Generally speaking, most “royal fashion rules” you will have read about – no bare legs, no nail polish – are a myth, drummed up by the tabloids to create drama where there is no drama. The same goes for off-the-shoulder necklines, a favourite silhouette of the Duchess of Sussex on joining the royal family (“Meghan Markle Broke Royal Protocol”, read one headline back in 2018, following the annual Trooping the Colour parade). In fact, there is no rule about a woman daring to show a slither of her décolletage in the presence of the King or Queen.
And so, we turn to Amal Clooney’s choice of an off-the-shoulder dress for the King’s Trust Awards at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday night. The human rights barrister, who was accompanied by her husband George, opted for a classic LBD featuring bow detailing on the straps, which she paired with gold and perplex stiletto heels (why not take the transparent shoe trend to the Palace?).
Of course, Clooney has long been a fan of an off-shoulder style, recently wearing a similar vintage Dior by John Galliano gown at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Meanwhile, at the Tony Awards this month, she opted for the same silhouette again, this time in the form of a slinky white number by Tamara Ralph, adorned with thousands of pearls.
Clooney has attended a number of royal events in the past, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding back in 2018, where the lawyer was widely lauded as best-dressed guest in her saffron-yellow Stella McCartney dress and matching fascinator. At a Prince’s Trust dinner the following year, Clooney opted for one of my personal favourite looks from her archive: a vintage white Stephane Rolland for Jean-Louis Scherrer gown, complete with matching cape. Given her track record, it’s no surprise that she nailed royal dressing once again last night.
