Hardy Amies: The Designer Who Defined Royal Style

Sir Edwin Hardy Amies (1909–2003) was a prominent British fashion designer, best known as the official dressmaker and a Royal Warrant holder for Queen Elizabeth II. His association with the Queen began in 1950 and lasted for nearly 50 years.

Amies founded his own fashion house, Hardy Amies Ltd, on London's famous Savile Row in 1945. Although he initially focused on womenswear, he was also a pioneer in menswear, notably by staging the first men’s ready-to-wear catwalk shows in London in 1961, making well-tailored clothing more accessible.

Known for his classic, refined, and practical approach to style, Amies’ influence extended beyond couture, as he also designed uniforms for groups like the British Olympic squad and the 1966 World Cup team. Hardy Amies remains a symbol of British refinement — a designer who shaped the image of modern elegance from the royal court to the city streets.

Della Oake in bloused, belted jacket in black-and-white rayon basket weave pattern with huge sleeves that look like balloon cuffs over black wool dress by Hardy Amies, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1950

Kathy Dennis in a worsted suit by Hardy Amies, felt hat by Mr. John, handbag by Coblentz, photo by Serge Balkin, Vogue, October 15, 1950

Model in cocktail dress featuring draped skirt tied in large bow in the back with lace bodice by Hardy Amies, Vogue UK, March 1950

Model in oatmeal linen suit garnished with black patent leather by Hardy Amies, shady straw hat tied with chiffon by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1950

Pat O'Reilly in a fairy's dress of foaming pink tulle, the skirt falling in hadkerchief points and over one shoulder a plait of tulle by Hardy Amies, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1950

Pat O'Reilly in straught black-and-white coat that tapers to the hem with important collar and cuffs by Hardy Amies, hat by Erik, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1950

Shelagh Wilson in white guipure lace dress that buttons from shawl collar to hem with matchinf lace cap that flaunts a black osprey feather by Hardy Amies, photo by John French, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1950

Anne Gunning in narrow, fitted suit in brown-and-white worsted collared with brown velvet and asymmetrical file of buttons, by Hardy Amies, white felt hat by Erik, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar, March 1951

June Duncan in pewter-colored worsted coat over a narrow dress to match, the pale gray lining of taffeta shantung is counterpointed in the sash by Hardy Amies, black straw cartwheel by Erik, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1951

Pat O'Reilly in full-skirted mushroom-pink taffeta coat, buttoned over a dinner dress of mushroom-colored sequined tulle by Hardy Amies, turban hat by Erik, photo by Henry Clarke, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1951

Shelagh Wilson in dinner dress of black chenille lace threaded with tinsel, a square décolletage and long tight sleeves by Hardy Amies, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1951

Wenda Parkinson in a tweed suit by Hardy Amies, Norman Parkinson, 1951

Barbara Goalen in a Hardy Amies town dress, photo by John French for the Daily Express, London, 1952

June Duncan in ankle-length blood-orange lace dress fastened on one side with big black buttons by Hardy Amies, sandals by Lehany, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1952

June Duncan in white taffeta shantung pyramid-shaped coat, from narrow neck to broad-based hem marked by black buttons by Hardy Amies, hat by Harvane, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1952

Pat O'Reilly in light-and-dark gray basketweave wool suit from Hardy Amies Boutique, chestnut velours hat by Rose Vernier, tweed stole by Alistair Morton, photo by Maurice Tabard, Harper's Bazaar UK, January 1952

Pat O'Reilly in sea-green hopsack topcoat lined with beaver colored fur fabric over a suit with holster pockets by Hardy Amies, matching hat by Rose Vernier, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1952

Shelagh Wilson in a stiff navy blue wool slub swinging coatdress by Hardy Amies, hat by Simone Mirman, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1952

Shelagh Wilson in classic tailored salt-white suit in fine barathea by Hardy Amies, floppy white felt hat by Rose Vernier, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, May 1952

Anne Gunning in white and gray flecked silk shantung coat over slim dress that is puffed and bowed at the waist by Hardy Amies, hat by Rose Vernier, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1953

Fiona Campbell-Walter in gown by Hardy Amies, photo by Norman Parkinson, Vogue, March 1953

Susan Abraham in bold black and white basket-tweed coat with deep V-pointed yoke and buttoned inverted pleat behind by Hardy Amies, hat by Rose Vernier, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1953

Simone d'Aillencourt in deep blue silk/wool suit with cropped oblong jacket at wrist and hem over a full-skirted dress by Hardy Amies, pot hat of black straw by Vernier, photo by Tom Kublin, Harper's Bazaar UK, March 1956

Anne St. Marie in black and white Prince of Wales check worsted and glazed with a big white piqué collar by Hardy Amies, antelope hat by Otto Lucas, photo by Richard Dormer, NYC, Harper's Bazaar UK, February 1957

Pagan Grigg wearing draped dress by Hardy Amies, photo by Norman Parkinson, Vogue, September 1957

Helen Connor in a contrapuntal wrap, fox-trimmed over a gold corded silk, strapless gown by Hardy Amies, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, September 1958

Model in double-breasted suit in purple tweed, its longer jacket is collared with beaver by Hardy Amies Boutique, jersey banded beaver hat by Moriot, photo by Richard Dormer, Harper's Bazaar UK, November 1959