Sir Hardy Amies, who served as Queen Elizabeth II's dressmaker for fifty years, has died aged 93.
The debonair Englishman, who officially retired from his design house in November 2001, died peacefully in his sleep at his Cotswolds home, said a spokesperson.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement soon after learning of the legendary designer's passing. "The Queen was very sad to hear of Sir Hardy's death," it said. "He contributed to her wardrobe over many years and she is, of course, saddened that he has died."
Clothes were in Sir Hardy’s blood: his mother was a saleswoman in the Court dressmaking establishment of Miss Gray of Bond Street, and he started his career at another big couture name, the House of Lachasse. After serving in the Second World War, Sir Hardy returned to open his own business in London’s Savile Row. His credo – “Day clothes must look equally good at Salisbury station as the Ritz bar; our customer always has one foot in the country, one in the town” – soon became legendary.
Over the next fifty years – he became known as the Queen's favourite fashion house after receiving the Royal Warrant in 1952 – the Hardy Amies firm grew steadily, until it had a turnover of more than £200 million. But its eponymous founder always kept his hand on the tiller: even at the age of 86 he was putting in a four-day week at the studio. In May 2001, however, he sold his business to the Luxury Brands Group, and retired completely later that year.
"His great wish was that his house should continue after this time," said managing director of Hardy Amies Ltd, Tim Maltin. "And I can confirm that, although we are very sad, we will keep going and keep up his style. We won't let him down."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
