The Other Side of the Coin

 The Other Side of the Coin by Angela Kelley

Angela Kelley is a British designer, dressmaker and milliner who was Personal Assistant and Chief Dresser to Queen Elizabeth for 30 years. She designed and made most of the Queen's outfits during that time and in this book she talks about her duties and a bit about their relationship. The subtitle is: The Queen, The Dresser and The Wardrobe, and that's exactly what she writes about. There are no family secrets exposed here, thank goodness; she's careful to protect the Queen's privacy and speaks about her only with great admiration and respect.  

I've been fascinated by the Queen's style - especially those hats - and often wondered what was involved in getting her perfectly outfitted for every occasion. There was a consistency to her look and yet each outfit had unique details that made it special. I admit there were a few years in the 1970s and 80s when I wasn't a fan of her fashion choices, but that changed about the time Mrs. Kelley started designing for her. Since then I've been impressed with the colours, the lines and the ingenious detailing of her beautiful outfits, so this book was a real treat for me.

She tells us about the fabrics she uses and about the storeroom filled with gorgeous lengths of material given to the Queen as gifts over the 60 years of her reign. Other whole rooms are filled with gowns and outfits she wore over the years, and that she occasionaly re-wore. 

Then there are the jewels: the necklaces, brooches, bracelets, earrings and, of course, the tiaras and crowns. It was great fun reading how Mrs. Kelley co-ordinated everything and put together just the right set of clothing and jewels for each event, whether it was visiting a nursing home, hosting a state dinner, or traveling to foreign destinations.

Her collaborations with other designers led her to exlusive design studios, in one of which she had what she calls her "Pretty Woman" moment. The staff didn't think she looked the part and told her condescendingly that the house was "couture, not retail". They had no idea she was working for the Queen and they were throwing away the chance to do lucrative work that might have put their brand on the map. As Julia Roberts said "Big mistake! Huge!"

Entertaining from beginning to end, I loved it.