#styleiconfriday

Princess Margaret (1930- 2002) was unashamedly her own woman. Despite living through a time of significant change and modernisation for the British royalty, it’s said that Margaret insisted on her closest friends referring to her as Ma’am until her death. With a keen eye and a deep love for fashion, Margaret is consistently credited as not only influencing sartorial opinions and habits in mid-century Britain, but also helping to usher in Monsieur Dior’s New Look. Margaret made her own rules in life, despite the strict expectations she was undoubtedly held to- partying with rock stars of the day, wearing two piece bikinis, smoking in public (and continuing to do so after the practice became frowned upon) and dating a man seventeen years her junior as a divorcee. The Princess’ popularity abandoned her during the 70s and 80s and by the time of her death, she was considered one of the lesser successful of her royal contemporaries. Despite this, today’s women should appreciate Margaret as an icon of independence and strength. Refusing to let her personal life and happiness be compromised by the expectations of her role means Margaret is one of the best female royal icons to worship today.