Born in July 1950, he didn’t seek to find out who his birth parents (an Irish mother and Jamaican father) were until he was in his 30s. His personal story makes his achievements all the more remarkable. This year marks 50 years since Oldfield graduated from London’s Central Saint Martins college and designed his first collection. Even in the run up to Saturday’s Coronation, he was showcasing his versatility – on Thursday he created a navy and cream look for the Queen to wear to a Buckingham Palace garden party. In recent years Oldfield has become a go-to designer for Her Majesty, creating everything from formal daywear to a dazzling skirt and blouse for her first appearance at a State dinner as Queen. Only a few other British names that the Queen wears frequently – Fiona Clare and Anna Valentine – were ever really contenders. Oldfield was tipped for the commission from the get-go. This, in all respects, made him the ideal designer to dress the 75-year-old Queen. The inner-workings of his gowns typically flatter and enhance the wearer’s figure – the support and “scaffolding” on offer makes them popular with older clients and he is particularly relied upon by mothers of the bride and groom. His designs are spectacularly grand, and famously well-structured.
When it came to the dress, Oldfield was widely considered by fashion editors to be the right choice for this occasion. He has long been a favourite of the new Queen, too – in 2014 he famously said in an interview that he “gave Diana her glamour and Camilla her confidence”. The choice of Oldfield is considered particularly noteworthy and poignant as for much of the 1980s his name was synonymous with Diana, Princess of Wales.
The embroidered names of some members of the Queen's family could also be seen, including her children, Tom and Laura, and grandchildren Lola, Freddy, and Gus. This is assumed to be a tribute to their Majesties' Jack Russell Terrier rescue dogs, Beth and Bluebell. In another personal touch, seen just at the front of the Queen's gown in some shots, there are gold embroideries of two dogs. The dress features a short train, designed to complement each of the two Robes worn for the Coronation Service. There is also a line of celebratory bunting embroidery woven throughout, while the cuffs of each sleeve are also embroidered with the floral emblems of the four nations of the United Kingdom – a rose, a thistle, a daffodil and a shamrock. Embroideries on the dress were chosen to represent the King and Queen’s love of nature and the British countryside wildflowers from fields and hedgerows: daisy chains, forget-me-nots, celandine and scarlet pimpernel. It is made from Peau de Soie silk fabric, woven by Stephen Walters in Suffolk. The simple, tailored silhouette was designed to look regal yet modern, with bracelet-length sleeves and a split front skirt.
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