WALLIS SIMPSON

Wallis Simpson // The 1930s Fashion Icon

While I was watching “Rebecca” the new film on Netflix based on Daphne’ Du Maurier’s Novel from 1938,

I could not resist the comparison between the film style and the 1930s fashion icon Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor.

Wallis was an American socialite and wife of the Duke of Windsor, the former British king Edward VIII.

His reign was the shortest in the history of the British Monarchy. His abdication in 1936 was due to his proposal to marry twice divorced Wallis Simpson. Such a marriage would have conflicted with the Monarch’s role as head of the Church of England. Edward and Simpson moved to France. Essentially, however, they were exiled: they could not return home without the permission of his brother, the new King George VI.

She is Most famously known as the catalyst for the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, her eventful life has been explored and analyzed over and over again in popular culture; most recently in Netflix series The Crown.

She had an effortless chic style and she was known for her elegant taste in fashion and the fashion world is still obsessed by that woman and her fashion influence hasn't diminished.  In more recent times, designers from Roland Mouret to John Galliano have paid tribute to her with collections inspired by her distinctive sharp glamour. Simpson created her signature glamorous look and use them wisely as a weapon.

Despite openly declaring that she felt she was “not a beautiful woman” and in fact found herself  “nothing to look at”, she chose style rather than words to ensure that she was well-received among the ever changing social circles she propelled herself into.  

Simpson was regularly spotted at the fashion shows of the mid 20th century; sitting on the front row at Elsa Schiaparelli, and remaining a loyal customer to both Christian Dior and American designer Main Rousseau Bocher, who created the dress she wore for her wedding to Edward.  

She also wore Elsa Schiaparelli’s “Lobster Dress” in Vouge, 1937.

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