Netflix's historical drama Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, and Winston Churchill respectively.
Another area where The Crown excels is set and costume design. The costumes, in particular, are incredibly lavish and help the performers get into character as royals. Some of them are so well designed that they become a part of the character -- more like the clothes we find in our own closets than a costume. Below we highlight ten of these outfits from the first three seasons of the show.
Elizabeth's Pastel Suits
In real life, Her Majesty is well-known for the colorful suits she wears in public -- it makes her easy to spot in a crowd. The Crown pays tribute to her love of pastels through Elizabeth's wardrobe in middle age, which featured this lavender suit with a red scarf to add interest.
Elizabeth accessorized the outfit with pearls, white gloves, and a sparkly brooch. She also carried a matching white handbag. Classic but eye-catching, we couldn't think of a better ensemble to start our list.
Philip's Medals
Let's give some recognition to the guys. Compared to the women, there is less diversity in the men's costuming of The Crown, but what variety they do have tends to be impressive. Philip's official regalia and white tie attire, shown here, are a few examples.
Both feature an impressive strip of medals showcasing Philip's military honors. The costume designer's commitment to replicating heavily photographed outfits down to the smallest detail, with little room for error, earns this outfit its number nine spot.
The Duke of Windsor's Unorthodox Suits
The Duke of Windsor didn't pull any punches when it came to style. Just as he abdicated the throne to marry an American divorcee, he also deviated from the traditional rules for menswear. Instead, he opted for more colorful ensembles, such as this striking rust-red jacket with a pink and blue tie. A flower in his lapel tops off the outfit.
You could tell that he didn't belong in the halls of Buckingham Palace. He was more at home in , throwing parties for his bohemian friends. (Not to mention, he was a Nazi sympathizer plotting to betray the crown.)
Elizabeth's Travel Outfit
No wonder the crowds are cheering -- Elizabeth is decked out in a fabulous blue coatdress with black gloves and a double-strand of pearls. Her outfit is fashionable yet practical enough for travel, perfect for a conscientious queen.
In this scene, Elizabeth is waving to the crowd as she begins an official visit to Northern Ireland. As she disembarks from the plane, there is a slight sheen to her coatdress, as if she is reflecting back the crowd's iration. She is growing into her royal power and owning it here. This outfit earns the number seven spot with its regal allure.
Margaret's Travel Outfit
Margaret also had a solid outerwear game, with a more daring twist to it than her sister's. Not long after Elizabeth greeted her adoring fans in a regal blue coatdress, Margaret emerged from her plane in a chic olive trenchcoat, her hair covered in a handkerchief and her eyes hidden behind a pair of angular sunglasses.
The reception to her arrival was also different -- instead of cheering crowds, of the press closed in on her, eager for details about her troubled love life. This outfit established Margaret as the anti-queen; who knows how she would have handled the responsibility if she had been born first.
Margaret's 'Visiting Elizabeth' Dress
Elizabeth and Margaret grew apart as their royal roles diverged, and their outfits show the emotional distance. In this scene, Margaret is asking the queen for permission to marry her photographer boyfriend. Their clothes tell us where they are emotionally.
Elizabeth had just given birth to her third child and is transcendent in her pale pink nightgown. Margaret is wearing a black coat over...more black. She looks amazing but intimidating -- a woman for the modern age who isn't afraid to speak her mind. This outfit wins all the awards for how modern and edgy it is.
Elizabeth's 'Dinner With Margaret' Dress
When the sisters got together for a double date, Elizabeth was dressed to impress in a beautiful emerald dress with a matching green jacket. The dress is a more vibrant color than she usually wears, which helped her stand out at dinner with her more fashionable younger sister.
In this scene, Margaret's dress is gold, glamorous, and shows a lot more skin, but it is Elizabeth's ensemble that really catches the eye. She not only held her own against Margaret's charms but won this sartorial matchup, too.
Elizabeth's Birthday Dress
Elizabeth is living in the late sixties with this seafoam green evening gown with gilded diamonds on the bodice. The color reminds us of her pastel suits, and the flecks of gold add flair that is perfect for the Duke of Gloucester's birthday party. Elizabeth was still wearing this dress when she found out that Winston Churchill had ed away, bringing a quick end to the celebrations.
Not only is the dress stunning, but it was also a clean break from the queen's old wardrobe, which was full of demure blue and green sweater sets and tweeds.
Anne's Orange Sweaterdress
Anne's no-nonsense attitude and excellent taste in clothes helped her stand out even when her role in the monarchy, as she itted, was insignificant compared to her brother's. Anne wore this very modern sweaterdress to give Charles some advice on his relationship with Elizabeth.
The bright orange color and bouffant hairstyle create a strong profile for a personality that does not suffer fools. If her mother was trying to control her life? "I'd bully her right back," she tells Charles.
Margaret's Poolside Fur Coat
Finally, there is this epic fur coat that Margaret wore over a purple and blue shift dress. The pool is the last place most of us would think to wear a fur coat, but Margaret was in a very vulnerable position and needed the extra layer of defense. As always, her colors are the exact opposite of the queen's: purples and blues, in contrast to the queen's pastels, to represent the dark turn her life had taken.
Although Margaret suffered many disappointments in life, she was always resilient and found a way to bounce back. This fabulous coat proves it.