The Queen visited Nottingham during her Diamond Jubilee tour carrying a Launer bag © RexThe Duchess of Cambridge isn’t the only royal to have a huge impact on the sales ladies’ fashion, it seems. Her grandmother-in-law, the Queen has become something of a surprise trendsetter herself.
Following the long weekend of Diamond Jubilee celebrations, sales of the Queen’s favourite Launer London handbag label reported a 58 per cent increase of customers asking for bespoke creations.
Her Majesty was spotted carrying three custom-made styles in black during the festivities, which resulted in admirers of her arm candy bombarding the brand's website with requests for similar, box-shaped bags. Demand was so extreme, the Launer site crashed.
Small top handle handbags are expected to be a huge trend next season and the Queen is already ahead of the game, with almost forty Launer bags in her collection. Prices start at £410 for a custom clutch bag and peak at £1057 for the slightly lager 'Royale' handbag.
“The royal family still means huge business for the UK,” said Launer’s owner and Creative Director, Gerald Bodmer. ”There is still a big international appetite for any and all things associated with royalty.
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“Demand for pastel-hued bags in pink and green, as well as metallic shades, proved to be top of customers' shopping lists.
“What we have seen here is more requests in trend-led designs, with customers seeking to put their own stamp on our signature bags”.
According to Bodmer the Queen favours the Diva, Traviata and Lucia Launer handbags and her colour preferences are classic, mainly black, white or beige, although she did deviate from this ever so slightly with a mushroom hue for a trip to Italy.
“Who knows; this time next year the Queen may have forged her traditional black and be sporting one of our lovely bags in colour pop,” said Bodmer hopefully.
