs go?

Tags:Queen,Tailor,Bankruptcy

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