Royalcore: The Regal Aesthetic Made For Kings & Queens
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Royalcore: The Regal Aesthetic Made For Kings & Queens

A trend with the royal seal of approval

If, like us, you spent all of your bank holiday watching (and rewatching) Netflix’s Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, chances are you’re also obsessed with the show’s gorgeously opulent wardrobe. The show’s leading lady, Queen Charlotte, takes after her historical counterpart as society’s biggest trendsetter – so it’s to be expected, really, that her onscreen presence would give rise to yet another internet trend: royalcore. Celebrating a love for all things regal and romantic, royalcore is the sophisticated sister to Bridgerton‘s regencycore. Think big dresses, lace-up corsets and lots of costume jewellery. Here’s everything you need to know about trend, and how to emulate it.

The Country & Town House Responsible Buyers’ Guide

What Is Royalcore?

Royalcore is a fashion trend inspired by royalty and the elegance and opulence associated with it. It covers everything royal; from kings, queens, princes and princesses to knights, courtiers and butlers. The most common strands of the trend, however, are princesscore and regencycore (thank you, Bridgerton). Royalcore has been sitting under the radar for the last few years – making a short-lived appearance during lockdown – but is forecasted to make a comeback this year with the introduction of a young Queen Charlotte to our screens.

A garden scene in Queen Charlotte

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. (L to R) Sam Clemmett as Young Brimsley, India Amarteifio as Young Queen Charlotte in episode 103 of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Cr. Nick Wall/Netflix © 2023

This is a trend based on regality – which means you can be as opulent as you want when putting outfits together – but there are some rules to keep in mind if you want to stay as close to royalcore as possible. Here are four things to think about when putting together your wardrobe:

Colour

You can opt for regal colours when constructing your colour palette: think rich jewel tones (deep purples, dark reds, emerald greens and royal blues) as well as gold and silver.

Fabrics

Remember, opulence is key. Royals would rather wear high-quality, luxurious fabrics like velvet, silk, brocade and lace over cotton or polyester.

Details

Go big or go home – especially when it comes to small details and accessories. Think embroidery, lace, pearls, beads and ALL the jewels in your jewellery box.

Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton

BRIDGERTON GOLDA ROSHEUVEL as QUEEN CHARLOTTE in episode 101 of BRIDGERTON Cr. LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX © 2020

Structured Silhouettes

Look to your history books for this one. Royal gowns typically have a structured silhouette created by corsets and puffed sleeves, while tailored suits were made more pronounced with breeches and embroidered coats.

Antique Styles

Notice how Queen Charlotte never wears an empire-line gown in the show? Not only does it differentiate her from the rest of the characters on the show (especially when we move onto her later years in Bridgerton), it also shows off her taste for grandeur over simplicity. Rather than stick to the era-typical empire-line gown, the queen opts for full Rococo skirts and Elizabethan corsets that create a more timeless style. The original vintage hipster, if you will.

Regal Wardrobe Picks

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Woman in field wearing white dress

Selkie

Queen Of Angels Silk Gown, £1,209, selkiecollection.com

Cream and gold patterned handbag

Bovenue

Ghada in Ivory & Gold, £363, bovenue.com

Hat with flowers

Merve Bayindir

Greenland, £1,190, mervebayindir.com

Woman in long white dress

Paul & Joe

Long Flared Dress in Silk Organza, £1,371, paulandjoe.com

Floral pearl earrings

Simone Rocha

Green Honey Pearl Earrings, rent from £25.76, hurrcollective.com

Woman in floral puff sleeve dress

Erdem

Emanuela Gown Apolonia Faille Embroidery, £4,995, erdem.com

ZIMMERMANN

Smocked Peplum Blouse (Size M), rent from £14 or buy secondhand for £335, mywardrobehq.com

Pink skirt

Red Valentino

Silk-Satin Midi Skirt, £585, harveynichols.com

Pretty Ballerinas

Tyra Flats, £229, prettyballerinas.co.uk

Silver earrings

Kiki McDonough

Lace Pave Diamond Drop Earrings In White Gold, rent from £162.61, hurrcollective.com

Woman in one-shoulder pink dress

Taller Marmo

Dovima Dress, £1,915, harveynichols.com

Chandelier earrings

Susan Caplan x HURR

Earrings, rent from £25.37, hurrcollective.com

White puff sleeve dress

Rotate Birger Chistensen

Cream Satin Midi Dress, £340, harveynichols.com

Pearl choker

Vivienne Westwood

Three Row Pearl Drop Choker, £370, viviennewestwood.com

Woman in blue velvet corset and matching trousers

The Vampire’s Wife

The Anne of Cleves Cotton-Velvet Corset Top, £995, matchesfashion.com

Small tiara headband

Susannah Lovis

Edwardian Old Cut Diamond Foliate Scroll Tiara, £34,950, susannahlovis.com

Woman in mint dress

Needle & Thread

Violet Shimmer Strapless Gown in Spring Mint, £775, needleandthread.com

Lace and pearl heels

Jimmy Choo

Sacora 85 Ivory Floral Lace Sandals with Pearl Detail, £675, jimmychoo.com

Silk blouse

Prada

Lace-Trimmed Silk Blouse (Size UK 14), rent from £13 or buy secondhand for £290, mywardrobehq.com

Woman in silver dress and cape on purple background

The Vampire’s Wife

Sky Rocket Cape, £1,950, thevampireswife.com

Sky Rocket Dress, £2,500, thevampireswife.com

White lace corset top

Alexander McQueen

Floral-Lace Bustier Top, £1,050, farfetch.com

Pink corset dress

Costarellos

Elodie Sweetheart-Neck Corseted Woven Maxi Dress, £2,210, selfridges.com

Gold ring with green stone

Thomas Sabo

Gold Plated Ring With Green And White Stones, £149, thomassabo.com

Featured image: Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. (L to R) India Amarteifio as Young Queen Charlotte, Corey Mylchreest as Young King George in episode 101 of Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story. Cr. Liam Daniel/Netflix © 2023