Inside the Wardrobes of the Most Influential Women in the World
Many of the most powerful women in the world have wardrobes most would only dream about, with pieces from high-end designers making up the majority of what they wear. Still, some of these inspirational women mix in affordable fashion with their luxurious attire, making it more attainable for everyday women to dress like their favorite famous style icons.
1. Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, the matriarch of the British royal family and one of the richest royals in the world, tends to stick to a uniform look for her public outings: a coat dress in a bold color with a matching hat, gloves and pearls. Her go-to couturiers are Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies, and she’s often seen carrying a Launer handbag, Vogue U.K. reports. Her style has become so iconic that Dolce & Gabbana once created an entire collection inspired by her signature look.
Breaking Down the Cost of Queen Elizabeth II’s Wedding Dress
Cost: $37,000
Although the actual cost of Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding dress has not been publicly reported, an exact replica created for the Netflix series “The Crown” cost $37,000 to create, Harper’s Bazaar reports. The original dress was designed by Norman Hartnell and was made of ivory silk duchesse satin adorned with elaborately embroidered star lily and orange blossom motifs, and encrusted with 10,000 seed pearls. Due to post-war austerity measures, the queen had to pay for the dress with ration coupons.
2. Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is known for wearing clothing from both well-known and up-and-coming fashion designers. Her wardrobe consists of lots of McQueen and L.K. Bennett, but she’s also worn clothing and footwear by lesser-known designers such as Aquatalia and Reiss. Middleton has become such a style icon that she can start fashion trends: items she wears often sell out, and she’s able to put new designers on the map. “There is no question that Kate choosing to wear Reiss has impacted our brand,” David Reiss, founder and managing director of Reiss, told Marie Claire U.K. “We have noticed a significant increase in terms of brand interest and awareness globally, strengthening existing markets and attracting attention in markets we are yet to enter.”
Breaking Down the Cost of Kate Middleton’s Navy Canada Tour Outfit
Cost: $9,000
In September 2016, Middleton and her family went on an official visit to Canada, during which she wore a number of stunning looks. For day one, Middleton wore a custom-made navy Jenny Packham dress estimated to be worth $5,000. She completed the look with a matching maple-leaf embellished fascinator, which cost $4,000, Elle reports.
3. Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle, the future bride of Prince Harry, has already become a style icon. The former “Suits” actress describes her personal style as “relaxed California girl style.” She told Glamour U.K. that her go-to look is a shift dress with flats and a cropped jacket for everyday wear and jeans, a nice top and a blazer for date night. Markle tends to wear monochromatic and tonal looks and doesn’t often wear prints.
Breaking Down the Cost of Meghan Markle’s Engagement Announcement Outfit
Cost: $1,906
Meghan Markle — who is expected to have a multimillion dollar wedding — looked every bit a perfect princess-to-be when she stepped out for the first time with Prince Harry as an officially engaged couple in November 2017. The actress wore a winter-white wool coat by LINE, which retails for $627, a $584 green dress by P.A.R.O.S.H. and nude Aquazzura Matilde criss-cross heels retailing for $695.
4. Oprah Winfrey
Talk show host turned media mogul Oprah Winfrey accumulated most of her $2.8 billion net worth from her talk show, Forbes reports, but she also earns cash from her OWN television network and Weight Watchers endorsement. Winfrey’s work with the weight-loss brand has been so influential, the company has signed on almost a million more members since she began advertising with them, CNN reports. As for her style, the star tends to wear formfitting looks in bold colors, A-line and V-neck cuts, billowing blouses and skirts.
Breaking Down the Cost of Oprah’s 2017 Emmy’s Tux
Cost: Estimated $6,390
Winfrey wore a custom-made ivory pantsuit with black satin trim designed by Elizabeth Kennedy to the 2017 Emmy Awards. Since the ensemble was one-of-a-kind, it’s hard to know exactly how much it cost, but a blazer and trouser outfit from Kennedy’s spring 2018 line retails for $6,390.
5. Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles is a musical superstar and one of the biggest social media influencers. The singer’s second pregnancy announcement photo earned 11.2 million likes on Instagram, making it one of the most-liked Instagram photos of all time. She’s also become known for her bold style. Her favorite designers are Alexander McQueen and Jean Paul Gaultier, and she’s been known to dress to the nines during her downtime. She told InStyle, “Even when I’m dressed down, I wear a nice shirt, nice jeans and stilettos. Even when I go on vacation where no one’s going to see me, I enjoy picking out new clothes, bathing suits and accessories. I do it for myself because I enjoy fashion. It makes me feel like me.”
Breaking Down the Cost of Beyoncé Knowles’ All-White Office Look
Cost: $4,233
It costs a lot to be Beyoncé — a simple all-white outfit the singer wore while working out of her NYC office cost over $4,000, according to a breakdown on Steal Her Style. Her monochromatic look featured a Barneys New York trench coat priced at $1,395, J Brand 811 mid-rise skinny jeans that sell for $172, the Ugo Mozie St Honore hat priced at $350, a Givenchy pyramid large-grained calfskin wristlet costing $1,890 and a pair of Charlotte Olympia Soho Studded PVC sandals priced at $426.
6. Hillary Clinton
Former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton can really rock a pantsuit. The politician has worn a mix of high- and low-end brands through the years, including suits purchased from Ann Taylor Loft and designed by Giorgio Armani, Glamour reports.
Breaking Down the Cost of Hillary Clinton’s Concession Speech Suit
Cost: $3,580
Clinton wore a black and purple Ralph Lauren suit to give her concession speech after losing the presidential election, and she didn’t just randomly choose the bold color. According to her memoir, Clinton wore purple as a symbol of bipartisanship, Vogue reports. Though the exact cost of Clinton’s suit has not been reported, a suit jacket from Ralph Lauren’s latest collection retails for $2,290, and the matching pants retail for $1,290.
7. Michelle Obama
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is a pro at living life like a normal person as she mixes high-end and affordable clothing, rocking everything from off-the-rack J. Crew to classic American designers such as Michael Kors and up-and-coming designers like Tracy Reese. “First and foremost, I wear what I love. That’s what women have to focus on: what makes them happy and what makes them feel comfortable and beautiful,” Obama said in a Vogue interview. “If I can have any impact, I want women to feel good about themselves and have fun with fashion.” According to a study done by David Yermack, a business and finance professor at New York University’s Stern School, Obama’s fashion choices are worth $14 million per appearance to the designers.
Breaking Down the Cost of Michelle Obama’s Final State Dinner Gown
Cost: $12,000
Obama wowed in a rose-gold custom-made Versace gown at her final state dinner, which cost $12,000, TMZ reports. One Vogue writer described the gown as “a mic drop on eight years of fashion slayage.”
8. Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian has turned her reality stardom into an empire worth millions with a children’s clothing line, makeup and perfume lines and a mobile game. One of the most successful women in business has credited her husband Kanye West — whose Yeezy designs she is often seen wearing — with helping along her style evolution. “Kanye’s definitely inspired me to be a little bit more of an individual,” she said on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.”
Breaking Down the Cost of Kim Kardashian’s Fragrance Launch Dress
Cost: Approximately $3,000
Kim Kardashian opted for a curve-hugging, semi-sheer, white corseted Dolce & Gabbana dress to celebrate the launch of her KKW Fragrance. Long dresses by the luxury brand typically retail for around $3,000.
9. Melania Trump
Model and First Lady Melania Trump has revamped her wardrobe since Donald Trump’s election — but she’s always maintained an extravagant lifestyle. Trump’s former style featured lots of fur, sequins and skin-baring ensembles, but she’s traded her flashy looks for a style that’s more demure and elegant. Her go-to designers are Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana and Michael Kors, Bazaar reports.
Breaking Down the Cost of Melania Trump’s RNC Outfit
Cost: $2,419
During her July 2016 Republican National Convention appearance, Trump wore a white three-quarter sleeve dress by the designer Roksanda, which she purchased herself on Net-a-Porter, Women’s Wear Daily reports. The dress retails for $1,744, and Trump paired it with a pair of Christian Louboutin heels that retail for $675, Business Insider reports.
10. Taylor Swift
Singer Taylor Swift uses her wealth to pay it forward. In 2017, Swift stood up against sexual harassment by suing a DJ who allegedly sexually assaulted her in 2013. Swift won a symbolic $1 in damages and pledged to donate money to charitable organizations that aim to protect women from assault. Her role as a women empowerment advocate earned Swift a spot on Forbes’ list of the most powerful women in entertainment and media. As her role in the social consciousness has evolved, so has Swift’s style. The singer has gone from sweet country girl to retro chic to edgy over the course of her career. Swift has worn high-fashion brands such as Gucci and Balenciaga, but she’s also been known to wear more affordable brands from lines such as Free People.
Breaking Down the Cost of Taylor Swift’s 2013 Met Gala Dress
Cost: $8,990
Even before she had fully transitioned to her current edgy persona, Swift wore an $8,990 gothic-inspired black lace pleated back gown by J. Mendel to the 2013 Met Gala, The Cut reports. The dress fit the theme, which was “PUNK: Chaos to Couture.”
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Inside the Wardrobes of the Most Influential Women in the World
