Three ways the Countess of Wessex is borrowing from the Queen’s ingenious style strategy

Most of us have a rotation of favourite outfits: a combination of tops and trousers, a couple of midi dresses, maybe a jumpsuit. It doesn’t matter if you wear the same look twice in as many weeks – it would be more weird if you didn’t.

The rules are different for high-profile figures though. When every day at work is a photo opportunity, you need either an endless supply of new clothes, or, the more cost-effective and sustainable solution, a fashion “uniform”.

No wonder, then, that everyone from Steve Jobs to Karl Lagerfeld has settled on a look that works for them, then remained loyal to it regardless of occasion or season. In practical terms it’s a time-saver, but it’s also a means of amplifying one’s image in a visual way.

The Queen has a uniform too: usually a floral dress or coat that falls just below the knee with a matching hat featuring a turned up brim. It’s a signature silhouette that is hers alone, but it is rendered more powerful by her use of bright colour. “I have to be seen to be believed,” she once famously said of her need to be easily recognisable by crowds of people who may have gathered for a glimpse of her.

Her daughter-in-law, the Countess of Wessex, has evolved a signature look of her own too. At 57, Sophie has never looked better and it’s probably because she understands the shapes, cuts and colours that suit her best.

They are lessons that have come directly from Her Majesty’s style playbook. From her handbags to her favourite shoes, here’s how she’s done it.

The tailored silhouette

The Queen’s go-to look is a block coloured coat over a coordinating dress, and these pieces largely come from the atelier of Stewart Parvin or designed by her longtime personal assistant and senior dresser, Angela Kelly.

Sophie has found her own version of that formula in the form of a full-skirted midi dress and a tailored blazer if she needs an extra layer. Occasionally there will be a wide-legged trouser too. Her favourite brands – Gabriela Hearst, Emilia Wickstead and Suzannah London – specialise in immaculate fit and tailoring, critical when you’re likely to be photographed from every angle.

The handbag

The Queen is rarely seen without a handbag and has been carrying bags by Launer exclusively since 1950, when she was given one by her mother. The black patent Traviata style, which has a top handle and costs upwards of £2,000 is the one she’s most frequently seen with, although she may occasionally use a cream or silver one too.

Sophie is almost as consistent. At most engagements she carries a clutch or handbag by Sophie Habsburg. The French-born, Rome-based designer and former model is also known as Archduchess Sophie of Austria. Her vibrant designs – named after evocative destinations like Ischia, Deauville and Portofino – meet the demands of Sophie’s professional life while also injecting an element of fun.

The comfortable shoes

The Queen’s official shoemaker is Anello & Davide, which typically supplies the theatre world and created the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. Each pair is made by hand, then worn in for her by Kelly, who once said: “A ‘flunky’ wears in Her Majesty’s shoes to ensure that they are comfortable and that she is always good to go. And yes, I am that ‘flunky’. The Queen has very little time to herself, and no time to wear in her own shoes, and as we share the same shoe size it makes the most sense this way.”

Sophie has a more diverse range of shoes, including Jimmy Choo and LK Bennett styles, but there is one style we’ve seen her wear lately more than any other, and they are Penelope Chilvers’ Tango heels, which come in suede and feature a Mary-Jane strap. Chilvers is also the woman behind the Duchess of Cambridge’s famous tassel riding boots, which she has been wearing for more than 13 years.